could more par 3 courses help the game ?

[deejaid]

We had one par 3 course in the area and it was part of a larger full 18 hole course. Unfortunately both closed due to less play combined with rising water costs during the years of drought we had.

 

It's a shame as now my kids are getting into the game and it would have been perfect for them. That's where I started. I remember as a teenager playing the pitch n putt all the time with my buddies. We had a lot of fun.

 

 

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[Kenny B]

I think par 3 courses need to make a comeback, but as others have said, good stand-alone par 3 courses are expensive to maintain.  A 9-hole par 3 course associated with a regulation size course is probably the best option, depending on the location.  The par 3 course provides a lot of advantages as outlined by the OP.  Another advantage is the multiple opportunities for a hole-in-one!!

 If you think that Par 3 courses are typically inexpensive, check out this one...

Hole #11

Featured in Where to Golf Next is The Short Course at Mountain Shadows in Paradise Valley, AZ.
Saturday morning greens fee:  $50-$99

If there was an unofficial motto of The Short Course at Mountain Shadows, then it might likely be “Less Time, More Fun.” The Short Course was the final piece in the $100 million teardown-rebuild of the original luxury resort, which opened in 1960 and is located at the foot of Camelback Mountain between Phoenix and Scottsdale. Architect Jack Snyder’s 1961 original course was a par-56 layout that included two short par-4 holes.

Renovator Forrest Richardson, who worked for Snyder as a young designer, used his $3.5 million reno budget to make it a strictly par-3 course in 2017. Richardson’s big, quick, creative and challenging greens bring strategy and fun into play at every turn, making The Short Course part of the latest trend toward creating astutely-designed Par 3 courses to attract and keep more people playing golf. The Short Course enables players to get around in 2 to 3 hours. Walking is easy and encouraged, though carts are available and cart paths are continuous through the course. Hotel guests may borrow Ping clubs for free, yet 90 percent of play comes from locals.

One group consists of between 40 and 100 local PGA Tour pros, mini-tour players and club pros who play every Tuesday morning and display the kind of high-level short games this course can accommodate. 

[pulledabill]

Par 3s certsinly have their place, but the cost of land in my area has pushed them out and in to houses. At one time my hometwon had 3. Today we jsve none. They all went to new home dwvelopments. Very sad.

[cksurfdude]

On 2/27/2019 at 12:37 PM, Kenny B said:

One group consists of between 40 and 100 local PGA Tour pros, mini-tour players and club pros who play every Tuesday morning and display the kind of high-level short games this course can accommodate.

Love that! IMHO - Par 3s and Exec courses should not be thought of solely as "beginner". 

There's a Par 3 not far from me - behind a decent driving range - for $15 and open all year, weather permitting, where each hole is a scaled down recreation of a famous Par 3; eg. that one at Augusta over the creek (#11, I think?).

It's a continuing challenge for me .. as a "developing" player .. to make more Pars vs last time I got out on it.

[Kenny B]

57 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Love that! IMHO - Par 3s and Exec courses should not be thought of solely as "beginner". 

There's a Par 3 not far from me - behind a decent driving range - for $15 and open all year, weather permitting, where each hole is a scaled down recreation of a famous Par 3; eg. that one at Augusta over the creek (#11, I think?).

It's a continuing challenge for me .. as a "developing" player .. to make more Pars vs last time I got out on it.

I was amazed there would be 40-100 pros playing an 18 hole par 3 course every Tuesday morning.  Must be some big money involved.  It would be fun to be a spectator.

This is a high end course.  Sounds like your course would be fun to play.  9 holes I assume for $15?  We have two 9 hole par 3 courses in the area, but neither would be what I would call a "must play".  They are nice to work on short game but I can do that at my course so I never go there.

[cksurfdude]

1 minute ago, Kenny B said:

Sounds like your course would be fun to play.  9 holes I assume for $15?  

Yes - 9. (Although it seems like some people make it 18 by giving themselves a free replay....)

There's another, more "family-friendly", 18 hole Par 3 at a beach park that I really like also - becomes an interesting challenge when the wind comes up and whips around!

[Kenny B]

9 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Yes - 9. (Although it seems like some people make it 18 by giving themselves a free replay....)

There's another, more "family-friendly", 18 hole Par 3 at a beach park that I really like also - becomes an interesting challenge when the wind comes up and whips around!

Around here... "family friendly" means sssllooooooowwww.  

My old course, a 9 hole exec, was a nice place for families.  However, we had free rein of the course and jumped groups to any empty hole.  The local pro had only one rule... there are no rules.

[revkev]

We have a 9 hole par 3 at the local muni. I take my Middle School golf team there and have used it extensively for a MGS test of SCOR wedges. I love to sneak in a quick 9 in the summer for $10 in under an hour.

Honestly I think executive courses with a few par 4’s mixed in could be the real future of golf. That or playing the loop for a reduced rate early or late in the day.

Regardless I applaud creative ways to try and grow the game. Par 3 courses are not as intimidating for beginners and yet still may challenge the serious golfer.


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[GB13]

I think par 3 courses are a great way to grow the game. It gives beginners and kids a place to start, and should provide a quick round for those that don't have much time to play. The sole drawback to the par 3 courses around here, is the that they are kept in awful condition. If they could create a par 3 that was maintained somewhat, it would be a huge draw to people around here. 

[Kenny B]

8 minutes ago, GB13 said:

I think par 3 courses are a great way to grow the game. It gives beginners and kids a place to start, and should provide a quick round for those that don't have much time to play. The sole drawback to the par 3 courses around here, is the that they are kept in awful condition. If they could create a par 3 that was maintained somewhat, it would be a huge draw to people around here. 

Par 3's are a great place for beginners and kids, but they are only a place for a quick round if they are empty.

Of the two par 3 courses in town, one is just OK and the other is quite nice.  The nice one started out as a driving range, then they added a course around the range which is bordered by evergreen trees so you don't see the range.  Holes range from short, like 60 yards, to 180 yards.  The course is immaculately maintained because maintenance is run by a group of women who play there.  Nice grass, good greens, and flowers everywhere.  It's like a park.  There are no tee times.  If someone is on the 1st tee, place your ball in the rack and you tee off when the green is clear and your ball is next up.  Perfect!

[BigtazzGolf]

I miss the one we had here. It was part of a driving range batting cage type place.
All the holes where under 130 yds. You could play it easily with 3 clubs. It was lighted but all that did was attract every misquote within 3 counties.
Most of the guys I play with wish we did have another one but money is the problem.
Heck one of the better courses just closed. It was a country club but you could still get on. It'll be a park soon



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[tony@CIC]

While my wife is in Florida, she's been playing a couple of different Par 3 courses - what a confidence booster for her (she played very well on both)! 

[tehuti]

If it wasn’t for the local 9 hole and 18 hole par 3 courses, I would play a lot less golf. Time is so short that I could possibly only play once or twice a month on a regular course. With these short courses I get to play almost every week.


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[Ryan Learns to Golf]

I totally agree that par 3 courses are great for adult beginners. I just picked up the game (maybe even have become obsessed with it ) last year, and I'm in my late 20's. My local par 3 course has boosted my confidence a lot as I've been able to get a lot of repetitions on an actual course every week, especially with my short irons and wedges. The course is pretty dead around 11 o'clock on Sundays so I actually can play two or three balls without slowing the pace of play. I find it a very efficient way of practicing. Best of all, I'm not breaking the bank. The condition of the course I play is not great. The greens are not well kept, specifically around the edges. All the tee boxes are mats, but I just hit off the grass next to or in front of the mat. What's important to me is that I practice getting solid contact off of the turf, so I'm very pro par 3's.

[CarlH]

I used to live near a 9 hole par 3 course and loved going there.  What a great way to practice iron play and short game.

[PMookie]

That’s where I learned to play, and my Dad promised me once I was able to play there and hit the ball far enough, we would graduate to full size courses. It gave me a lot of confidence. I think this is missing these days as kids have to start on a full-length course with traps, and undulating greens, and this can lead to frustration. I really wish there were more around, even “loops” where once could play three holes.


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[edingc]

I just lost our local par 3 (well, par 60, some 4s in there) as it closed last fall. It was the side project for the owner, taking up all of his free time for almost 20 years. He built it himself. Was a nice little course.

I was told if that he had hired someone to oversee the course to let him get away more, he would have eaten up all of his profit. Sad.

[ED13]

There is a short 12 hole par 47 course near my cabin I got my kids started at.  Only around 3700 yards with short walks between green to next tee (most people still take carts).  Shorter holes with some narrow fairways, doglegs and small greens to keep it challenging.  I think this is a great place to get started or for practice, especially since it is easy to finish in less than 2 hours.

[fixyurdivot]

I do think they help the game.  As mentioned already, these courses are great for beginners and those that are very casual players. They are also good for older folks who have lost the ability to play long courses (even some "senior tees"). I started golf playing a small par 3 course in Florida, that was part of but seperate from the main course, and reserved for kids play on Saturdays. 

It would be interesting to know the business case/challenges concerning a small par 3 vs. a full length track.  My understanding is that running a golf course, particularly these days, is a real challenge.  I always thought it would be cool if the PGA, USGA, and players built/sponsored kid's par 3 courses much like is done for baseball fields/complexes.

 

[NMNM]

I really enjoyed executive and par three courses.  There's one nearby in Middleton, MA that I continued to play even after I joined my club.  It was--probably still is--a great little track. 

[Stumpnav]

We have one in town that is a fun little course that is lit. It is great fun to go out there for a quick 9, but they have really let it go down hill over the last 5 years and its become a bit of a dog track. 

I would like to buy it and replace the grass greens with high quality artificial turf and the same for the tee boxes. I think that would cut the maintenance cost considerably and the condition will always be great. 

 

[BADFanBoi Scotty]

I love the idea (grab half my irons and Wedges, plus putter, easy to haul around in a carry bag, or jus PW and putter), but then look at personal history. Have a Par 3 course 20 mins away, never been. Another an hour way, been once. 

Everytime, I end up going to the range, or playing 4 and a half holes (15 mins away). Observationally, the 20min par 3 (At a seaside resort town, and is very good condition, one of our grounds gaff parents own it, and he learnt how to greens keep there) remains quiet at peak times, as the grandparents will take the kiddies to the range instead. 

So great ideas, but has to overcome a lot of the impetus of habit. 

[Redrider91]

I think It be great. San Diego has a good one. Wasn’t maintained well. I think if pat 3 courses popped up and we’re maintaied well they be a hit. Great for guys to work on the shots they lose strokes on and for jr or even families to get into golf or so. I live in Northern California and we don’t have any. 

[Thin2win]

The Cradle at Pinehurst is worth the trip to the area. Save yourself $450 and the agony and skip playing #2 and play it. 

 

$50 dollars gets you unlimited play for the day. Might be the best deal in golf. 

[wipierce]

I think par 3 courses would be more popular paired with a full or championship course. That way there is a range and one location to go to for golf.

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[tehuti]

If it wasn’t for my local par 3 9 hole course ( they actually have 2 par 4 holes) I wouldn’t play nearly as much golf as I do now. Not because I prefer them, but because of the time commitment. 1.5 to 2 hours I can do a couple of times a week easily. 5 hours plus from the time I leave home until I return is just not an option every week. Maybe twice a month most of the time.


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[aerospace_ray]

Other than a quality practice facility-driving range I cannot think of a better way, fun way to introduce/teach newcomers to the game. Additionally a par 3 course w/multiple tee boxes allows us veterans of the game to get quality practice with the scoring clubs. And most of the time the score card final # makes one feel better than they really are :)

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[Jwhite86]

We have a nicer par 3 course near me and I'll head out there with a Sunday bag and no tees and just work on my iron game without aimlessly bashing balls on the range... Most days you can get unlimited play after a certain time.

[den748]

Both Chip and Putt and Par 3 courses would be wonderful if they were more available. I have a 7 year old that i'd love to go play a par 3 course with. 

Additionally, I think adding lights to a par 3 course could extend the golf day and make it more fun.  TopGolf seems too have this market cornered right now but sometimes I just want to be more outside and something more real at like 9pm. 

[Lakeeriegolfer]

I think these courses definitely have a place in the world. But If you could pair it well with a putting course and a good range + short game area it would be somewhere that people could go to hang out for a while instead of just play and leave. 

If there was also a bar/restaurant on the premises, accessible easily on holes 4-5 as well, that would be even better.  Make it somewhere you can go with a few clubs, hit around easily, then maybe go putt or hit a small bucket with a beer or cocktail.  I'm thinking Cradle/Thistle Dhu at Pinehurst-esque. 

There is something very close to this in Cleveland.  Washington Learning Center.  Has a range, big putting green, short game area, and a 9 hole exec course with 3 par 4s but longest is 235.  There would be room to put a putting course if they wanted and renovate to have an outdoor bar near the first tee area.  But as this is run by the Cleveland Metroparks I don't think that will happen. 

Sidenote, I am surprised TopGolf hasn't integrated some sort of putt putt into their business.  Its a logical addition, anyone can do it, you're already there waiting, and would be a nice bonus if you wanted to spend more than just 2 hours there in the bay.