In addition to the par 5's retaining their challenge, primarily due to the features within the body of the holes, I think the par 3's have enjoyed the same advantage.
While # 3 and # 14 have seen the addition of length, # 14 moreso than # 3, # 5 and # 10 remain virtually intact from their original form.
The par 3's at Pine Valley are the epitome of target golf.
They may present, as a group, the ultimate pass/fail test.
From the back tee, # 14 may be one of the hardest par 3's in all of golf, visually and playability wise.
But, back to # 3.
# 3 was from the begining and remains today, a pass/fail test.
The green is an island in a sea of sand with more trouble lurking further away.
But, hitting the green is no guarantee for making par.
The green, depending upon hole location, may make the hole more of a par 4, despite the mid-iron distance from the tee.
If one misses the green, I won't say that par is impossible, but, it can be very, very difficult, with double bogey a likely score.
And, hitting the green can leave one with 3 or 4 putts.
So, from the begining to current date, this hole has retained its challenge without resorting to gimmicks.
The distance, angle of attack, configuration and putting surface have withstood the test of time.
Thus, the hole remains as relevant today as it did 100 years ago.
# 5
The first time I walked unto the tee at # 5 I turned to my playing companions, none of whom had every played the course, I looked at the green across the chasm and said, "wow, this is one hell of a par 4". I thought it was a short par 4. My caddy said, " sir, this is a par 3".
I think first timers, without benefit of a scorecard or prior knowledge, would probably utter those same words.
This hole is visually intimidating and it's long, with a good carry to get to the fronting fairway, a minimum requirement.
Disaster lurks, left, right, long and very short.
If you play the hole to its yardage, unless you hit an exceptional shot, you're doomed, for misses left and right usually result in doubles or worse. Go long, and double or worse becomes par. Short is better than good. Too short is disaster.
So, despite advances in tech and distance, this hole has also retained its challenge, its relevancy as a demanding par 3.
As you walk onto the 10th tee and view the green, close by and slightly below, you're disarmed by this short hole, but, again it's another island in a sea of sand with more trouble looming nearby. The green views as a benign green since the plateau is almost invisible. Hole location and the visual it presents can determine the golfer's comfort zone and fear factor.
It would be hard to believe that a first time golfer hadn't heard of the famous DA and all of the legends, (notice the avoidance of the term "myth") associated with it.
While # 10 may be the shortest of the resident par 3's, it can still produce high scores.
The pass/fail test may be relatively easy, but once one fails to hit the putting surface, the difficulty of the 4 par 3's equalizes and # 10 becomes as difficult as # 3, # 5 and # 14.
Once on the putting surface, the general back to front slope, along with the added back tier make putting, sideways or downhill, more difficult.
# 14
As one walks off the extremely challenging 13th green, toward the 14th tee, the visual is startling, for down, well below where you're standing, your eyes take in the combination of four elements. The pond, beach bunker and green, and the surrounding trees.
It too is an intimidating sight.
As you walk onto the tee, you continue to study what lies below.
In the time that you first sighted the green, until the time you've teed your ball up and taken your stance..... the hole hasn't gotten any easier..... and, you know it.
And, if there's a breeze, especially in your face or crossing, you know, that the hole has just gotten more difficult.
This is the ultimate in pass/fail.
There is no fronting fairway to aid you, as on # 5.
This isn't a short shot that can be managed.
This green isn't an island surrounded by sand, your eyes and mind tell you that it's an island surrounded by water.
The golfer's brain tends to ignore the sand/bunker surrounding the green and the woods flanking the green, it's the heroic carry over water that rivets your attention. It's the uncertainty of your trying to factor the elevation disparity into your club selection, coupled with the knowledge of the consequences of a failed attempt that erode the golfer's confidence.
You can't bail out, you can't play safe, it's do or die.
It's frightening.
Should you be foolish enough to play this hole from the back tee, it just may be one of, or the most intimidating looking par 3's in golf. And if there's a breeze in your face or crossing, it just got exponentially more difficult, to play and in your mind.
One of the funnier stories from PV happened on the 14th tee when the legendary caddy, Rocky, was arguing with his golfer over which club to hit. Despite the elevation, the hole tends to play the yardage. Rocky was insisting that the golfer take the longer club.
The golfer, ego driven, was insisting that he could get there with the shorter club, which he selected.
The golfer teed the ball up and was taking his stance when Rocky interupted and said, "wait a second". Then he went over to the teed up ball, picked it up off the tee, brought it up to his face, looked at it and said, "you better take a deep breath", and then he put it back on the tee.
For those who have played # 17 at Sand Hills from the back, upper tee, imagine that shot to a true island green, only longer.
Individually and collectively the four par 3's at Pine Valley haven't lost their ability to intimidate and challenge golfers despite the passing of 100 years.
Next, the par 4's.