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David Davis

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Most intimidating par 3's?
« on: September 05, 2012, 05:34:12 AM »
Let's here them? If they are not too well known perhaps a photo if you have it would be great.

I can think of a few that I found to be knee knockers and often this did also have to do with the weather conditions (wind). Not in any particular order.

#17 Whistling Straits (Straits Course) - 249 yds - played this puppy into the wind coming off the left. Glad it wasn't the right. But I played the Blues from there it was just a medium length, girly 224 yds into a 3 club wind.
#4 Black Wolf Run (River Course) - 219 yds - and they are calling it a medium length par 3. Honestly?
#7 Pebble - that green seemed rather small - and the Ocean rather large - with Wind force 6 blowing head on.
#16 Cypress Point - 2 club breeze into my face, no need to comment any further.
#15 Kinsbarns - 212 yds wind against from the right.
#13 Muirfield - wind was hard off left to right. Either you draw it against into the middle of the green or hit the beach. I hit a good shot middle of the green that was fading as I couldn't really draw the ball at the time. Caddy said, "you're not much for listening are you?" watched what I honestly thought was a perfect shot given a draw was out of the question bounce, roll right and back down off the front into a huge bunker.
#6 NSW - 177 m - hard wind from the sea, can you say bail right?
# 5 Stonewall Orchard - 239 yds all carry over water.
# 14 MPCC Dunes course - 180 yds wind from the right against and waves crashing all over the place.

I just realized how lucky I've been. Every single round at the above courses was played in sunshine. Amazing since I've only played each of them once. That means conditions can get a hell of a lot harder....wow.

Just realizing a pattern here. Every one of these holes that intimidated me have water in play or in view (perhaps indicating a fear of fish), a few even have trees and bunkers added to the mix. Must be 3 of the things I dislike most about golf courses... ;D

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Patrick_Mucci

Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2012, 06:02:19 AM »
David,

# 5 and # 14 at Pine Valley should be on any list.

# 6 at Preakness Hills and # 4 at Mountain Ridge w ould be worthy of the list

Tim Martin

  • Total Karma: 3
Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2012, 07:45:05 AM »
Although not necessarily from a distance standpoint # 9 at Yale should find it's way onto the list as one of the more visually intimidating holes around. Regardless of whether it is pinned on the front or back portion of the biarritz green the aerial shot over Griest Pond from the elevated tee provides little comfort. A shot that finds the correct tier brings equal parts joy and relief. If you have found the wrong tier or the swale your journey is only beginning.

Jud_T

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2012, 07:52:24 AM »
David,

Do you mean visually intimidating, or the pucker factor of possibly putting up a big number?  If it's the latter, Kingsley #2 has to be near the top of the list.
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Scott Warren

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2012, 07:54:46 AM »
Patrick,

I disagree on the 14th. I just don't think it's that hard a shot. Especially compared to the 5th.

Tim,

Certainly. You'd reckon just getting across the water would be great, then you start thinking about finding the right tier. Great hole.

Mark Bourgeois

Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2012, 08:09:41 AM »
In my experience the 9th at Pinnacle Point. It's like stepping into that watercolor of the original Biarritz.

Mark McKeever

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2012, 08:11:33 AM »
Definitely agree on 5 at Pine Valley and 9 at Yale.  Also noteworthy is 9 at Stonewall's Old Course.  It's 230 from the new back tee hitting from right next to the farmhouse patio with people watching.  Anything a hair left is gone, right leaves a very demandnig up and down.

Mark
Best MGA showers - Bayonne

"Dude, he's a total d***"

Scott Szabo

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2012, 08:27:08 AM »
Sand Hills #13.
"So your man hit it into a fairway bunker, hit the wrong side of the green, and couldn't hit a hybrid off a sidehill lie to take advantage of his length? We apologize for testing him so thoroughly." - Tom Doak, 6/29/10

Dan_Callahan

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2012, 09:11:47 AM »
The 17th at Waverly Oaks: 250 yards, straight uphill.


Mark Saltzman

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2012, 09:34:59 AM »
7/11 at Shinney.

6(?) / 17 at Stadium at PGA west

#8 at Uplands

Michael Baldwin

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2012, 09:58:50 AM »
#7 at Lawsonia.  No where to miss (short and right is the toughest recovery I've attemped).  It also seems to play a club longer than the yardage suggests.

Bill Seitz

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2012, 10:05:23 AM »
David,

Do you mean visually intimidating, or the pucker factor of possibly putting up a big number?  If it's the latter, Kingsley #2 has to be near the top of the list.

It would be right before (or after, depending on your preference) #9 from the south tees. 

John Crowley

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2012, 10:22:45 AM »
Royal Portrush number 14 "Calamity" 210 yards.

Carl Johnson

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2012, 10:24:27 AM »
Number 2 at Ardglass.  You can find it here, from the air.  In real life, you're hitting uphill. http://www.ardglassgolfclub.com/dsp_gallery.cfm  
« Last Edit: September 05, 2012, 10:28:41 AM by Carl Johnson »

Matthew Essig

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2012, 10:25:02 AM »
Just stating the obvious- 17 at Sawgrass.
"Good GCA should offer an interesting golfing challenge to the golfer not a difficult golfing challenge." Jon Wiggett

Mark Johnson

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #15 on: September 05, 2012, 10:26:48 AM »
#7 at Princeville  (190 yards over the pacific ocean to a diagonal green)

#13 at Hazeltine  (240 yards down a chute of trees with a lake on one side)

David Cronheim

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #16 on: September 05, 2012, 10:30:27 AM »
#16 at Port Royal Bermuda. 243 from the back tee and it looks like the green is barely on the cliff:

Check out my golf law blog - Tee, Esq.

Michael Ryan

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #17 on: September 05, 2012, 11:00:19 AM »
I think this is a great question and for me always leads into a discussion on what elements make a par 3 intimidating.  Is it the distance?  The fact that there is a hazard or out of bound running up one entire side? (Thinking of 17 at Whistling Straits)  Features in the green or surrounding the green that make a certain miss the equivlent of jail? (The DA at Pine Valley's #10)  OR is it simply the fact that you can make a ridiculous number due to a poor to even mediocre shot (Pat Mucci brought up #5 at Pine Valley-is there a par 3 that can lead to an "x" easier than PV's 5th?)

I would throw #3 and #13 at Winged Foot West in the category of a par 3 that doesn't need a hazard or outrageous length (#3's back tee is getting into that territory now however) to be considered pretty intimidating.  I think #17 at PGA West Stadium is an example of an intimidating par 3 visually (take 17 at Sawgrass, add 20 or so yards, elevate the tee and narrow the width of the green-at least it looks that way).

Dan_Callahan

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #18 on: September 05, 2012, 11:07:39 AM »
At the other end of the spectrum (in terms of length) is the 3rd hole at Kittansett. Only 165 yards and a very big green. But with the ocean coming in from the right, a beach that goes on forever, and an elevated green that is angled so that you really can't see much of the putting surface, it's a tough hole to pull the right club. Add to that the fact that you can't help but want to hit it close because you know you might never get another shot at it, and it's one of the toughest short par 3s out there.


Michael Wharton-Palmer

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #19 on: September 05, 2012, 11:08:30 AM »
There can only be one winner...Pine Valley number 5.

David Bartman

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #20 on: September 05, 2012, 11:16:32 AM »
any list that doesn't have #12 at ANGC is incomplete

one more


Oakmont #8
Still need to play Pine Valley!!

Patrick_Mucci

Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #21 on: September 05, 2012, 11:31:21 AM »
Patrick,

I disagree on the 14th. I just don't think it's that hard a shot. Especially compared to the 5th.

Scott,

From what distance or tees did you play # 14 ?

Did you ever play it ith the wind in your face ?

The 5th is easier.

The tee and the rough/fairway/green are on approximately the same elevation.

You have an enormous landing area short of the green, and, the intelligent play is to play short, chip or putt up to the green and walk off with a par or bogie at the worst.
No such luxury exists at # 14

Josh Tarble

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #22 on: September 05, 2012, 11:32:30 AM »
In anticipation of this weeekend's BMW Champ.  Crooked Stick #6

220 yds, water tight right, steep embankment tight left, bulkheaded green

Greg Tallman

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Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #23 on: September 05, 2012, 11:44:23 AM »
#16 at Port Royal Bermuda. 243 from the back tee and it looks like the green is barely on the cliff:



243? When did they stretch this thing out? Does anyone know if the green was significantly altered? If not then this must be one of the more ridiculous holes around. When I last played it I believe we played from about 190(?) and it was a very tough green to hit from there. From 243, I don't want any of this hole.

David Davis

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Most intimidating par 3's?
« Reply #24 on: September 05, 2012, 12:06:16 PM »
Ok so I'm trying to look up some of these on google as I don't know them and haven't played them myself.

Dan #3 at Kittanset looks great. As you said not extremely intimidating but a very visually attractive hole. The ocean doesn't seem to interfere to much or be in play. Maybe just the occasion major slice, block or Barkley Bank.

David #16 at Port Royal looks ridiculously intimidating, at 243 yds into a heavy wind I might revert to putting it down the cart path and around to save my score....at the end of the day, it's Bermuda and things disappear there I've heard. Now I know why.

Dan #17th at Waverly Oaks: 250 yards, straight uphill. Ur kidding me...why does that sound and look like a par 4 to me?

Jud feel free to make it as complicated as you like, with most of these it's a relief just to find the green I guess, just add swales and stimp 11 and well get them banned from the PGA Tour even.

Sharing the greatest experiences in golf.

IG: @top100golftraveler
www.lockharttravelclub.com