Ranking the eight par threes at Dismal?!

[John Kavanaugh]

I have a new leader in the clubhouse so thought this might be fun.  If anyone has pictures that would be great too.


1.  Red #5.  I didn't much care for this hole when I first played it possible because I use to hit the ball further.  Now it plays, at 240, a bit longer than it looks and fits perfectly with a hard faded driver.  It's a reverse redan and didn't even know it.


2.  White #5.  I will always love this hole because Brad Klein hates it.  Spite has always been the primary motivator in my life, as well as the ability to control trajectory, so I gotta love the required high soft fade to a blind hole.


3.  Red #11.  Another uphill blind par 3 that plays into the hands of the golfer who has played it the most often.  The front bowl is also a 1 begging to happen.


4.  White #10.  So many options, so little time.  I'm starting to like the back pin and have only hit in the bunker in the middle of the green once.  The time I played when there wasn't a hole cut in the green.  It's Dismal White at it's finest.


5.  Red #16.  The view of the ball cascading down the Buffalo Run is an iconic moment in every Dismalites day.  Love the odd ball bunker long left.  Can't wait to find it someday.  Also one of very few examples of a Doak backstop, they never disappoint.


6.  White #3.  A classic par 3 on a course where nothing else is.


7.  White #15.  I play it like some idiot who thinks it's a redan.


8.  Red #3.  I wish the giant bunker right were as beautiful as it could be.  One hell of a hole to be my least favorite.


Honorable mention.  White #8.  If you don't make 3 you lose.  Easier than Red #5.

[Sam Morrow]

This is tough, its like ranking cuts of steak. I'm pretty sure there are at least 5 par 3's that I've said are my favorite on the property

[John Kavanaugh]

Sam,


I'd like to hear your opinion just to see what par 3's weren't ever your favorite.  This topic is allowed because we are not comparing the par 3's to any other courses.  Just be careful not to like the White too much.

[Sam Morrow]

I think the strong point of Dismal is the par 3's. Start on Nicklaus

3. The most normal of the par 3's but a very good hole.

5. People who don't love the saddle probably are miserable and beat their wives. The reverse cross country saddle hole is the best par 3 out there.

10. The crushed donut is so incredibly unique.

15. I love this hole and have been within a foot now 3 times on that hole.

On Doak
3. Wonderful hole but I do wish the bunker was more in play.

5. Awesome hole even if I can't reach it.

11. I loved this hole when i saw it in the dirt and still love it.

16. It's like the perfect par 3.

[John Kavanaugh]

Thankfully the large bunker right on #3 Red eliminated the "yellow tee" team from the shootout. For that I will always be greatful.

[Mark Bourgeois]

This topic is allowed because we are not comparing the par 3's to any other courses.  Just be careful not to like the White too much.

Honest to God, bless you for this. Although it might be a sign / warning you have not been assimilated completely into the Borg. Good luck going forward.

[Nigel Islam]

Can someone post pics for the Nebraska naive?

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

I loved both the blind par 3's (#11 Red and #5 White) - just plain fun. If you can't hit the ball high I could see some griping. I remember thinking my Dad would hate it - since he hits a 9 iron about 20 feet off the ground. But I'd rather play 3s like that than a 215yd dead straight flat one any day.

The first time I stepped to #5 Red I thought,  "this is going to suck" knowing I'd have to play it 6 times that day. Surprisingly I hit the green 5 of 6 times, and for a moment on my second round thought I may make my first ace as I watched my tee shot fall right at the flag. I also learned my carry distance in the sand hills is exactly 240yds.

#16 Red is the only one I thought was average. But I played it so quickly to get away from the deer flies I didn't take much time to analyze

[Bruce Wellmon]

8.  Red #3.  I wish the giant bunker right were as beautiful as it could be.  One hell of a hole to be my least favorite.

I have said numerous times, I think the tee shifted on Red #3. When we walked it with Tom Doak while the course was being built, the bunker on the right put the fear of God in me. Now, not so much. We need a "Heaven or Hell" tee way right, where you have to come in over that beast.

[Bruce Wellmon]

1. White, 5, the saddle hole.
2. Red, 5, the driver hole.
3. White 15, The Redan.
4. Red 11. Another blind shot par 3.
5. White 10, front pin locations. The closest I have ever come to an ace. On several occasions.
6. Red 16. More near misses for an ace.
7. Red 3.
8. White 3.
9. White, #10. Back bowl pin locations.

[John Kavanaugh]

I agree, I've grown tired of the pick your own teeing ground concept.  Instead of creating variety it promotes a sense of fairness to your guests or opponents.  Anything outside the ordinary feels like cheating so you settle for the same ole, same ole.


My honorable mention par 3, the 8th on the White is a fantastic hole when played where you can't reach the green with driver.  Who in their right mind would pick that.  Sometimes golfers need discipline to have fun.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Of the 2 holes where I think I could possibly have an ace at DR, it's White 10, front 2 locations, and the par 4 8th with a driver off the tee. Driver is almost always the play.

[Mac Plumart]

Red 11
Red 16
White 3
White 15
White 5
White 10
Red 3
Red 5

[John Kavanaugh]

Red 11
Red 16
White 3
White 15
White 5
White 10
Red 3
Red 5

That reads like your golf DNA.

[Peter Pallotta]

Bobby Jones would rank them the same way. We know that Mac idolizes Bobby, but we forget that Bobby is smiling down on Mac with equal affection.
You, on the other hand, didn't go to St Andrews and play The Old Course even for your brother's 50th birthday. You and Scott Hoch can be friends instead.
 
Peter

[Colin Macqueen]

Gentlemen,


That's Mac for ye.


Pithy and straightforward! No beating about the bush on this golf forum or a golf course!


Cheers Colin

[Tom_Doak]

Last place for me would be #10 on the White course.  I still can't believe Jack Nicklaus built that hole.  I would have bet every dollar I had that he would never build a hole that funky.

[Keith OHalloran]

A thread started by Kavanaugh that would be greatly improved by photos. Interesting. 

[Sam Morrow]

Last place for me would be #10 on the White course.  I still can't believe Jack Nicklaus built that hole.  I would have bet every dollar I had that he would never build a hole that funky.

Don't talk that way about the half squished donut.

[Tom_Doak]

Don't talk that way about the half squished donut.

Personally, I lose interest in donuts once someone else has squished them, but chacun a son gout, I guess.

[Sam Morrow]

Tom,

Do you dislike the funky in general or because Jack did funky here? I like funky holes.

[Andy Gray]

This is a tough one, I'll give it a shot though:
1. Red #16 - I love shorter 3's and the setting is brilliant. The green and bunkering make each pin a different challenge.
2/3. Red #11 and White #3 - Couldn't decide between the two. I love the front bowl on R#11 and the back half of the green on W#3 that slopes away.
4. White #15 - I play a draw so love the way the hole sets up, interesting green as well.
5. Red #5 - Not many par 3's I have played require a faded driver, wasn't a fan at first but it grew on me over a few rounds.
6. Red #3 - I don't remember this hole as vividly as the others, hence it's position, but remember it being a solid hole with right being dead.
7. White #10 - Although I had fun on this hole, I didn't like the design of it, would probably end up frustrating me if I played it every week.
8. White #5 - I didn't like the design nor did I have fun on this hole. Too severe in my opinion, not many opportunities to make a great recovery.

[Dan Moore]

I think Jack ordered the Ribeye with halucinegenic yucca rub before he designed the 10th. 

[Sam Morrow]

I think Jack ordered the Ribeye with halucinegenic yucca rub before he designed the 10th.

That's an off the menu item.

[Dan Herrmann]

Red 11
Red 16
White 3
Red 3
White 15
White 5
Red 5
White 10