Old Works is, for lack of a better word, a destination golf course. The tee sheet is full nearly everyday. In Montana most courses punch greens in August...Old Works punches the greens after the course closes in late October...they do not want to lose a dime of revenue during peak tourist season. Last year it snowed 15 inches the night they punched the greens....They left the cores on the course until March when they had a few snow free days to blow them off.
The locals would never go for your idea....our season is short enough as it is, and the tourist expect 18 holes on a Jack Nicklaus course...
Agreed Craig,
Creating such a course would create a different pace of play/flow which would impact other golfers not interested in playing 1/2 a course, and would impact a course charging 1/2 revenue.(Maybe there are time when it WOULD create twice as many players-a good thing)
Could it work on some courses some days?
Sure, and an event such as the one Mark describes sounds fun, but I would say only as an occasional one off.
Mark, I guess I'm becoming the resident "short course basher" but many people simply don't want to play a par 3 course manufactured out of parts of a regulation course with abnormal distances between holes. (other than a special Masters event as you describe)
Closing the course to regular play would upset many people and mixing such play in would create pace of play disparity issues.
We have an incredible par 3 course that sits empty, as does Friar's Head.
In reality, those that want this can walk up and play from whatever yardage they want, just not sure it's something a majority would want besides the occasional one off.
People consume golf in many ways, which is great, and sure this could work at certain places, at certain times.
But to alter the routing/pace for others may create more ill will problems than it solves.
We do this at our course for junior events, and our members are extremely supportive, but no doubt their routines have to be adjusted-not sure they'd be as supportive for normal play, and at a public or busy private facility I just can't see opting for less revenue and potential disruption of green fees/dues paying golf consumers preferred routine.
Perhaps I'm just not a fan of par 3 courses
in general.
I'm all for creating new golfers, not sure (potentially) negatively altering the behavior of current golfers is the answer to "growing the game"
BUT, it's a big world and it works at your club go for it.