7th at Rye-Pound for pound toughest par 3

[NAF]

After Tommy's thread on the 11th at TOC, I started thinking about the pound for pound hardest par 3 I have ever played.. What immediately comes to mind is a hole like #16 at Cypress Point, but Dr. Mac provided one with the means to take a 4
there if he humbles himself and lays-up left.  While there are obvious par 3s where length (230-250yds) makes them difficult, the most difficult mid par 3 (150-190yds)
I have ever seen is the 7th at Rye..

The 7th at Rye I have played 4 times and when the wind comes off the channel it plays into a vicious hook wind..  While it is highlighted in Doak's book, I think given
10 or 20 shots I would be lucky to put one on the green.  Why? Rye almost always plays firm and fast and the green is slick as linoleum.  Holding an approach (which
best be the tightest of fades) is almost impossible.  Want to run it up? Two sleepers guard access to the green for a bumped approach.  Want to work the ball with the
wind? Guess wrong to the left and you are in jail!! Hollows and a tight lie chipping area guard the left side.  Miss short? You are looking for you ball in the junk? Miss right, same thing or at the best. Have a chip to a green that undulates and has good pitch to it.  I've never even bogeyed this hole.. 5 or 6 everytime in winds that vary from 15-40 mph.  

Thank the lord for match play because this hole takes its pound of flesh.  I would love to have that bucket of balls and try to get one close.

I have a pic of the left side of the hole if someone can post it for me..

[THuckaby2]

Never been to Rye but I'll take your word for it, NAF - sounds brutal.  I expect Dave Schmidt to chime in here.

I'd like to nominated Shinnecock #11 in this category, if I may.  The characteristics seem to be similar to how you describe Rye 7.  I just would like to believe it's a difficult golf hole, and I it's not that I just plain suck.

Tom "+5 lifetime, played it once" Huckaby

[NAF]

11 at Shinny is a good nominee.. Left is death and I actually made a bogey from that hollow..With the pitch to the green, above the green in regulation is no bargain but I slipped in a par...the bunkers in front aren't death as I just lipped out an up and down from there back in May.. The big difference is the wind at Rye.  I have played a lot of seaside golf in the last few years and the wind at Rye is UNIQUE...

[Michael Moore]

Here's the photo:

[THuckaby2]

NAF - hell, I made a par on 11 Shinnecock if you give me a few mulligans.  I did indeed get up and down from the back left... it was just my third try.

tee shot long and left
putt barely eaks over the edge, goes all the way into front bunker
blast out over green
putt from back left goes in bunker
blast doesn't get out, ball in foot print
blast over green
putt to 1 foot
tap in.

Ho-hum, frosty the snowman.

It was pretty windy that day... yeah, that's my excuse.

TH

[NAF]

Dave,

As they say, the hardest shots at Rye are the second to the par 3s..I still think one has a better shot at #2 and #5 (a good rival for pound for pound vs. Pebble #7) than at #7!  Same for the 2 par 3s on the back..#17 is the dog as many know of the bunch..still a decent hole.. But #7 is just so intimidating with the prevailing wind and punishment for any missed shot..What a green!

[THuckaby2]

Definitely a contender for PFP the hardest par 3 in the world.  But I thought #7 at PB had that all sewed up?    

PLEASE let there be some wind if we ever play that course together... if there is a God, it'll be gale-force that day.  
Of course the presence of a deity was proven by the Giants blowing a 5-run lead in game 6 of the WS, so I feel safe I'm gonna watch you suffer some day at Pebble, Dave.

TH

[Tim Weiman]

NAF:

Thanks for highlighting Rye. One of my biggest regrets is not making it there working in the UK.