My Favorite Par-3 Holes In Golf

In which I steal a concept from a podcast I enjoy.

When I started planning what would become The Full Irish, one thing I discovered was “Golf and The Good Life,” a podcast by Haversham and Baker, a golf travel company that seems to specialize in trips to Ireland, Scotland and England.

Their most recent episode was about their favorite par-3’s in Scotland, and it got me thinking about what my favorite par-3’s are that I’ve played. Some of them are actually mentioned in the above podcast episode, but others are just mine only.

One thing that I realized is that some of my favorite courses didn’t make the cut. Pasatiempo, for instance, has four incredible par-3’s, including the finishing hole - but I don’t love it like these others. The Old Course had me struggling until I remembered (from this podcast) the Eden 11th hole, which detonated me and will not be making an appearance on this list, thank you very much. And as much as I adore Royal County Down and Carne, I am not quite sure any of their par-3 holes make the cut. Here then, is MY list of my favorite par-3 holes - note this is not in any ranked order, just what came to mind first.

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Pebble Beach, 7th

While this isn’t in ranked order, it would be pure folly not to list this near the top - it’s easily one of the most iconic holes in all of golf. Depending on weather, this 100-yard hole can require a sand wedge all the way up to a 5 or 6 iron. (Indeed, some folks playing in abjectly awful conditions have used fairway woods here.) Long before I played this hole, I had a framed print of it in my office at work. If you hit the green, it should be a routine par or better. If you miss? Any number is in play.

Royal Dornoch, 6th

This was covered in the podcast and brought a smile to my face. It’s one of several brilliant par-3’s (the 2nd hole is often referred to as the shortest par-5 on the course), but this one meets so many of my criteria. It’s not terribly long - maybe 140 yards or so. You can draw or fade a shot in, land short and bounce up … but whatever you do, you don’t want to miss to the right side.

It’s not even about that bunker, it’s just death anywhere on that side. No Laying Up had a moment after they finish the hole showing just how penal that can be. It’s worth adding that this hole comes in between the world class 5th hole (one of my favorite holes, anywhere, regardless of par) and the big walk up to the 7th tee which is one of the best tee shots on the course. Goddamn, I love Royal Dornoch so much.

Lahinch, 5th (The Dell)

There are holes that have “blind” par-3’s which usually mean an elevated green where you can’t see the pin. In the case of The Dell, the entire green (with a tiny exception of the far right edge) is hidden behind a massive mound. It’s bonkers, and the only sense of where the pin is comes from a small white rock placed daily on the mound. It’s so preposterous and yet it WORKS. And the walk from tee to green, when it’s still in play that maybe someone made an ace…delightful.

Chambers Bay, 15

This is another short par-3, featuring the only tree on the course. (It’s actually not really that, as there are plenty of trees bordering a few holes that come into play but this is the only one you’ll really be aware of, hopefully.)

I’m an absolute sucker for the views but don’t get so lulled to sleep that you wipe your shot into those bunkers, for that is a tough, tough scene. But mostly, it’s just such a cool tee-shot, and starts a string of amazing closing holes, which probably need more credit as one of the best closing stretches in golf.

Royal Portrush, 16 (Calamity)

Any hole named Calamity is not going to be easy. And in fact, this is probably the hardest hole on this list. I stood on this tee and my caddie, who was dealing with back issues, looked me straight in the face and told me if I sliced it right, I was on my own. I pulled my tee shot so far left it was comical. I honestly can’t imagine how Shane Lowry hit the shot he did in the 2019 Open, this tee shot is comically hard without the pressure of that.

Photo Courtesy of The Fried Egg.

Old Macdonald, 8 (Biarritz)

This is probably the most controversial hole on this list. Some folks say it begins the stretch of ‘meh’ holes on Old Mac, but I strongly disagree. A long downhill par-3 with two tiers separated by a swale (which is what makes it a biarritz), with a sneaky right side bunker. I played this hole first in 2017 and thought about it so much before I played it again in 2021. If you’re on the wrong side of the swale, it’s just a putt you have no idea what to do with.

Photo Courtesy of Breaking Eighty.

Tralee, 13

Before I left for The Full Irish, there were a few holes lurking in my mind and dreams. The Dell, as noted above was one. And this was another. Because all I could think about was what would happen if I came up short.

Folks, I came up short. And I ended up hiking down that hill to grab my ball which was unplayable. Little Greebsie deserved it. If I told you how often I wish I’d committed more to the swing, or just taken one more club, you might refer me to a mental health professional, and it might well be deserved. But any hole that captures my thoughts before and after I play it like this just has to be on this list.

Royal Troon, 8 (The Postage Stamp)

A fairly famous hole, nicknamed because the green is so small - but the real trouble is the bunker to the left of the green called the Coffin bunker both for its shape and your fate if you land there. Fun note - I played the replica hole of this recently in Myrtle Beach and made a birdie. (I did not make a birdie on the actual Postage Stamp hole.)

Waterville, 12 (The Mass Hole)

I was less smitten with Waterville than other Irish gems, but there’s no denying it’s allure. And the Mass Hole, with its history of being a spot for Catholics to pray safely, adds an element to a hole that could otherwise be fairly straightforward. When you can couple history with a good golf hole, you’re gonna make the list.

Castle Stuart, 4

This was also mentioned on the Golf and the Good Life podcast, and I smiled because I’d thought of it while listening. The big lure is the fact you can see the actual Castle Stuart in the background (and note, the course is now called Cabot Highlands but it was Castle Stuart when I played it). But it’s also a fun hole. And, it led to the first time I’d ever seen someone putt out of a bunker. So there’s that, too.

Streamsong Blue, 7

This isn’t my photo but it sure helps show off how gorgeous this hole is. Add in a gator sunbathing just off the water, and it’s stuck in my head for years since playing it back in 2019. (Also, I made a birdie.)

There are many others I could add here, but at some point a list needs to leave some things out. What par-3’s did I miss?