I played a “cheapo” 9-hole attached to a hotel on the Isle of Wight this week.
The second hole was 100 yard Par 3 slightly down hill.
50 yards from the Tee was a LARGE deciduous tree about 80 feet tall with sparse leaves – from the ground to the first branch was about 15 feet.
In front of the green was a large bunker, behind the green was a huge fallaway. To the right of the green was out of bounds to the left the rest of the golf course.
Standing on the tee the only reasonable shot was a lofted wedge just clearing the tree – which I successfully managed – leaving the ball in the center of the green.
My playing partners were both beginners.
The male beginner used the tried maxim - a tree is 50% air - and fired away narrowly missing the trunk and forced a path of least resistance through the leaves.
He also managed to find the green.
The female beginner, with befitting guile, worm-burned it below the branches to the left of the trunk and past the bunker.
The ball came to rest on the left hand edge of the green!!!
Although I've come across the longer Par 3's with a tree about 100 yards from the hole I've never come across one so close to the Tee on a short Par 3.
It’s not the sort of hole I’ve ever found on a “name” course but it was a whole lot of fun.
The closest comparison I can think of are blind par 3’s with a forced wedge, usually to a green at a higher elevation.
This is different – one can see the green, it is at a lower elevation, however the forced wedge shot is the preferred option with alternative “chance” shots.
I’d be interested to know if anyone has come across a similar SHORT Par 3 with a forced wedge over a tree.