Exceeding Expectations- Par 3's.

[Sam Morrow]

  In my thread about Exceeding Expectations we got lots of talk about courses but now I am curious to hear about the holes that exceeded your expectations because they were under the radar.

 This year I have played 2 par 3's that I never expected to be as good as they were. The first is 6 at Pines Dunes in Frankston, Texas. While Pine Dunes is considered one of the best in Texas I think it's far better than anyone realizes until they play it. The par 3 6th is a great example, it's a par 3 that plays 250ish from the back tee and straight downhill. The holes played about a club shorter for me and you can throw it out short right and feed it onto the green. There is a pond left and I hesitate to call it a Redan but it's such a cool hole. I wish I had a picture.

 The other par 3 I would add is the 4th at Pensacola Country Club, instead of writing my own description I will post the link that Bill wrote here. http://www.golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/pensacola-country-club/

Two awesome par 3's on courses that we don't talk about much on this site.

[Mark Saltzman]

Some great par-3s on courses we don't talk about too much:

Orchard Lake - Hole 7, 13.  13 in particular is fantastic use of land with the green perched above a 30 foot dropoff to the right of the green.

Carolina GC - Hole 3 - Long and hard, with clever bunkering and a very difficult green.  Not entirely unique to Ross, but a very good hole.

Sebonack - Hole 12.  The downhill version of Shinny's 11th, but with water in the background.

Dormie - Hole 12.  110 yards, with a unique tee box and a green that is subtle but oh so difficult.

... there are lots more

[Sam Morrow]

Some great par-3s on courses we don't talk about too much:

Orchard Lake - Hole 7, 13.  13 in particular is fantastic use of land with the green perched above a 30 foot dropoff to the right of the green.

Carolina GC - Hole 3 - Long and hard, with clever bunkering and a very difficult green.  Not entirely unique to Ross, but a very good hole.

Sebonack - Hole 12.  The downhill version of Shinny's 11th, but with water in the background.

Dormie - Hole 12.  110 yards, with a unique tee box and a green that is subtle but oh so difficult.

... there are lots more

What is unique about the tee box on 12 at Dormie?

[Mark Saltzman]

Sam, the tee box is tiered.  The back tee is actually lower than the forward sets.  It is an interesting concept, one I have never seen before, but one that makes a lot of sense. 

If the back tees are always at a higher elevation than the other sets, they get a visual advantage as well as minimizing the impact of their added distance.

Here's a picture:




And while I'm at it, a couple of pictures of the 13th at Orchard Lake:

[Jon Wiggett]

Gibraltar at Moortown, Leeds.

[Mike Boehm]

The 9th at Franklin Hills.  Even from the back tees, it is just a mid iron at 174 yards, but it plays to a wild greenfronted by two of the deepest traps on the course.  A lot of great pin positions on that green.  Wish I had a picture of it.

[Mark Saltzman]

Mike,

All of the par-3 at Franklin Hills are exceptional.  I find it really hard to pick a favorite.

[Sam Morrow]

Thanks for the pictures Mark!

[Pete Balzer]

Keystone Ranch #5

[Brian Hilko]

14 at Bowes creek 

[Mark McKeever]

17 at St George's was a fantastic short par 3 that surprised me.

Mark

[Trey Kemp]

Sam, here is a picture of hole 6 at Pine Dunes.  It was taken last winter so its not the greatest picture.

[Kalen Braley]

The 11th at Tumble Creek is fantastic.  Putting that par 3 on that ridgeline like that was sheer genuis!

[jeffwarne]

#4 and 12 at Shennecossett

[Jud_T]

this one's pretty impressive the first time you see it in person:

[Carl Nichols]

Four of the five par 3's [8, 12, 15, 17, IIRC] at Bald Peak Colony Golf Club in New Hampshire.  The weak sister is # 5, a dropshot par 3 that seems completely out of place.  The others are great and unique.

[Tim Martin]

#4 and 12 at Shennecossett

+1 especially #4.

[Jud_T]

Exmoor, #7?  Can't remember the exact hole #.  Just remember being over by that tree!