Modern architecture is generally defined by width, angles, destination golf, and minimalism, but alternative ways to play are also firmly included in the trends, with public and private facilities alike electing to construct short courses of some variety. Sure, there were the occasional examples planned or built during the Golden Age (Alister Mackenzie’s proposed short course at Augusta National, as an example), and the middle period between World War Two and the post-2000 boom (Palm Beach Par 3)—they have always been there and are popular in the right markets—but off the success of Bandon Preserve (among others), a short course is a frequent companion to the regulation length new-builds.
Enter: The Lit 9 at The Park, accompanying the big course at the revitalized West Palm Beach Golf Course. As the name suggests, The Lit 9 is perfectly suited for night golf and an ideal place to settle a match. More importantly, though, it provides the perfect entry for new golfers to get into the sport. The longest hole is only 105 yards, and you’ll find all the challenge of the big course here, just on a smaller level: there are bunkers, though sparsely used; there is short grass and contour, as well, but again, nothing as dramatic or demanding as The Park’s Championship golf course.
Holes to Note
Second hole, 81 yards; Given the constraints of designing nine unique holes under or around 100 yards, the five holes identified in this course profile have done a superb job separating themselves from the rest of the golf course and other par 3 courses.
The second’s severe two-tiered green provides an early feel shot for those who can control their spin… no matter where the flag is. A bunker complex shared with the First and the Eighth hole flanks the right side of the green, but only comes into play when the flag is on the right-half. When the pin is cut on the upper tier, a backslope long allows for creativity or a couple ways to play the hole, even at just 81 yards.
Fourth hole, 79 yards; A charming saddle-style green funnels balls into the middle of the green, with the surface ever-so-slightly running away from the line of play complicating this delicate little wedge. Even though the scorecard is just two yards less than the Second, the hole plays shorter than suggested.
Perhaps somewhat surprising, the green’s orientation is actually akin to a Lion’s Mouth green, with a bunker on the hillside right protecting the back-right flag. On such a small parcel of ground, the design team’s ability to find unique ways to switch up how a hole plays based on the pin is what makes The Lit 9 such an enjoyable add-on to any trip to The Park.
Seventh hole, 90 yards; Much of the short course feels… short, or miniature in size and scale. That is obviously by design with this course geared towards children and beginners, but the Seventh is the most dramatic and closest to a regulation golf course’s intimidation factor.
At 90 yards, the uphill nature of the hole provides a far sterner test than the length suggests. That, and two big bunkers guarding either side await. Those bunkers are merely visual for the player who managed to navigate around The Park’s Championship course, while they could cause issues for beginners trying to get into the game as they sit removed from the front edge by some 20 yards.
Eighth hole, 105 yards; The final full-swing of the round comes at the penultimate hole, with the tee shot falling down the hillside to a charming green complex on the other side of a native bunker complex. The false front lurks, and one might argue this the hardest hole to hit the green in regulation for not only the length, but the exposed nature of this shot given the constant winds in West Palm Beach.
Ninth hole, 80 yards; The scorecard proposes 80 yards, though the finishing hole can play 20 feet to 300+ feet, if the agronomy department so chooses. How? Well, The Lit 9 ends on a putting hole! The surface ends up merging into the practice putting green, but there are so many unique pin locations, putts, and ways to end the match. Is there another short course that ends in such a unique way?
The Park’s mantra is “open golf,” and while the bigger, championship-style golf course that most will know the property for is a superb golf course, The Lit 9 helps further achieve their goals of being a centrepiece in the community. Anyone at any moment can play golf at The Park, and credit, in part, belongs to The Lit 9 and the sheer enjoyment of playing fun, interesting greens on a small parcel of land.
Perhaps the short course fad is somewhat overdone in modern times (not every facility needs a short course), but when it acts as a perfect introduction for interesting parties to get into golf at a facility as fundamentally important as The Park is to its local community, there is no better place for a course of this size and style. Even further, the namesake of the golf course and its “Lit” aspect providing night golf is a home run; perfectly curated for the community with maximum enjoyment in mind.
