[Thomas Dai]

Once upon a time famous holes such as Eden's and Redan's and the like were used as templates by those laying out courses.

Which par-3 holes designed after WWII have formed or could be seen as forming design templates for courses constructed these days?

I guess the 17th at TPC Sawgrass would be one?

Which others would be?

Atb

[jeffwarne]

Downhill holes (that is holes that PLAY downhill)
It takes work, but it's actually possible to have 18 of these gems, even if you walk UPHILL to play each of them.

[Nigel Islam]

Unfortunately, the 220 yard holes over a lake with green surrounded on three sides by bulkheads.

[Bill_McBride]

Not sure when Rivermont was built, but their Redan is really a solid example. 


At Pensacola we have an amazing 7th hole that is 245/215/195 with a reverse Redan kick plate and a Barritz swale across the deep green. 


Steve Smyers' Southern Dunes course in Florida has a cool Biarritz green at the end of a par 5. 


Tom Doak's Apache Stronghold has a very good Redan. 


I don't there are par 3 templates that have been created.  I guess the C&C Lions Mouth short par 4 could be considered a template. 

[mike_malone]

#10 at Glen Mills is a model. It has a trapezoidal shape with a ridge the runs through the middle and front to back. It has three tees that rise from 125 yards to 200 at the top.
It is a modern classic.

[Thomas Dai]

I managed to find a couple of photos of the 10th at Glen Mills. Looks interesting, as does the whole course actually.


There is asaying about history repeating itself so overall l I guess there have not been many new par-3 design ideas since WWII, or before, or am I being very unfair?


One par-3 built in the last few years that I'm looking forward to playing, actually two par-3's, are the 2nd and the 7th on the new Kilmore Nine at Carne


A question For those who have been working on such projects....how do par-3's fit in on reversable courses?


Atb

[Ronald Montesano]

Mike Strantz holes
-Tobacco Road: numbers six and seventeen
-True Blue: number fourteen
-Royal New Kent: number three
-Tot Hill Farm: number three


It's usually a shortish par three, a bit downhill, to a wide and shallow green. Tees tend to be distributed around a perimeter, giving an arena or cauldron feel to the hole. I like them. I don't believe that Stonehouse or Caledonia have one of these, unfortunately for them.

[Ally Mcintosh]

One par-3 built in the last few years that I'm looking forward to playing, actually two par-3's, are the 2nd and the 7th on the new Kilmore Nine at Carne.

Glad you're looking forward to them, Thomas. If I do say so myself, I find both a thrill to play.

Although I doubt either of them could form modern templates. In fact, I had working titles for all 9 holes based on classic holes that they reminded me of.... The 2nd was Dell and the 7th was Calamity ++.

Others included Alps (5th), Spion Kop (6th), Postage Stamp (4th) and Island (3rd), the last because the blind drive and downhill fairway reminded me of the 5th hole at Malahide.

[Jeff_Brauer]

A par 3 I like has been built by Bob Cupp once, and protégé John Fought several times - short par 3, elevated green, single DA type bunker in front, fw height chipping areas falling away on all sides.

Yes, CBM had the short hole, and there is PV 10, but I feel like the fw chipping area fall off improves it and makes it a different enough hole to consider in America.  Brits might just consider it another postage stamp.

Another version might be the dreaded "straightforward" par 3 - medium to long, green surrounded by 2-3 sand bunkers, basically, the accuracy test on a longer distance. Some architects have taken to making these very long, figuring its the only way to test long players with a long iron.

And, as mentioned, the pond on one side, pretty wide bail out on the other, usually downhill.  Also, mid and forward tees angled so they play less directly across the water than the back tees to ease play for average players.  Pond size, length, and bail out area are all adaptable to many lengths.   

[SPDB]

This is sort of historical refinement of the template that Nigel identified above, but, rightly or wrongly (or regrettably), I think the redesigned 4th at the Baltusrol (Lower) has to be considered a template. If for no reason than given the proliferation of RTJ courses in the 60s and 70s, this hole (or some variation of it) found its way onto a good number of courses that RTJ designed or redesigned.

[Tim Gavrich]

Par threes with drops of 80 feet or more from tee to green have to be a fairly recent innovation, given that they tend to appear on courses where carts are the norm.

[Thomas Dai]

I'm not familiar with some of the US holes mentioned so if you have a photo you could post it would be much appreciated.


As to the Kilmore Nine, I can visualise where most of the working names came from Ally (though not yet played The Island). Calamity (the opposite way around) being particularly appropriate.


If you look into some of the courses James Braid laid out in the early 20th century Tim you should find a few long drops, courses like Church Stretton and Welshpool for example. Hutchison's lay out at Kington has a couple of severe droppers too.


Interesting what you say about 'straightforward' Jeff. The Bob Cupp/John Fought hole sounds intriging, a bit like a shorter version the 5th at Gleneagles Kings? Any specific BC/JF hole/course examples?


Atb

[Pete_Pittock]

The fourth hole "King" at Sweetens Cove http://www.sweetenscovegolfclub.com/hole-4/, along with its cousin ninth at The Kingsley Club.  Both have undulating greens with multiple teeing areas at different angles.  In retrospect I should also include the 9th at Chambers Bay, but that was not done by the original architect.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Par threes with drops of 80 feet or more from tee to green have to be a fairly recent innovation, given that they tend to appear on courses where carts are the norm.

Not in northern England...

17th at Halifax
13th at Notts (Holinwell)
6th at Reddish Vale

All over 100 years old   

[Kyle Henderson]

TPC Sawgrass #17.

[Jason Way]

C&C and Mr. Doak seem to be building long par-3s with the same core principles - open approaches with (sometimes heavily) contoured ground fronting the green, coupled with largish greens that are not canted, or that slope from back to front.  The tilt of the greens and lack of the use of bunkers as primary hazards makes them very different from Redans.


I have seen these holes in 2015 at Black Forest, Talking Stick North, Old Sandwich, Colorado Golf Club, CommonGround, and Streamsong Blue.  The wildest version of this kind of par-3 I have seen thus far is #17 at Sand Valley.  It is a gloriously crazy hole.  Kingsley #5 ain't too shabby either.


I like these holes because they give me options on the tee.  If I am swinging it well, I can hoist the ball all the way to the green and it will stop.  If I am feeling my advancing years and creeky spine, I can try and manufacture a low-lining shot utilizing the contours.  Great fun.   

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