Short and sweet
It’s rare for a Top 100 course to start or finish on a par 3 but Jeremy Ellwood picks out nine that break the mould
Five Top 100 courses tee off on a short hole, but ‘short’ is a bit of a misnomer for all five measure 200+ yards off the tips. And two of our quartet of closing par 3s also stretch to 200+ yards...
Opening par 3s
The most famous of our opening par 3s is the only one on the Open rota. Royal Lytham and St Annes’ 1st hole can stretch to 206 yards off the blue tees, with five bunkers closely guarding the entrance to the green. It is possibly an easier angle off those back tees as you are playing directly between the left and right bunkers. From the left-hand tees you have little choice but to carry it over the left-hand traps.
A little way back down the north-west coast, the 1st at Southport and Ainsdale is four yards shorter but perhaps just as tough on account of five more deep pot bunkers to avoid with your opening long iron or hybrid. There were even more until the most recent course works here.
Heading down south, Liphook, The Berkshire (Blue) and Walton Heath (Old) all open with long and testing par 3s. Liphook’s is the shortest at 203 yards and does at least play downhill from a tee close to the 18th green and clubhouse. Missing right is highly likely as the slopes will kick the ball that way, but with a good lie, getting up and down from here is easier than from the left as you are chipping into the slope.
Next in terms of length is the 213-yard 1st on The Berkshire’s Blue course, which may be the toughest of all our opening par 3s. The green is a good size, but between you and the target lies a sea of heather in a big dip, while anything pin-high but drifting right could kick some way down a steep slope.
Walton Heath Old’s opener is longest of all at 235 yards – even off the shortest tees it’s still 193 yards. It is the only hole the clubhouse side of the Dorking Road and plays over very flat terrain, but the big bunker short-right can prove a very popular – or indeed, unpopular – spot for nervy or stiff opening tee-shots.
Closing par 3s
It’s back to The Berkshire for the shortest of our closing par 3s at 175 yards, but this time on the Red course where it is the last of six short holes. It does play uphill, though, to quite a long, two-tier green so invariably plays a club or two more than its yardage.
Also not quite making it to 200 yards is the 193-yard finale on Saunton’s West course in Devon. A dune short-right of the green and deep bunkers either side at the front mean that only the most accurate or well-flighted of shots will find the narrow-fronted target.
Not quite so far west, the 18th at Parkstone in Dorset is a beautifully framed but very tough 201-yarder. Miss left and you’ll either find sand or watch your ball kicking away down the bank. Miss short right and, if you avoid the sand, you’ll still have a decent chance of getting it up and down for par.
Finally, to Wales, where the 18th at Royal St David’s is the same length as Parkstone’s. After a thrilling rollercoaster ride through the back-nine dunes, the 18th looks quite innocuous as you play towards the distant mountains with imposing Harlech castle up on your right. But don’t be fooled, for there is much sand to avoid if you’re to find the target.