Long Par 3's - How long is too long?

[ScienceBoy]

Many would though. They think it's a tough hole as a par 3 and would try and play it as such and be disapointed with a 4
Tell them it's a par 4 and they'll think it's an easy hole and be happy with a 4

A 4 is a good score either way IMO. Any hole above 180 is a good 4. Dropping one shot to par generally does not matter if all the other holes are good. Everyone in a competition plays the same hole at the same length, if I get a 4 because I laid up and everyone else gets a 5 because they went for the green and missed then I am a shot up on the field!

 

[JustOne]

Many would though. They think it's a tough hole as a par 3 and would try and play it as such and be disapointed with a 4
Tell them it's a par 4 and they'll think it's an easy hole and be happy with a 4

Either way it's still a 4 written on your card so all you're trying to do there is deal with the psycology of the player.

I prefer to think that not all par 3's are birdie opporunities so some will require you to get close to the green then rely on a chip and a putt. If you pass that test of your alround golf game then you deserve a 3. Still psycology but slightly different. I think when you're faced with a 200-250yrd par 3 you're already on the back foot if you expect to hit the green and/or go pinseeking.

As per the OP I'd say 260yds if it's downhill is about as far as I'd ever want a par3

 

[fat-tiger]

longest ive played was 16th at montrose ,it played abit longer than its length, also that one on the burnside is bloody long with a raised green

 

[1GG_Grumps]

Sometimes par 3s are made longer as a way to increase the yardage of the course. My place is 32 yards under 6000 yards and the 5 par 3s we have are:
3rd hole 196 or 191 depending on tee box used
6th hole 212
12th hole 216
14th hole 184
15th hole 197

Off the daily tees they average 14 yards shorter. Now they do play downhill or over valleys but they all have small targets except 12 which has a massively long and narrow green. They are all capable of wrecking your card if you don't pay attention and you can easily 3 putt all of them too.

I often find that I can play the same club on all of them depending upon tee and flag position, the 12th is sometimes a different club but that happens on a rare occasion.