Marshy77
Journeyman Pro
Yes, I'd rather not play par 3's anymoreHappy to agree. I'd be content never to play another one. Sadly, that won't be the case
Uphill par 3s
- Thread starter Depreston
- Start date
Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
Is that the one in the dip. A real blind tee shot.
Our par threes are 172, 190, 192, 198. They are all stupidly long. The 192 yard hole is down hill, pond and bunker to the left. Big drop off on the back. Quite frankly it is a lottery. They moved a tee to make it 120 over the pond. It was gorgeous. But they hardly use it.
A
All day. Both of these are great examples of how it doesn't need to be silly long to be a challenge
Rlburnside
Challenge Tour Pro
That’s poor not much variety there, I watched golf on Telly last week think it was China open but might be wrong, anyway the pros were playing a par 3 at 110 yards.
What’s the obsession with long par 3s? Short ones are far more interesting to play.
I watched Golf’s greatest holes when they played Royal Portrush , they played a 173 par 3 and Mcginley told Chris Hollings it’s only a short one.
Well thinks me it might be to you but not a short one in my book.
Golfnut1957
Newbie
Put me in the don't like up hill par 3's camp. We have one, steep bank from tee to green and steep bank out the back. 162 off the whites, but if the wind is against, it will be playing around 182.
At 162 I can play a mid-iron and get the ball landing softish, at 182 I'm looking at a 5, and it's coming in flat, running, and quite often through the back and down the opposite slope. Just to compound matters, it has a false front.
It's not unplayable, it's just not much fun.
On the other hand, the most wonderful set of par 3's I have ever encountered were at Cavendish. If memory serves me right, 4 were wonderful, short downhill holes with everything, including the challenges, laid out in front of you. The 5th one was only slightly uphill and was still an enjoyable hole.
An honourable mention has to go to the 1st at Aberdour.
At 162 I can play a mid-iron and get the ball landing softish, at 182 I'm looking at a 5, and it's coming in flat, running, and quite often through the back and down the opposite slope. Just to compound matters, it has a false front.
It's not unplayable, it's just not much fun.
On the other hand, the most wonderful set of par 3's I have ever encountered were at Cavendish. If memory serves me right, 4 were wonderful, short downhill holes with everything, including the challenges, laid out in front of you. The 5th one was only slightly uphill and was still an enjoyable hole.
An honourable mention has to go to the 1st at Aberdour.
Backache
Assistant Pro
You can get good holes that are long, short, uphill or downhill.
As a short hitter I'm not in favour of playing a profusion of long holes but then golf courses shouldn't solely be based around my abilities.
I do tend to prefer downhill holes as they are easier on the eye, but I can't deny the existence of good uphill holes.
Anyone who doubts they can be fun should go to Arran and play Shiskine. A short twelve hole course with a cracking little uphill par3 at the third.
Difficult to come off the course without a smile on your face.
As a short hitter I'm not in favour of playing a profusion of long holes but then golf courses shouldn't solely be based around my abilities.
I do tend to prefer downhill holes as they are easier on the eye, but I can't deny the existence of good uphill holes.
Anyone who doubts they can be fun should go to Arran and play Shiskine. A short twelve hole course with a cracking little uphill par3 at the third.
Difficult to come off the course without a smile on your face.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
There’s a Par three on Prestwick GC where you can’t see the green 
There’s a map on the tee and you play over a wall of railway sleepers.
Only one I have played a blind shot on a par three.
Really nice uphill one on Pleasington GC river on the right .
There’s a map on the tee and you play over a wall of railway sleepers.
Only one I have played a blind shot on a par three.
Really nice uphill one on Pleasington GC river on the right .
Dislike any par 3 uphill or downhill where you can't see the green
r0wly86
Head Pro
Agree, uphill especially long par 3s are a hatred of mine.
Something I have noticed that a lot of courses try to be challenging by just adding length, it gets quite monotonous and lacks imagination.
Something I have noticed that a lot of courses try to be challenging by just adding length, it gets quite monotonous and lacks imagination.
AussieKB
Well-known member
Back in the late 80's I played Illfracombe for the first time, we got to the 17th (I think) and it's a par 3.....
I stood there and said where is the green.....
finally decided to hit to a dish in the trees, the green was about 20 feet down and was tiered as well.
Hope they have altered it by now.
I stood there and said where is the green.....
finally decided to hit to a dish in the trees, the green was about 20 feet down and was tiered as well.
Hope they have altered it by now.
3 jabber
Well-known member
There is an uphill par 3 at Port Glasgow GC, can't remember which hole but if you don't hit the ball high you won't get up.
Agree that short ones are the best. Postage Stamp, 17th Sawgrass, 7th Pebble, 9th and 12th Blackmoor, 11th Hayling, 4th Suuningdale Old, 5th at Lahinch
So many good ones to choose from but you rarely hear anyone talking about great long par 3's, only one that comes to mind is Calamity at Portrush.
Agree that short ones are the best. Postage Stamp, 17th Sawgrass, 7th Pebble, 9th and 12th Blackmoor, 11th Hayling, 4th Suuningdale Old, 5th at Lahinch
So many good ones to choose from but you rarely hear anyone talking about great long par 3's, only one that comes to mind is Calamity at Portrush.
Backache
Assistant Pro
16th Carnoustie
17th Troon spring to mind immediately
Anyone who thinks long par3's can't be good lacks imagination.
KenL
Tour Rookie
16 at Carnoustie is a very difficult hole indeed. With the pin up the back it must be about 260 yards.
That might be a good hole for the best players in the world and fun to watch, that doesn’t make it a good hole in my eyes.
r0wly86
Head Pro
what makes it good?
the fact it is hard, and even the best pros ever have struggled with it. The difference is it's only realy hard because of it's length.
Compare to the 12th at Augusta, only 150 yards but have to carry water, bunkers, have to hit the right part of the green, if you go long, a tricky chip that slopes back to the water.
Expecting even a single figure golfer to be able to be super accurate from over 200 yards, with enough height and spin to hold onto a green, that's not good, that's unimaginative, it's hard yes, but not a good hole. Short par 3s where you have to be even more accurate is a better test of all abilities
KenL
Tour Rookie
Agreed.
Generally not a fan, i can only think of two uphill par 3s up here. the 9th a t Fortrose, which is about 180/ 190 ish, but is usually downwind and takes 2 or 3 clubs less club. the Other is at Muir of Ord which is like a medieval Mott. only 100 yards, but very difficult to hit the green is very small, surrounded by a ditch. i think ive only ever hit the green a couple of times out of the dozens of times ive played it
KenL
Tour Rookie
My big bro is a member at Muir. Must get a game.Generally not a fan, i can only think of two uphill par 3s up here. the 9th a t Fortrose, which is about 180/ 190 ish, but is usually downwind and takes 2 or 3 clubs less club. the Other is at Muir of Ord which is like a medieval Mott. only 100 yards, but very difficult to hit the green is very small, surrounded by a ditch. i think ive only ever hit the green a couple of times out of the dozens of times ive played it
Backache
Assistant Pro
Firstly my response was about do you hear people talking about great long par 3's and that is one you definitely hear people talking about.
Secondly there are a variety of tees down to 212 yds depending on your desires.
On a long tough par 3 I will have the option of going for the green or laying up and chipping /pitching for my par. The former might give me great satisfaction if I pull it off the latter might be the better bet depending on the state of the match / my card/ my opponents shot etc. This is the very essence of golf.
Most golf courses have around four par 3 holes , there should be variety amongst them and that variety should IMHO include distance having one of them as a long tough par 3 which can bring huge satisfaction if I go for it and pull it off , a different form of satisfaction if I lay up and chip and putt for my par and the possibility of disaster is part of what a golf course should be about.
I am certainly not criticising short par3's there are many enjoyable ones but there are also many good long ones my perfect golf course would have both.
Speaking as a short hitter I would far rather have a long par 3 to give me interest than a 600 yd par 5 on lush grass which is basically a slog, I can negotiate the longest half decent par 3 with a bit of cunning a long par 5 is just interminable.
Depreston
Club Champion
3 pages and I think we’ve managed to name 4 good uphill par 3s
r0wly86
Head Pro
but 212 yards up hill is going to be closer to 230 to hit. Very vey few handicap golfers can hit an iron 230 carry, and the ball won't roll on very easily, so taking woods, which won't stop on the green.
So it is a par 3 that is nigh on impossible to hit the green in regulation, what's the point in that, what is that testing
