Best Par 3 Golf Courses

Go Small Or Go Home: These Are The 13 Best Par3 Courses

Cedar

1. THE LINKS AT TERRANEA, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. A boomerang. A punchbowl. A “Portuguese Bend.” No, those aren’t items on a hipster cocktail menu. They’re distinctive green designs at Todd Eckenrode’s scenic nine-holer, a family-friendly venue in a scenic locale along the California coast.
2. THE SANDBOX, Sand Valley Golf Resort, Nekoosa, WI. “Take what the land gives you.” Call it the unofficial motto of the Keiser family, the same bunch who brought you Bandon Dunes.
3. THREETOPS, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, MI. In the olden days, before the rise of $9 million pay-per-view extravaganzas, golf’s silly season featured quaint entertainments like the ESPN Par-3 Shootout.
4. THE CRADLE, Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, NC. At Pinehurst’s birth, more than a century ago, the property was dubbed the Cradle of American of Golf. From that cradle grew an iconic resort that now boasts 10 courses, including, yes, The Cradle, a stellar Gil Hanse design with nine artful holes ranging in length from 56 to 127 yards.
5. THE MIF ALBRIGHT 9, Corica Park, Alameda, CA. There’s a decent chance you’ve heard about the renovated South Course at Corica Park, a big-daddy 18-holer that was recently revived in firm, fast Australian sandbelt-style.
6. MAGNOLIA GROVE SHORT COURSE, Mobile, AL. Pitch-n-putt? Puh-lease. A wedge and putter alone will not suffice at this engaging par-three track on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
7. CLOUD 9 COURSE AT ANGEL PARK, Las Vegas, NV. When you’re on Cloud 9, you’re on a quintessentially Vegas short-course, its 12 holes designed to simulate the challenge of fabled one-shotters around the world, including a postage stamp green, an island green and a “Riviera” green, with a bunker smack-dab in its middle.
8. PALM BEACH PAR-3, Palm Beach, FL. Set spectacularly between the Atlantic Ocean and the intracoastal, this 18-hole par-3 course was already a stunner when Ray Floyd got his hands on it in 2009.
9. TOP OF THE ROCK, Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, MO. Giant waterfalls and outsize rock outcrops are not the only reason this immaculately conditioned Jack Nicklaus nine-holer stands out.
10. MOUNTAIN TOP, Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, MO. Along with a well-established par 3 by the Golden Bear, Big Cedar has a newer short-course by the Black Knight.

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The 25 Best Par3 Courses In The World 2020 GOLF.com

Take

1. Augusta National, Augusta, Ga., (Cobb & Roberts/1958) Expert’s take: Perhaps the most famous par-3 course in the world ever since the annual Masters Par-3 Contest was broadcast on TV, this charming layout wraps around two ponds (DeSoto Springs and Ike’s) and employs tiny yet speedy greens.
2. Grand National/Magnolia Grove at RTJ Trail, Opelika/Mobile, Ala. (Robert Trent Jones Sr./ 1992) Expert’s take: More than half of the 18-hole short course at Grand National runs along Lake Saugahatchee and has a nice mix of difficult tee shots and tricky pins.
3. Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley, N.J. (Tom Fazio/1992) Expert’s take: In my opinion it’s the best thought-out par-3 attached to a big course. The idea to create templates for some of the big course’s approach shots was brilliantly conceived and superbly executed.
4. The Olympic Club (Cliffs), San Francisco, Calif. (Tom Weiskopf/1994) Expert’s take: Many consider the Cliffs course to be the most fun layout at The Olympic Club, and the Morrish-Weiskopf team did a fantastic job routing these holes along the Pacific cliffs back in the 90s.
5. Headwaters, Cashiers, N.C. (Tom Fazio/1999) Expert’s take: Tom Fazio created a nine-hole gem with tremendous variety in its subtle greens. Combine this with a stunning mountain setting with idyllic flora to make repeat rounds in one day.
6. Hamilton Farm (Hickory), Far Hills, N.J. (Hurdzan & Fry/2001) Expert’s take: One of the most fun two hours you can spend on a golf course. This is no pitch and putt.
7. Kanawha Club, Manakin-Sabot, Va. (Lester George/2003) Expert’s take: This private 9-hole par-3 course has undulating greens and superb conditioning. It calls for shots ranging from 108 yards to 225 yards (from the back tees), but don’t dismiss the middle or forward tees, either.
8. Quarry at La Quinta, La Quinta, Calif. (Tom Fazio/2003) Expert’s take: A very sporty short course and always in unbelievable condition. The landscaping, running water, rock work and incredible turf grass make this an unforgettable experience, and the golf holes themselves are loads of fun to play.
9. Palm Beach Par-3, Palm Beach, Fla. (Dick Wilson/1961; Updated by Raymond Floyd/2009) Expert’s take: Stunning views of the ocean and intercoastal waterway.
10. Origins GC, Watersound, Fla. (Davis Love III/2006) Expert’s take: There’s more than one way to tackle this gem. The Origins Course has six regulation holes yet also plays as a 10-hole par-3 short course that’s not only a blast but extremely walkable.

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The 9 Best And Most Affordable Par3 Courses In The Golf

Designer

1. Grand National/Magnolia Grove at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Location: Opelika, Ala./ Mobile, Ala. Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr./ 1992. Cost: $18 and $18.
2. Palm Beach Par 3. Location: Palm Beach, Fla. Designer: Dick Wilson/2003 (Updated by Raymond Floyd/2009) Cost: From $14.45 to $37. Expert’s take: Stunning views of the ocean and intercoastal waterway.
3. Origins Golf Club. Location: Watersound, Fla. Designer: Davis Love III/2006. Cost: $30. Expert’s take: There’s more than one way to tackle this gem. The Origins Course has six regulation holes yet also plays as a 10-hole par-3 short course that’s not only a blast but extremely walkable.
4. The Prairie Club (Horse Course) Location: Valentine, Neb. Designer: Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford/2010. Cost: Complimentary with any visit. (A donation to The Prairie Club Foundation is suggested.)
5. Bandon Dunes (Bandon Preserve) Location: Bandon, Ore. Designer: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw/2012. Cost: $50 to $100. Expert’s take: The best-kept secret at Bandon Dunes.
6. Big Cedar Lodge (Top of the Rock) Location: Ridgedale, Mo. Designer: Jack Nicklaus/2014. Cost: $80 to $135. Expert’s take: The Top of the Rock Golf Course is the first-ever par-3 course to be included in a pro golf tournament (Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf) and looks even better in person than it did on TV.
7. Pinehurst (The Cradle) Location: Pinehurst, N.C. Designer: Gil Hanse/2017. Cost: $50. Expert’s take: Brilliant design and fun experience for all levels of golfers.
8. Big Cedar Lodge (Mountain Top) Location: Ridgedale, Mo. Designer: Gary Player/2018. Cost: $50 to $60. Expert’s take: Thirteen holes that are more like an adventure with golf clubs.
9. Sand Valley (The Sandbox) Location: Nekoosa, Wis. Designer: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw/2018. Cost: $30 to $65. Expert’s take: When they designed The Sandbox, Coore and Crenshaw wanted to break the typical golf mold.

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