could more par 3 courses help the game ?

[Tom the Golf Nut]

When I lived in Connecticut we had a par 3 course about a 1/2 mile from work (Cedar Ridge). We had our golf league there. Great course to work on your game. No carts, not crowded. It was a long par 3 course so you got to use the full bag. The shortest hole was 103 yards and the longest was 250 (200 carry over water) There were a total of four holes that the yardage was over 200. Total yardage was 3025. Back then it was around $9 for 9 and  $18 for 18. Plenty of elevation changes and just a fun course to play and learn on. 

It would be great if there were more courses around like that.

[Zen Snake]

YES YES YES..... I go once or twice a week on the weekends to just play 9, due to time restrictions and play a full round after work during the week. I use the Executive course to work on my iron play and chipping.  

[chisag]

... Personally I don't care for par 3's on a regular course so I surely don't want 18 of them!    We live in a different time and there are many factors to consider. If you live somewhere that has plenty of courses, it would be hard to financially maintain a par 3 course. There are over 100 golf courses within 30 miles of my house, Phoenix has even more. And unless they are on a team, I rarely see older teens or 20 somethings walking, they all take carts. That would be tough for a par 3 to maintain. 

... My best friend lives in Hendersonville NC, and they have an executive course with lights that stays open until 10pm weekdays and 11pm weekends. I think teens love playing at night, whether it is a date or just friends. I am just not sure how financially viable it is today. I do think there will always be a place for a par 3 course for many of the reasons already posted, and hope they never go away. 

[TCUfrog]

6 minutes ago, chisag said:

... Personally I don't care for par 3's on a regular course so I surely don't want 18 of them!    We live in a different time and there are many factors to consider. If you live somewhere that has plenty of courses, it would be hard to financially maintain a par 3 course. There are over 100 golf courses within 30 miles of my house, Phoenix has even more. And unless they are on a team, I rarely see older teens or 20 somethings walking, they all take carts. That would be tough for a par 3 to maintain. 

... My best friend lives in Hendersonville NC, and they have an executive course with lights that stays open until 10pm weekdays and 11pm weekends. I think teens love playing at night, whether it is a date or just friends. I am just not sure how financially viable it is today. I do think there will always be a place for a par 3 course for many of the reasons already posted, and hope they never go away. 

I disagree with the idea that it's harder to be financially viable as a short course. If you think about the cost of ownership and footprint of a short course vs a full course, a short course is a fraction of the cost. There is a reason that Bandon, Pinehurst, Sand Valley, Cabot are all adding short courses and i guarantee it's not because they're losing money on them.

Hopefully in the coming years we will see more and more courses turn dead space on their properties into short courses. It's the ultimate place to settle a tie, have a beer, and maybe grab a hole in one (even if it carries an asterisk).

[THEZIPR23]

9 minutes ago, TCUFrog said:

I disagree with the idea that it's harder to be financially viable as a short course. If you think about the cost of ownership and footprint of a short course vs a full course, a short course is a fraction of the cost. There is a reason that Bandon, Pinehurst, Sand Valley, Cabot are all adding short courses and i guarantee it's not because they're losing money on them.

Hopefully in the coming years we will see more and more courses turn dead space on their properties into short courses. It's the ultimate place to settle a tie, have a beer, and maybe grab a hole in one (even if it carries an asterisk).

Way different comparing a short course at a resort to a true par 3 course. 

[DiscipleofPenick]

I do not think par 3 courses will help the game. Nor will 9-hole only or executive courses. If you don't have regulation 18, you don't have anything.

Take Dead Aim