kittanset's 11th hole is an arresting hole to play time and time again. so is the 11th at winchester, ma. older courses seem to have better long one shotters. maybe modern architects try too hard. 17 at whistling straits looks pitiful - far too much going on.

I second the 13th at The Addington and the 6th at West Sussex. I would also add the 12th at Royal Ashdown which at 255 yards is quite a wallop and the 4th at Riveria, even though some of its versatility has been diminished. Tom's reverse Redan at Lost Dunes plays really well too - a long bunker shot to a back hole location is loads of fun.However, I too am surprised by the preponderance of holes in the UK. Interesting.

I agree with the 5th at Lost Dunes and would add the 3rd at Sand Hills, both are similar in principal to the 4th at Riviera and the 11th at L.A.The downhill 2nd at Sleepy Hollow (Ohio)is a 230 yard reverse Redan designed by Stanley Thompson. The green is bordered diagonally on the right by a deep ravine and creek. Very intimidating.I'm curious what the opinion of these long par-3s, from those who have seen or played them:#3--Olympic#5--Fishers Island#9--Jasper Park#5--Timber Point, if there's anything remaining

I'd nominate Oakmont #16 about 225 yards. As an observation on long par 3s, and the dominance of British courses, these were  designed when today's aerial assault was unknown. The ground between tee and green was an integral part of the design. Now it isn't, except an architect's blindness to this part of architecture usually defeats the player who wants (has ?) to bounce the ball onto the green.

RanI'm also a big fan of Stanley's, although I must admit I've unfortunately only played two of his courses, Cape Breton and Sleepy Hollow. Sleepy Hollow is in Breckville, which is just south of Cleveland.It is a public course and lies in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area.The course dates from 1923, which makes very early in his career. Its a little over 6600 yards from the tips on very rolling terrain, and although it would never make anyone's list of greatest courses, it meets your criteria of great fun. The 1st lolls you into false sense of your game, with a severely down hill 530 yd. par 5, which is easily reached in two. Folowed by the ego crushing 2nd, the 460 yd. par-4 3rd, without level square yard, followed by the 570 yd. 4th. The course is made up a great, very-good, ordinary and just plain bizzare holes, including the horseshoe shaped par-5 14th and the drivable 275 yd par-4 around a pond 17th.I have always felt that Thompson was the least appreciated of the great designers of his day.

To B. Williams:You are absolutely right about many of the early architects in New England designing a long one shotter in their routings.  Ross and Stiles who designed most of the courses on the 1920's in Mass, NH, VT and Maine have a number of simple straitforward long one shotters that can make or break a round.  The 17th at Taconic (221 yards), the 15th at Woodland (MA) (220 yards) are a couple of more examples.The monster, however, is the third at Myopia Hunt Club.  Designed in 1896 by Herbert Leeds, the hole measures 253 yards to a two tier green.  There is a deep cross bunker about 30 yards from the green that if you mishit a 3 wood (or even a driver for you short hitters), you're cooked.  Now there is a caveat on listing this hole as an original long three in that it was originally designed as a drive and pitch par four.  It was changed (I don't know when) to a three because as a four it was a birdie fest.

An old thread.

I wonder if Tom Doak has added to the list of long par 3s he has built?

An old thread.

I wonder if Tom Doak has added to the list of long par 3s he has built?

Mark,

I've played two of Tom's new courses, Stone Eagle and Ballyneal.  #7 at Stone Eagle is a 220 yard drop shot.  It's a fine hole, but definitely not one of my favorite holes at the course.  #15 at Ballyneal is about 230 yards, slightly downhill,  to a natural depression inbetween the dunes. (punchbowl style).  It's a great hole, an absolute stunner.

Berkshire Blue at 217 qualifies. First shot of the day it's very intimidating.  A large fall away to the right collected my weak slice the second time I played it.  The first time a tail wind and a perfectly struck shot carried the green, the tee 20’ below the back of it and ended up in someone's back garden a further 20’ down.

Brining back a thread from '99, that’s great. When you say 215 yards is this from the tips? I have a problem with any par three from the men’s tees where I need to hit wood (on a calm day). For most golfers this hole is unreachable. Is this something that can take away from the greatness of such a long one shot hole? And how do these holes you mention take this into consideration with perhaps a large opening to run a tee shot onto the green?

Mark:

The 4th at Sebonack is a brute, and the 6th at Cape Kidnappers can be when the wind is up.  The 4th and 16th at St. Andrews Beach both have their supporters (and detractors as well -- see the St. Andrews Beach threads -- the feedback there is very typical of what you hear about long par-3's).

The 13th at Rock Creek might be in the first rank of holes -- there's a huge dip between tee and green and a huge drop to the left, a bit like a reverse version of Calamity!

off the top of my head my north american list would include:

5 at fishers - perhaps my fave along with:

16 at Cypress point

5 at Pine Valley

17 at Merion  -agree with Tom Doak - could never understand why this hole is not more revered - i suspect it gets penalized for being sandwiched between those 2 gems

3 at Myopia - a beauty - I  agree with the previous posters -this course should be ranked much higher than it is - not quite NGLA imho -but one of my favorite places to play  

7 at Chicago - card says 211 but assume a back pin and it qualifies - a redan for the ages imho - 3 is also really good but not as good

16 at Beacon Hall in Toronto

9 at yale - however front pin would not qualify

10 at Bel Air

2 at Scarboro in Toronto and 14 is really good as well

4 at Riviera

15 at Philly Country Club

4 at San Francisco Golf Club

9 at St. Thomas near London Ontario - maybe the most underrated course in Canada IMHO -

2nd at Shinnecock

16 at Olympia Fields North -an integtal part of a great stretch of holes on the back nine