Oakmont par 3, 301 yds

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US Open: 301-yard eighth is longest par three in major championship history

The eighth hole at the US Open at Oakmont this week - the longest par three in major championship history - has been described as "silly" and "ridiculous".
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

As the link says, “is it a gimmick or physiological masterstroke”.
Personally I have always thought that distance as a way to design holes is poor course design. Our shortest par three is about 180-185 yards. For amateurs it is rubbish. But the odd hole for the Pros who pride themselves on bombing there drives. It works for me.
Thoughts me dears.
 
Pin-seeker said:
300yrd?
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I've seen them hit a few par 4's at that length with a driving iron. Fair enough, probably a pro like Bryson and it may have been downhill. They are pretty good at putting a good ball flight on it though, if they need it to roll out. I suppose they'll struggle to carry bunkers in front of green though.

Maybe I've been watching too much Kyle Berkshire
 
It's a ridiculous gimmick. Brooks said himself in a video the best par 3s in the world are short. Postage stamp. 12th at Augusta etc .. no parking 3 should be over 150 think his remark was..give the shorter hitters a mid iron and the longer hitters a wedge

Par isn't irrelevant either..it takes away a birdie chance making it a bogey hole really at that length .. all adds up on the card.

Won't be an interesting hole
 
3 jabber said:
Par is irrelevant. Lowest number of shots wins, who cares if it's over or under par. It's just a number.
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It'll be relevant when fans and pros are gauging their score against Par. Whether it is to make the cut, or fighting for the win, knowing you have a 301 yard par 3, you will know it'll be a struggle to improve your score, and easy to worsen it.

It won't be relevant before anyone has payed it, as they all still have to play it. But, if some pros have already played out the hole, their score will account for what happened there. Anyone following, they have to face the tough par 3
 
Swango1980 said:
It'll be relevant when fans and pros are gauging their score against Par. Whether it is to make the cut, or fighting for the win, knowing you have a 301 yard par 3, you will know it'll be a struggle to improve your score, and easy to worsen it.

It won't be relevant before anyone has payed it, as they all still have to play it. But, if some pros have already played out the hole, their score will account for what happened there. Anyone following, they have to face the tough par 3
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It is irrelevant because everyone plays the same 18 holes and they total up their score at the end of the round. What you are suggesting just gives the players an indication where they stand in relation to the rest of the field at that point in their round.
 
In my ideal composite course, I’d have a long 200 yard + Par 3, along with 3 or 4 others of different lengths (ranging from very short), routed in different directions….so there is definitely a place for a long Par 3 in a course of 18 holes


However, I also agree with several other comments above

Often v short par 3s are more often better standalone holes than long ones

300 yards is nothing for these elite pros

Lowest score after 4 days wins, par is irrelevant
 
It has always been a relatively long par 3, they're just keeping up with equipment. It would obviously be a stupid hole for an ordinary club golfer but these guys are the worlds elite.
It's nice to see something out of the ordinary especially in a major. I saw on sky that the score was averaging 3.30 the last time they played there. It makes it difficult but not impossible for these guys.
 
evemccc said:
In my ideal composite course, I’d have a long 200 yard + Par 3, along with 3 or 4 others of different lengths (ranging from very short), routed in different directions….so there is definitely a place for a long Par 3 in a course of 18 holes


However, I also agree with several other comments above

Often v short par 3s are more often better standalone holes than long ones

300 yards is nothing for these elite pros

Lowest score after 4 days wins, par is irrelevant
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Not buying into this

If this par 3 was say 130.. a real birdie chance for all. That's a change for someone to get a shot back

However being 300 becomes an avoid bogey.

This could have been a hole for people to get that birdie to win them the tournament rather than avoid bogey .. plenty of bogies out there without silly gimmicks
 
PJ87 said:
Not buying into this

If this par 3 was say 130.. a real birdie chance for all. That's a change for someone to get a shot back

However being 300 becomes an avoid bogey.

This could have been a hole for people to get that birdie to win them the tournament rather than avoid bogey .. plenty of bogies out there without silly gimmicks
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As other have said above though - it doesn't really matter what the par is. The two scenarios you mentioned are exactly the same if you just change it to "trying to get a 3 and avoid making 4".

I'm sure we've had holes before that were 300 yard driveable par 4s and people moan how easy it is and pointless because everyone makes birdie. So they can't win really.
 
chico said:
It has always been a relatively long par 3, they're just keeping up with equipment. It would obviously be a stupid hole for an ordinary club golfer but these guys are the worlds elite.
It's nice to see something out of the ordinary especially in a major. I saw on sky that the score was averaging 3.30 the last time they played there. It makes it difficult but not impossible for these guys.
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When I was there in 2007, it was 280 yards (I took a photo of the sign!). It is what it is, just another (tough) hole.
 
rulie said:
When I was there in 2007, it was 280 yards (I took a photo of the sign!). It is what it is, just another (tough) hole.
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Yeah there was a big song and dance about it being measured 300 yards to the pin for the first time in that tournament when Cabrera won
 
3 jabber said:
It is irrelevant because everyone plays the same 18 holes and they total up their score at the end of the round. What you are suggesting just gives the players an indication where they stand in relation to the rest of the field at that point in their round.
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Which is relevant to how the game is played.

Your comment only would make sense if the entire field all played each hole at the same time

Another example. A course finished with a short par 5 compared to a course that finished with a long par 4 makes a difference. The first course gives the players a very good birdie opportunity to improve their score at end of round. The second makes it hard for them to stay on the same score. I'd be a lot more excited as the clubhouse leader on the second course.
 
It is no more of a talking point than any par-5 where they hit a 28° iron second shot onto the green.

I play with chaps who can't reach our slightly uphill 202 yard par-3 with driver.
It will be interesting for them to see the top pros put to a similar test.
 
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