Par 3s are great for kids

[Anthony Gray]

 Did you get your first par on a par 3?


Your first birdie?


Would you like to see more par 3s? At least 5 per course?


Sometimes par 3s are used to connect holes on the routing, what are some par 3s that were there from the start.


My early memories around golf were focused on par 3s. The green locations were perfect. On one par 3 I could play the ball off the bank then catch a couple crawdads in the creek. Also had par 3 finishes on the two courses I learned golf on. Always a chance to finish with a par. One had the parking lot on the behind the green. Cars were always in danger.


Would you like to see more par 3 finishes?

[Tommy Williamsen]

I think four par fours are enough. I didn't have the same love affair with par threes as you did. I loved a long par four. A par on it was challenging so when i made four it was like conquering a foe. My first birdie was on a par four: Driver, six iron to three feet.


I can't be certain about it but 17 at Ballyhack was a natural par short par three. It just sat there waiting for Lester to throw grass seed down.
I would think 15 at Cypress Point was also a natural.
When my kids were little evry hole was a par three from about 60-80 yards.

[Mark_Fine]

Anthony,
I love par threes and would like to see more of them.  Thumbs up!  Stay patient as you might see a high end championship course in the next two years with a lot of them. 

[Thomas Dai]

More par-3’s? Yes please, especially if there’s a significant variety in length with at least one if not more tiddlers, sneaky ones preferably.
Atb

[Joe Hancock]

Anthony,
I love par threes and would like to see more of them.  Thumbs up!  Stay patient as you might see a high end championship course in the next two years with a lot of them.

Mark,


I’m curious what constitutes a high end championship course. As a follow up, how many is “a lot”?


I’d call The Preserve at Bandon a high end course, having “all” holes as par 3s.

[Mark_Fine]

Joe,
A course that could even challenge the best players in the world with a variety of par fours par fives and at least 8 par threes and be 6500 yards max from the tips.  If it happens and gets the right exposure it might change the game for the better.  Less land, less maintenance, lower costs, and just as much fun and excitement and maybe even faster rounds.  Stay tuned 😊

[Andrew Harvie]

I really like par 70 courses that have five par 3's and three par 5's for whatever reason. I don't care much for par 5's even though thats where I statistically score the best, and I enjoy a par 3 finishing hole (Kawartha, Burlington, Pasatiempo). By big thing is I like variety, so ending on a par 3 is unique and fun if its done well so I won't complain.

[Tom_Doak]

Joe,
A course that could even challenge the best players in the world with a variety of par fours par fives and at least 8 par threes and be 6500 yards max from the tips.  If it happens and gets the right exposure it might change the game for the better.  Less land, less maintenance, lower costs, and just as much fun and excitement and maybe even faster rounds.  Stay tuned 😊

It sounds like you think you have invented a genius new concept.


You should maybe re-read my first entry for the Gourmet’s Choice in Volume 2 of The Confidential Guide - Audubon Park in New Orleans.  IIRC it has ten par-3’s and doesn’t scare 6000 yards, but it plays as hard as a regulation course in relation to par.  Maybe it’s not Championship but that’s a b.a. term anyway.

[Steve Lang]

   Par 3's are great for kids... my dad would set me up from 100 yds+ and say you've got 3 strokes to make par!


Spent countless hours at the Par 3 Course at NW corner of Monroe & Talmadge streets in Toledo... NLE except for the memories... short game really developed there.


Today, as long as the one-shotters aren't all the same, e.g., all drops or all over ravines, etc., I don't care how many of them there are on a course, Threetops is my limit though...

[Anthony Gray]

Joe,
A course that could even challenge the best players in the world with a variety of par fours par fives and at least 8 par threes and be 6500 yards max from the tips.  If it happens and gets the right exposure it might change the game for the better.  Less land, less maintenance, lower costs, and just as much fun and excitement and maybe even faster rounds.  Stay tuned 😊

 Golf is about fun period. The little betting games golfers play seem to work better on par 3s too. Looks like this would be an awesome buddy course.

[Mark_Fine]

Anthony,
Time will tell but yes any golf course should be fun and interesting.   


We all know there are 18 hole par three courses like for example Hamilton Farm in NJ.  I love their par three course and it actually might be more fun and tougher to par than the 18 hole championship course on the property.  No one said what I mentioned was a new idea or new design concept.  They are probably out there and we just don't talk about them on this site.  But wouldn't it be good for the game if there were courses where a PGA tour event could be held and it is only 6400 or 6500 yards and few if any are describing it as goofy or simply chip and putt golf.  It would have mostly par three holes, 8-10, but still also have demanding par fours and par fives in the mix for the best players in the world.  If you can design a course like this for them, you could do the same for everyone else.  As you said, par threes are fun and the architect can be very creative with them and mix up the yardages.  It is not about just making it hard, it is about making it fun and challenging at the same time and not needing 7500-8000 yards to do it.  Of course par for 18 holes wouldn't be at or above 70 any more but who cares. 

[Anthony Gray]

Anthony,
Time will tell but yes any golf course should be fun and interesting.   


We all know there are 18 hole par three courses like for example Hamilton Farm in NJ.  I love their par three course and it actually might be more fun and tougher to par than the 18 hole championship course on the property.  No one said what I mentioned was a new idea or new design concept.  They are probably out there and we just don't talk about them on this site.  But wouldn't it be good for the game if there were courses where a PGA tour event could be held and it is only 6400 or 6500 yards and few if any are describing it as goofy or simply chip and putt golf.  It would have mostly par three holes, 8-10, but still also have demanding par fours and par fives in the mix for the best players in the world.  If you can design a course like this for them, you could do the same for everyone else.  As you said, par threes are fun and the architect can be very creative with them and mix up the yardages.  It is not about just making it hard, it is about making it fun and challenging at the same time and not needing 7500-8000 yards to do it.  Of course par for 18 holes wouldn't be at or above 70 any more but who cares.

 We have a local 0ne and it’s a blast. I’m going to to thread on it. There is a big choose up on Wednesday. Hole 9n one pot. It’s just plane fun and you are not beat up after playing it. Another place has a Tuesday par 3 chose up. Every hole is a par 3. Again just a great time. I’m sure your project will be successful. It’s uniqueness is what golfers are wanting. Just like the two I just mentioned.  Par 3s can be just as challenging as 4s and 5s. Hope I can make it to your project.

[Mark_Fine]

Won't be my project.  Much bigger name than me. 

[Bill Seitz]

Maybe this isn't the case everywhere, but we had two decent par 3 courses near where I grew up, one in Arcadia, CA, and one in South Pasadena (which was a little nicer).  I started playing at age 9 and I don't think I ever played a regulation length golf course until I was 13 or 14.  They were great places to learn all aspects of the game, from the swing to golf etiquette.  I don't know what position I'll be in when my kids are old enough to play, but if I'm not a member at a local club (or maybe even if I am), that's the route I would take to introduce them to the game.

[Garland Bayley]

Joe,
A course that could even challenge the best players in the world with a variety of par fours par fives and at least 8 par threes and be 6500 yards max from the tips.  If it happens and gets the right exposure it might change the game for the better.  Less land, less maintenance, lower costs, and just as much fun and excitement and maybe even faster rounds.  Stay tuned 😊

Nope! TOC with two par 3s is more the way to go. I dislike par 3s. Too much putting, too little ball striking. You guys must love goofy golf. 

[Garland Bayley]

...
You should maybe re-read my first entry for the Gourmet’s Choice in Volume 2 of The Confidential Guide - Audubon Park in New Orleans.  IIRC it has ten par-3’s and doesn’t scare 6000 yards, but it plays as hard as a regulation course in relation to par.  Maybe it’s not Championship but that’s a b.a. term anyway.

  For highly skilled players, par 3s play harder that other holes in relation to par. So why wouldn't it play harder than a regulation course in relation to par?

[john_stiles]

Knoxville Tennessee has three par 3 courses that I know about. 


Concord has 9 holes, none longer than about 125.  Beverly Park is 9 holer with longest 175.  Each of these is run by Tennessee Golf Foundation.


There is also Williams Creek with an 18 hole course and 3 sets of tees, totaling 1640 to 2700 yards. The long 'blue course' is challenging.  Makes for a fun change of pace even if you like a full size course. Even at 1640 it would challenging for the little ones.


Seems like a par 3 course could be a great start for kids.

[Gib_Papazian]

For the first fledgling steps, I suggest the Children's Course in Gullane.


I imagine that wee field is a gateway drug  . . . .


It is also across the street from The Mallards (hope it reopens) and a short walk from The Old Clubhouse Bar & Grill, for adult beverage replenishment.

[Mike_Trenham]

Family Tees in the fairway on par 4’s are great for kids.


Often times Par 3’s are aggressively protected by bunkers and water hazards making par a real challenge. 


While par 4s are open in front making running the ball onto the green a possibility.  It also lets them use a driver off a tee which is the easiest full shot today.

[Mark_Fine]

What is all this talk about tees on par fours just for kids?  I have convinced a number of the clubs I have worked with to set up their entire 18 hole course on certain times or say half days as an 18 hole par three course.  Golfers of all abilities love it! They vary the tee locations and distances for each hole any way they choose and print custom score cards to match.  Make the game different and fun and a lot quicker than 4 hours 

[Jim Adkisson]

Pacific Dunes returning  9……