Hole 3: Par 3, 145 YardsA short par 3 with a snaking tee box and a severely undulating green. Depending on where you choose to tee off from* the hole can play quite different in terms of both length and angle of approach.
The bunkers and long grass short of the green should not be in play. But, they do a very good job of (1) intimidating the player, even with a short-iron in hand, and (2) throwing off the depth perception of the player on this yardage marker-less course.
The green at the third is exceptional. Generally, the slopes left and right of the green serve to kick a ball toward the centre of the green. For the first time at Ballyneal, the keen-eyed player has the option of using a side-board to his advantage. But there is no reward without risk. For example, players attempting to use the side-board to get to a front pin that is long and left, leave an all but impossible recovery if they happen to hit there ball just over the slope in the green. Jim, I'll bet there are a lot of three putts from the back of the green to a front pin on 3! There are also bunkers left and right. Attempting to use the slopes but ending up in one of these bunkers leaves a very difficult recovery (they are a decent way off the green, though - in my 5 rounds I didn't even notice them - but from the pictures they look like big trouble).
* Did I mention there are no tee markers at Ballyneal? Tee-off wherever you think looks best. The hole can play anywhere from about 110 yards to 145 yards from the 'tee box,' but for the adventurous golfer it can play a whole lot more than that. One could play the hole from a couple of steps left of the 2nd green, making it about 180 yards. Or, if really brave, take your ball as far back into the second fairway as you like (provided there is no one playing the hole) --- my caddie had me play the hole from 230 yards. The bunkers short of the green are in play from there.
View from 'tee' left of 2nd green (180 yards)
From 145 yard tee
Approach green from left
From behind green
From near the 4th tee