Greatest Par 3s in the world are 130 yards

[JC Jones]

So I'm watching the Golf Channel this evening and they are discussing the ridiculous length of Hazeltine this week and in an interview, Chad Campbell says that 300 yard par 3's are "no fun" and, basically, the PGA should realize that the best par 3's in the world are 130 yards.

I would agree with him but I want to generate a list.  I'll start:

#11 Pacific Dunes
#2 Kingsley Club
#14 Crystal Downs

[Matt_Cohn]

I'm not sure he understands that his is the first generation of pro golfers not asked to hit woods/metalwoods into par-3's.

[Bart Bradley]

#8 Royal Troon...the postage stamp is 124 yds...is that close enough?

Bart

[David_Elvins]

#7 Barnbougle

[Kalen Braley]

CPC #15 - Not sure if its 130 or less, but its close as I recall.

Pebble #7 as well

[Trey Stiles]

The older I get , the less I like the extra long par 3's

I love the short Par 3 that DEMANDS a precise shot or a decision to play safe to the fat of the green.

My home course ( Kingwood Country Club Forest Course ) # 6 is anything from a 7 iron to a wedge , but it's always an exciting hole with bulkheaded Lake Houston on the left , a very slim front section and a very tempting left rear pin placement it's a very fun hole .... I've learned the hard way , It's not a birdie hole , it's take a 1/2 club too much , try to hit it in the rear bunker ... Chances are , I'm 10 ft short of the bunker and 2 putts later I've escaped and ready to seek birdies elsewhere.

[Scott Stearns]

disagree-

#12 augusta nat-155 yards

i played a par three in my youth at Lansing CC-Langford/moreau-that was 90 yards--and it was either hit the green or make 4.  fun.

Agree that a 222 yard par three is sort of missing the point--i.e. the arch has st up the player for one shot-ask the player to hit a shot he wont get anywhere else on the course.

also think that the key to par threes is variety-and i see too many courses that miss this--if a player hits the same club to two par threes on one course, the arch has blown it.

[Wade Whitehead]

17 at Ballyhack is a fantastic hole.

WW

[Emil Weber]

8th at Rustic Canyon.....oh gimme Rustic everyday.....

[Anthony Gray]

  JC,

  Great topic. I love a short par 3. At my home course we have par 3's of varied lengths. One I can hit a wedge and one I bunt a driver. It adds a little class to the course. Pebble No 7 I love and The Postage Stamp is a classic. 17 at Sawgrass is a 8 iron at most. I wish more courses would have that shorty.

  Anthony

[Wayne_Kozun]

It appears that the longest par 3 at Hazeltine is 248 yards.  Is that too long for the pros - they will be hitting 3 irons or 5 woods into the green.  Is that so hard - most of us hit these clubs into par 3s on a very regular basis.

But I still love some shorter par 3s.

[Chip Gaskins]

#13 Merion
#8 Olympic - Lake :-)
#11 Austin Golf Club

[Peter Ferlicca]

16 at Wolf Run

[Cliff Hamm]

Wannamoisett third - maybe 140.  Pictures and description from the GCA write up.



3rd hole, 140 yards; Ross was a fan of ’scooped-out pits’ and this hole is a prime example. Bunkers guards the front and left side of the green. A steep slope to the right of the green kicks balls well away. You either find the small target off the tee or you have an interesting recovery shot (and the small target is just plain difficult to find). A hole of this length that requires precision is the perfect foil to the mugging the first two holes provide. The Donald Ross Society thinks so much of it (and the course) that the 3rd is their logo.

[Bill_McBride]

I like longer par 3s when you can run the ball onto the green.  Capilano #16, Oakmont #8, Mid Pines #13  

I hate longer par 3s with forced carries over sand, or water, unless you can carve a tee shot around them.  #16 Stevinson Ranch.  

[Kevin Pallier]

From Australia (other than Barnbougle)

Joondalup (Quarry)                    3
The Cut                                   16
Thirteenth Beach (Beach)   16
NSW                                         19

[Deucie Bies]

I don't remember the yardage, but does 10 at Pine Valley qualify?

[K. Krahenbuhl]

#14 @ The Honors.

[Emil Weber]

Palazzo Arzaga in Italy, a Jack Nicklaus jr. design, has par 3 of 241 metres (264 yards!!!) off the tips. It must be one of the longest par 3s in the world. Its ridiculous.


And one 2 pics of Rustic Canyon's 8th:


And my 3-somes (my dad, my brother and me) tee shots the other day, when we ended up with two 4s and one 3 instead of 3 2s....:

[Tim Gavrich]

There's a certain course in Ardmore, PA with a 13th hole in that yardage range.  

#6, Shelter Harbor

#12, CC of Farmington (CT)

[David_Elvins]

#13 Merion

Chip, Tim,


I would be interested to know whether anyone really thinks that it is a great hole.  No doubt it is a short par 3 on a great course but I don't see the quality of the hole as being close to the other holes listed on this thread in any way .  Next to 8,  the weakest hole on the course IMO. Am I missing anything?

[Damon Groves]

I agree completely. I play Santa Anita in Arcadia CA and have played over 250 rounds and the par 3 fourth plays 129. Also the 3rd at Ojai is 115 yds and just a great tough little hole.

[Anthony Butler]

Not a lover of most flip wedge holes. There's one at TCC that bugs the crap out of me, mostly because it's about 115 yds downhill and the green is about the size of picnic blanket. #3 on Squirrel Nine?

A couple slightly longer though that are beauties: #10 at Kingston Heath. #13 at RMW.

arb:

[K. Krahenbuhl]

#13 Merion

Chip, Tim,


I would be interested to know whether anyone really thinks that it is a great hole.  No doubt it is a short par 3 on a great course but I don't see the quality of the hole as being close to the other holes listed on this thread in any way .  Next to 8,  the weakest hole on the course IMO. Am I missing anything?

Couldn't disagree more.  I loved that hole and thought it was a perfect setup for a short par 3.  The green is wonderful as are the fronting hazards.  It was one of my favorite holes out there.

[David Stamm]

I agree completely. I play Santa Anita in Arcadia CA and have played over 250 rounds and the par 3 fourth plays 129. Also the 3rd at Ojai is 115 yds and just a great tough little hole.

I agree, Damon, the 3rd (or 12th ) is a very neat little hole that is harder than it looks.


 I'll second Kalen and Emil's nominations of 15 at CPC, 7 at PB and the 8th at Rustic.


I'll add Garden City's 2nd, 14 at Maidstone, the 2 or 20 at Engineers, 4th at Valley Club, 12 at Stone Eagle.