Toughest/Most odd looking par 3 that you at least got a par on.

[TJCDAS]

[color="#282828"]Keller Golf Course St. Paul, MN old home to a PGA Tour stop. The course was built in 1929 and the tree was part of the original design. Blues 150 and whites 130 yards. [/color]

[Fade to Black]

[quote name='TJCDAS' timestamp='1387552913' post='8327697']
[color="#282828"]Keller Golf Course St. Paul, MN old home to a PGA Tour stop. The course was built in 1929 and the tree was part of the original design. Blues 150 and whites 130 yards. [/color]
[/quote]
They seriously make you hit OVER the tree?

[TJCDAS]

[quote name='Fade to Black' timestamp='1387553274' post='8327717']
[quote name='TJCDAS' timestamp='1387552913' post='8327697']
[color=#282828]Keller Golf Course St. Paul, MN old home to a PGA Tour stop. The course was built in 1929 and the tree was part of the original design. Blues 150 and whites 130 yards. [/color]
[/quote]
They seriously make you hit OVER the tree?
[/quote]


[color=#373737]Hagen, Hogan, Snead, Sarazen, Nicklaus, Palmer — and on and on have all hit over that tree. Two PGA Championships were played at Keller and another Major at the time the Western Open.

They are redoing the course right now and the tree is staying. The original designer would not let anyone cut down the oak when the course was built in the 1920's. [/color]


[color=#373737]Al Barkow had a nice article in Golf Digest that discusses Keller.[/color]


[url="http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2008-03/gw20080321barkow"]http://www.golfdiges...w20080321barkow[/url]

Aerial photo of Keller 1932, it was originally a link course.

2013 current photo.

[isaacbm]

Pick any of the ones at PGA West Stadium. If the 175 yard island green 17th with a tiny green isn't enough, the 260 yard 6th with an island green should be. Also, 13 is often a 3 wood with water/railway ties 1 foot left of a green with huge undulations and monster mounds and a 8 foot deep bunker just right if the green.

It's the only course I've ever played where if you miss a green, you're happy to avoid double, forget about getting up and down. I played there 50 times as a plus 3-5 and never had one round without a double!!

[skylargolf]

[quote name='TJCDAS' timestamp='1387552913' post='8327697']
[color=#282828]Keller Golf Course St. Paul, MN old home to a PGA Tour stop. The course was built in 1929 and the tree was part of the original design. Blues 150 and whites 130 yards. [/color]
[/quote]I think its pretty cool but I could see a lot of people complaining about that one.

[longshot300]

Just realized I have posted 2 of the same topic at once somehow before going to work, Oops. Sorry

[Fade to Black]

[quote name='isaacbm' timestamp='1387557909' post='8328123']
Pick any of the ones at PGA West Stadium. If the 175 yard island green 17th with a tiny green isn't enough, the 260 yard 6th with an island green should be. Also, 13 is often a 3 wood with water/railway ties 1 foot left of a green with huge undulations and monster mounds and a 8 foot deep bunker just right if the green.

It's the only course I've ever played where if you miss a green, you're happy to avoid double, forget about getting up and down. I played there 50 times as a plus 3-5 and never had one round without a double!!
[/quote]

A 260yd par 3 makes absolutely no sense to me. Just silly.

[Shiram]

Thee come to mind.


Thendara Golf Club, Adirondacks NY. Hole #9. Plays 200-225. I wish I had a picture... the hole is very long which is your first concern. Unfortunately, that is not what makes the hole hard or interesting. The first time I played there my buddies told me - wait until you see #9 - they said the green looks like they buried a VW bus under it. So your approach shot better hit and stick from 200 - otherwise it will roll off the plateau and down into a valley left, right, short, or long... it is a challenging hole.

Waldorf Astoria, Orlando, Fl. Hole #11. Usually plays around 200-230. The green has a narrow chute you can run it up in front. Horseshoe bunker surrounds the green and there is water long. http://www.bestapproachflyovers.com/WAO_waldorfastoria/

Disney Magnolia, Orlando, FL. Hole #6 with Mickey Mouse bunker. It was playing 220. Protected by a water hazard short and a couple of bunkers. It is a fairly shallow green but very wide - hard to hold it on the surface from 200+ yards.

[sabram]

This hole plays about 185 yards with two carries over a steam, the first is easy just in front of the tee box and the second is about 10 yards in front of the green which has bunkers left and right.

 

Otterkill #17 Par 3 from tee rev

 

This one is the Biarritz at Yale. It requires about a 180 yard carry to the front of the green and probably 220 to reach a back pin

 

Yale #9 par 3 - 200 yard Biarritz r

[dirthead]

I've played a lot of long par 3's, and they are hard just because of the length, but I'm going to say 17 at TPC Sawgrass ranks right up there. When I played it earlier this year, it was a calm day. We played the first 16 holes and there was absolutely no wind. On 17, we played from the back tee where the pros normally play from. It's still only about 130 - 135 yards. On that hole, there was just enough wind to make you second guess your club. The forecaddie was laughing, saying that's why it takes the pros so long to play that hole. The wind just swirled like crazy on the tee box. It was at my back so I grabbed a pw. As soon as I got over the ball, it was in my face. I can't hit pw 135 into the wind. So I go back to the bag. The wind is dead at that point. A few seconds later it's from the right, then back in our face, then behind us. I just threw my hands up and grabbed a 9 iron. Hit it about 15' left of the hole and made par. The green is actually fairly big, so if there is no wind, it's an easy shot, but according to the forecaddie, there is always a swirling wind on that hole.

[soregongolfer]

[quote name='Fade to Black' timestamp='1387553274' post='8327717']
[quote name='TJCDAS' timestamp='1387552913' post='8327697']
[color=#282828]Keller Golf Course St. Paul, MN old home to a PGA Tour stop. The course was built in 1929 and the tree was part of the original design. Blues 150 and whites 130 yards. [/color]
[/quote]
They seriously make you hit OVER the tree?
[/quote]

At a course that I play, we also have a tree but you have to hit a fade or draw around it because it's too close to hit over.

[pingfool]

Waverly Oaks 17th - 251 from the back tee

[attachment=1994139:Waverly Oaks 17.jpg]

[Sean2]

Some of the holes you good folks mention are beyond stupid. What are course architects thinking?

240 to 270 yard par threes are simply a sign of poor design in my opinion.

By the way, I've played the one at Fossil Trace (par), and I've played the one at Waverly Oaks (but not from the back tees). Not only is the one at WO 251 yards, but it's uphill, and there is a mammoth canyon like bunker in front of the green (20 feet deep or so). It's all carry and the farther the pin is on the right side of the green, the longer the hole gets.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1387511379' post='8326229']
#16 at ASU Karsten, 240 yards with water all along the right. What a stupid course in general.
[/quote]

#16 at Karsten immediately came to mind when reading this thread. Visually very intimidating. It's actually a pretty good hole though, because it does provide for a bailout left and the possibility for an up and down par. Going after the back right pin would be pretty stupid though!


[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1387511379' post='8326229']

#17 at Poston Butte is retarded too. It's just like 17 at sawgrass but it's 170-180 yards so you obviously can't hit a wedge.
[/quote]

Ah yes, the island green concept is awful, but what is worse - all the bad copies inspired by the iconic 17th at Sawgrass. Thanks to Gary Panks for giving us THREE of them in the Phoenix area.


[quote name='markheardjr' timestamp='1387480586' post='8323973']
I am tired of playing courses with 4 par 3's and they are like 180, 190, 210, and 225. Why? Most tour courses are like 160, 170, 180, and one 200+. I feel like courses are trying to add length to seem legit and they always do it to the par 3's. But when you think of some of the best par 3's in the world they are under 150 and pro's are hitting wedge to 8i. Sawgrass, Pebble, Augusta, etc. the signature par 3's are not long, usually feature water, bunkering, and can be either birdie or bogey just as easy. 200+ just isn't fun and every hole doesn't need to be that long. If I play a course and the shortest par 3 requires a 5i it's a joke. How many par 4's do you have to hit 5i+ into? A par 3 should basically be a par 4 without the driver tee shot, aka an approach shot. These days par 3's are like the equivalent of your apporach shot on the most difficult par 4 on the course. The 460+y par 4 minus the tee shot. Getting old real quick.
[/quote]

Spot on with the observation that many courses add par 3 yardage to make the total look longer. From my view, a course can't be considered great without a variety in the par 3s including a good short. For sure, four long par 3s is stupid.

I don't mind a long par 3 that is well designed. Unfortunately, too many of them are not.

A pretty good one is #16 at the Saguaro course at WeKoPa, downhill 245 yard from the back tee. But it is balanced by a 137 yarder and two mid-iron holes.

Papago in Phoenix could be a great course but for the par 3s.

[htownchaz]

Erin Hills in wisconsin. Home of the 2017 u.s. Open. The 9th hole from the championship pegs is 165 to middle of the green. All I have to say is good luck. The hardest bunkering I've ever seen

[htownchaz]

Erin hills #9. 165 from the tips. Don't miss the green

[Shemp]

#14 at Franklin CC MA last August in a big fundraiser. 220 yards into a 3 club wind, I nutted a 3 wood to 3 feet, made the bird and won the 50/50 pool good for $1000.00

[Fourpar18]

One of the toughest and most memorably Par 3's that I have EVER played was #12 Manglio Golf Course in Guam. With the wind, ocean, and peninsula green it makes a REALLY TOUGH hole.

I added a few pictures that I was able to find from the net, my pictures are on my other computer that is "down" right now.

Enjoy!

Fourpar18

[Sean2]

#14 at Franklin CC MA last August in a big fundraiser. 220 yards into a 3 club wind, I nutted a 3 wood to 3 feet, made the bird and won the 50/50 pool good for $1000.00

 

Did you split with Moe and Curly? :-)

[mattsam]

[quote name='htownchaz' timestamp='1387806767' post='8338595']
Erin Hills in wisconsin. Home of the 2017 u.s. Open. The 9th hole from the championship pegs is 165 to middle of the green. All I have to say is good luck. The hardest bunkering I've ever seen
[/quote]

I did par this one with a nice 7 iron AWAY from the right bunkers. My playing partner landed it 2 ft to the right of the hole and made 6, because it rolled between two of the right bunkers then he chili dipped it into the bunker.

[mattsam]

I made par on 16 at the Dye course at French Lick. Yardage on the card is 301 gold, 220, black, 183 blue. That day they were tipped out 328 black and 280 blue.
Hit 3 wood 20 yards short from the blue and got up and down. Water runs the right side of the hole all the way to the back of the green. No area to the right of the hole is dry. Huge bunker left also.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1387830879' post='8340481']
[quote name='Shemp' timestamp='1387819332' post='8339593']
#14 at Franklin CC MA last August in a big fundraiser. 220 yards into a 3 club wind, I nutted a 3 wood to 3 feet, made the bird and won the 50/50 pool good for $1000.00
[/quote]

Did you split with Moe and Curly? :-)

[/quote]

You mean Moe and Larry. Shemp replaced Curly.

[WolverineGolfer2016]

[quote name='htownchaz' timestamp='1387808621' post='8338713']
Erin hills #9. 165 from the tips. Don't miss the green
[/quote]

Immediately when I saw this photo I remembered how difficult that hole was, especially for a pitching wedge in your hand. Played a college event there earlier this year and was definitely one of the toughest holes on the course for all the players, especially with some "interesting" pin locations hahaha

[WolverineGolfer2016]

Toughest par 3 I've played so far just happened to be at the toughest overall course I've played which is the French Lick Resort Pete Dye course. While you won't necessarily lose a ball on this course it is incredibly difficult to score on with the many obstacles Pete Dye throws at you and the course sits at the highest point in the area making it very prone to windy conditions. ANYWAYS the 16th hole from the back tee measures 301 and has zero elevation change! In Big Ten championships last year we played it anywhere from 190-230 but there is the option to head all the way back. Water hugs the fringe off the right side of the green and about 5 paces left of the green is heather.

 

http://www.golftripper.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Pete-Dye-at-French-Lick-Hole-16-2-copy.jpg in case the photo doesn't come through here is the link

 

 

[eyewipe]

The 16th at Carnoustie is always a challenge. Had a great par there a few years ago hitting 3 wood into a stiff wind making the hole play 270 or so before parring 17 and 18 too. Wasn't quite so good when I played there this year though in a bit of a back nine meltdown!

[url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8574565/The-Ultimate-Open-Hole-16-Carnoustie.html"]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/8574565/The-Ultimate-Open-Hole-16-Carnoustie.html[/url]

[Shiram]

The first pic looks a lot like hole #3 at Mauna Kea. Fun hole and the Pacific sure does make for an intimidating shot.

[quote name='Fourpar18' timestamp='1387830549' post='8340459']
One of the toughest and most memorably Par 3's that I have EVER played was #12 Manglio Golf Course in Guam. With the wind, ocean, and peninsula green it makes a REALLY TOUGH hole.

I added a few pictures that I was able to find from the net, my pictures are on my other computer that is "down" right now.

Enjoy!

Fourpar18
[/quote]

[Mr. Redford]

Eagle Springs Golf Resort, Wisconsin's oldest golf course 1893. A.G. Spaulding designed the first two holes and nature dictacted the rest of the course. The Famed #2 par 3 aka "The Eagles Nest" or "the Volcano" or the "2 or 22". 135 yds to center of green otherwise you are chipping up ten ft!

 

 

[mattsam]

[quote name='WolverineGolfer2016' timestamp='1387995813' post='8347355']
Toughest par 3 I've played so far just happened to be at the toughest overall course I've played which is the French Lick Resort Pete Dye course. While you won't necessarily lose a ball on this course it is incredibly difficult to score on with the many obstacles Pete Dye throws at you and the course sits at the highest point in the area making it very prone to windy conditions. ANYWAYS the 16th hole from the back tee measures 301 and has zero elevation change! In Big Ten championships last year we played it anywhere from 190-230 but there is the option to head all the way back. Water hugs the fringe off the right side of the green and about 5 paces left of the green is heather.


[size=3][url="http://www.golftripper.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Pete-Dye-at-French-Lick-Hole-16-2-copy.jpg"]http://www.golftripp...e-16-2-copy.jpg[/url] in case the photo doesn't come through here is the link[/size]


webkit-fake-url://29C82E75-30C5-4AFE-9B93-778CE71D227C/Pete-Dye-at-French-Lick-Hole-16-2-copy.jpg
[/quote]

There is a sliver of tee box behind where you took this picture! If you turned around the sliver goes to your right and they can stretch to 320+
I agree that's one of if not the hardest course I ever played. Its put me in a 2 year putting slump

[swats]

14th at Coeur d'alene. That day it was playing about 200 from the tips (they can move the green up or back), and a little crosswind. I hit a not great but good enough 3 iron that hit the front of the green and settled in the middle. Never happier about a two putt par. I usually screw up these "signature" holes so was thrilled to come away with a par. My three playing partners dumped a half dozen in the lake.

 

[amish]

17th at Kiawah 2yrs after the ryder cup. Made birdie from the 190 tee and par from the tee they used in the ryder cup. Ask Calcavechia how hard that hole is.