Long par 3s

[dotty001]

Not a fan , 250yrd par 3 stupid

We have one that's 250 but downhill but it's still a **** hole ,

1 of the great things about par3s is seeing the approach shot land , what's the point if you don't see the end result

 

[Revolt]

our 8th is a severe up hill par 3 at 210 yards uphill........ hybrid normally but a driver into the wind...... Feel bad for the older guys as its pretty much a drive and a pitch for them !

 

[Imurg]

The 2nd at Merion is playing 270+ today and lots of them are going in with a Driver.

Silly

 

[HomerJSimpson]

When pro golfers are taking driver and still can't find the target it is a very badly designed hole

 

[Jon321]

Some in America are abit of a joke. Donald just hit driver. I liked the 98 yard one yesterday. Makes it far more exciting. There are also some 550 yard par 4's.

 

[TheClaw]

I hit a par 4 in 1 on Friday- 352 yards

It was a touch down hill I'll admit (17th Gullane 2)

 

[ScienceBoy]

I always look for a good place to lay up, pitch on and a par and a nett birdie are still possible.

Everybody plays the same hole and there is nowhere in the rules that says you cannot lay up on a par 3.

When the target is small good course management beats wild beats with a long club any day.

 

[mcbroon]

Our place finishes with a 196 yd par 3 and then a 230 yd uphill par 3. Many a card has collapsed there.

 

[dotty001]

I always look for a good place to lay up, pitch on and a par and a nett birdie are still possible.

Everybody plays the same hole and there is nowhere in the rules that says you cannot lay up on a par 3.

When the target is small good course management beats wild beats with a long club any day.

What if there's nowhere to lay up , all downhill , water between tee green , rough between tee and green

Just asking like cos I'd love to know where to lay up on our 5th

 

[USER1999]

Par is a notional concept, so it doesn't really matter what the number is.

But, watching 30 yard putts doesn't do it for me. It's dull. Most don't even get close.

 

[rob_golf1]

Personally I would much rather see a wedge shot land 6 inches from the hole rather than a 300+ yard booming drive...

 

[Wayman]

Our place finishes with a 196 yd par 3 and then a 230 yd uphill par 3. Many a card has collapsed there.

i played there on monday
hit 7 iron into 17th 5 yards short of green
hit 3 rescue into 18th right hand bunker

par bogey finish

 

[JustOne]

We have a RIDICULOUS par 3...... I'm going to try and get the club to change it - somehow!!

It's 246 downhill so a lot of people hit driver.... no big deal.... but it's so long it's been made a 'call-down' hole so you stand down by the green whilst people HIT DRIVER at you!! Total madness.... but that's not the end of it...

because the tee is 246yrds away it puts the people on the tee at risk from the people who then hit driver back up the 10th!!! which doubles back.... total and utter stupidness. Slows the round, is totally unnecessary (a solid downhill 140yrd hole would be more than enough, even a quirky 98yrd hole like the US Open would be cool!!) and is just so, so dangerous. I was actually thinking about who it is I need to speak to in order to do something about it.....

 

[mcbroon]

i played there on monday
hit 7 iron into 17th 5 yards short of green
hit 3 rescue into 18th right hand bunker

par bogey finish

Bloody hell. You must hit the ball a LOOOOOOOOOOONG way! If you were playing to come up short at 17, then it's a smart play. Best place to miss is short and straight.

I hit a 3 rescue to 6 feet at 17 yesterday for birdie.
Hit 3 wood onto the front of 18 but 3-putted for bogey It's a hell of a green, that one.

Don't ask me how I played them on Saturday

 

[Ethan]

Players could hit the green on that behemoth of a par-3. They just had to hit a very good shot. Good thing it was the best players in the world who were trying.

There is no rule that every par-3 should be easy to hit in 1, every par-4 in 2. Some holes play as half holes, i.e. a par-3 which plays as a par-3.5 and where par is a great score. Many par-5s are half holes too, par 4.5 and easily reached by pros with an iron second shot but you don't hear players complain about those.

 

[Foxholer]

Bloody hell. You must hit the ball a LOOOOOOOOOOONG way! If you were playing to come up short at 17, then it's a smart play. Best place to miss is short and straight.

I hit a 3 rescue to 6 feet at 17 yesterday for birdie.
Hit 3 wood onto the front of 18 but 3-putted for bogey It's a hell of a green, that one.

Don't ask me how I played them on Saturday

Played those 2 holes a number of different ways.
5 iron; Driver (short) once
3-wood; 3-wood once

A few other variations, which is good, with varying success!

There are probably still 2 of the very first release of Pro-V1s in the chasm, close to the 'fence', of the 18th too!

Not quite sure whether I'm a particular fan of 17, but 18 is fabulous!

As for long Par 3s in general, I believe there should be a balance - though weighted somewhat to what hasn't been tested elsewhere on the course. From a 'normal' perspective' Merion may have it slightly wrong but I'm not sure these are 'normal' tees. And they are the best players in the world being tested in a Major, so that is fine by me!

 

[harpo_72]

I played one at Chiltern forest, 210-220y slight uphill, and everyone was taking driver. I am actually sure it plays to 240-260y as opposed to the score card. I refuse to take driver at a par 3, it's an insult to one's manhood ! So I took a 4 wood and was off to the right. However sometimes I get the impression that these are cop out holes and use of spare land, a 180 yard par 3 can still be a challenge to any pro, purely by clever pin placement. But still can be enjoyed by the club membership as well.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

IMO there is no need for a par 3 to be over 200yds.

 

[bobmac]

IMO there is no need for a par 3 to be over 200yds.

If you have to assign a par figure to it, just think of it as an easy par 4

 

[duncan mackie]

You guys clearly haven't played meyrick park from the back .....