What's the best short course in America?
The latest trend has created some gems. Which one is the best?
The latest trend at destination golf courses is the short course - par-3 courses with a random number of holes, usually music blasting from speakers somewhere and a lot of alcohol available.
These are great spots to add onto a day after a round of golf - it’s always an easy walk, there are good shots to make and most of these resorts are pretty remote, meaning it’s much more fun than you could otherwise find.
I’ve played the following:
Bandon Preserve (Bandon Dunes) - 13 holes, designed by Coore & Crenshaw and the first one of these I ever played
Not your average par-3 course, to say the least. The Cradle (Pinehurst) - 9 holes, designed by Gil Hanse, just off the main Pinehurst clubhouse near #2 and #4.
The Sandbox (Sand Valley) - 17 holes, designed by Coore & Crenshaw, right behind Mammoth Dunes.
The Baths (Kohler/Blackwolf Run) - 10 holes, designed by Chris Lutzke and Herb Kohler, behind the first tee at Meadow Valleys.
The Baths has some pretty special views and holes as well. The Hay (Pebble Beach) - 9 holes designed by Tiger Woods. You may have heard of him.
Views from The Hay are … elite.
There are a few other notable ones I haven’t played. Streamsong has the Roundabout but we literally forgot to play it when I was there in 2019. Go figure! Gamble Sands (QuickSands), Forest Dunes (The BootLegger) are others I’ve seen but haven’t played. (Note: These courses seem to all work hard at a creative “short course” name, and I’m here for it.)
I should note this isn’t meant to include awesome 9-hole courses like Winter Park in Orlando, FL or even the par-3 course Links at Terrenea in Southern California, which is supposed to be great but is its own thing. I’m more talking about short courses which are part of a larger golf complex. The kind of course you tack onto another round at the end of the day, or warm up at before a longer 18 holes on property, where a lot of holes aren’t even 100 yards long. A “short” course.
It’s important to note that these are all great. They’re all a bit overpriced for what they are - with the exception of The Baths, which is free if you’re staying on property.
There’s an odd hipster thing happening on most of these courses where a lot of folks insist on playing barefoot, often folks play in larger groups and the music blasting can be distracting. That said, the point of all of these is not competition (though friendly wagers on holes certainly adds to the fun). They’re meant to be fun - whether you’re putting off the tee on 13 at the Preserve, or trying to jar a 65-yard shot on The Cradle or elsewhere, or even soaking in the views at The Hay, it’s all fun.
For me, nothing really compares to The Preserve. It’s different in the sense there isn’t music blasting, it’s much more scenic and peaceful than most of the other courses and some of the holes are legitimately GREAT.
The Sandbox was fun but if I’m being honest, 17 holes is a bit too many for what this is. And oddly, there’s only one hole that requires much more than a wedge, so you’re carrying it around until the 16th hole, and that feels unnecessary.
The Baths was a total blast, and 10 holes felt absolutely perfect. Some holes are short, others require a good mid-iron in, and the last hole has a massive green that allows for an infinite number of pin placements, and putts the length of football fields, all while having some classic rock blasting and, often, an audience watching.
The Cradle is its own thing…it’s incredibly fun. It’s also very TIGHT so unlike any of the others here (with maybe the exception of The Hay) you’re quite aware of all the other folks on the course, and it almost feels like you’re playing an exceptional mini-golf course at times. A major negative - when we played - as is the way during most peak periods - you have to hit off of mats. That just stinks. For just nine holes, I wish a few were a bit longer as well. That said, it’s really the only one where you can grab a drink and an Adirondack chair and just watch the madness for hours. I would NEVER go to Pinehurst and not try to play The Cradle, and that means something.
I had a blast at all of these - but if I had to rank one lowest, it would probably be The Hay. The only real reason is that it feels very separate from Pebble Beach and for the price it’s over so quickly it doesn’t quite feel worth it. But it’s super fun and it’s great to see all the little kids playing there.
There should be more of these, and it seems like that trend is going in the right direction.
What’s your favorite short course?