Long @$$ Par Three's...French Lick 16th

[Nick Campanelli]

I noticed today that the 16th hole at French Lick's new Pete Dye Course is listed at 301yds from the tips....yes, a PAR 3!    While watching the flyover I was thinking to myself "...and here's the drivable par 4."  I then looked at the scorecard and nearly threw up when I saw it was the course's final "short hole."  Is this the longest listed par 3 in the world?   

The International's 7th, 16th and 13th in Bolton, MA check in at 277, 270 and 250 respectively. I thought those yardages were ridiculous....

Forget the arguement about length and how it relates to the assigned par to a given hole....knowing Pete's style, this 16th hole prob plays extremely tough as a par 4.   

[Brent Carlson]

Nick,

Wow, that is a long par 3.  But the more I think about it, a drive or three wood was probably played on a lot of 240-250 yard par threes before advanced equipment.  Ironically, I recollect that the Ross course next door had a couple really long one shotters.  I'll bet when the course was designed they were considered quite lengthy.

301 is the longest that I have ever heard of.  

[Carr Harris]

When I played oakmont a few years ago our host made us play No. 8 at 300 yards. We were so far back that my right foot was on the rough behind the tee box while teeing off. It was into about a 10 mph wind and I hit a pretty solid drive and came up 15 yds short of the green.

Fun (?) to do as a novelty once, but next time I'm playing the hole from a much more manageable distance.

[Andy Stamm]

The Ross course at French Lick has 3 par threes that play about 250. I played there a few weeks ago and the two that played into the wind were beasts, with only my Sunday best having a chance to reach.

And obviously, we're not at elevation or anything here.

[Andy Troeger]

The amazing thing about the Dye hole at French Lick is that it has a pond all the way down one side, is well guarded by bunkers, and has a fair amount of trouble if you bail way left too. I don't think the 300 yard tee is really meant to be played, however. Its a tough hole from the 180 yard "regular" tees though. Its far harder from 300 yards than most of the driveable par fours I've seen of the same distance. I'd probably lay-up to 80 yards and try my luck from there--although you still have the pond to deal with.

[Travis Dewire]

Thos yardages for the international are for the "Tiger Tee's" - 8,000 yards total, and I believe special permission is required from the shop to play the tees. The members certaintly do not play from those distances on a regular basis. I believe hole 7 is about 200ish. The difficulty on this hole is the perched green on the other side of the gully - plays slightly downhill but is ALL carry, and there is a pond at the bottom of the gully, so you gotta get it up the hill or you are soaked. Tough hole from the members tee.

The 17th hole at Brae Burn is 255 par 3 from the backs. The member tees alternate between this tee, a tee at 230, and a tee at 220. However the hole plays downhill, with the terrain sloping downward and from the tee's right. A draw shot will take a nice roll down this hill, and the green is open in front to accept the running shot. i would guess the hole plays anywhere from 10-25 yards shorter than the measurement. Hole 8, is 235 from the backs, and is a force carry of 200 to get to the mowed fairway short of the green. A shot not reaching the crest of the hill, is not in trouble, just on a steep hill in the rough uphill with no look at anything but the sky. Hole 8 plays much harder than 17 IMO.