Bunkerless Par 3's

[Scott_Burroughs]

Dan,

Here's another Ross volcano hole at Wilmington Municipal.  
No bunkers, either, though obviously one used to be there.

[CHrisB]

At the opposite end of the volcano holes are the sunken or bowl-shaped greens.

A couple of my favorite bunkerless par 3's are the 182-yard 16th at Cruden Bay and the 225-yard 9th at St. Andrews New, both sunken greens with contours to negotiate around the rim of the bowl.  When the pin is in the front, it's a tough shot to get close, because you have to flirt with leaving it short of the bowl and having a runaway pitch.

The 16th is in the background.  In the foreground is another par 3, the 15th, which I believe is bunkerless also (not sure about this), and gets much of its challenge from its length (239 yds) and its blindness.

I was going to mention the Dell Hole at Lahinch, but looking at the yardage guide there is a little bunker to the far left that I didn't know about.  Here it is in the forground of this picture taken from the left of the green.

[GeoffreyC]

Another good one is Tank at the old course at Ballyliffen.



Interesting that we've seen tabletop greens, sunken greens and here a raised greensite with containment on the sides and all make for exciting holes with great interest and without bunkers.

[Jeff Goldman]

I do not think that the 15th on the Meadow/Valleys course at BWR has any bunkers, just a 230 yd. shot from the back over a big ravine to a giant green that really does look like a volcano rising from the ground with two elephants buried in it, and some funky wind.  Certainly one of the greatest modern par-3s I've ever seen.

Jeff Goldman

[Paul_Turner]

That great architect Tom Dunn, built the world's best.  The 5th at Royal Wolington and Newmarket, the green is shaped like vaulting horse.

Painswick's 6th would be right up there too.

[billb]

Some excellent holes!

ChrisB, I think you are right about #15 at Cruden Bay not having bunkers. Certainly a tough hole, but not sure a blind par 3 of 239 qualifies as a "good" hole? I did manage a birdie  there once....pushed a 2 iron, it bounced along the road right of the green, hit a railroad tie next to the road causing a serious ground hook, and ended up about 3 feet.  
#16 is a great hole. What about #4? I don't recall any bunkers there either.

I would also have suggested the Dell, but the picture proves us wrong.

Tank at Ballyliffin is excellent, and that is a great picture Geoff!

Speaking of Sligo, what about the 12th (I think it was the 12th)? The hole with the burn behind the green?

#8 at Sky Mountain in Hurricane, Utah. Elevated tee, over a bit of valley, back up to the green, not a bunker to be found. Desert left, back down a slope to the right and rear. Plays around  170 as I remember, usually with gusty winds. A well struck slight draw with a mid iron is the ONLY shot that will find the green.

And one more from the links of Ireland:
The Mass Hole at Waterville!!!

BB

[Paul_Turner]

[Bill_McBride]

Pat, thanks for your thoughts on Tokatee - you're right on about #6.  Luckily I was playing with my brother who's played there a lot.  On the tee first time I played it he kindly said, "If you're going to hit that driver, I'd suggest you not hit it too well!"  I don't remember much of the others you mention except #1 which could definitely use some demanding bunkering.