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Alex Elias  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Long thought to be designed by amateur architect, Frederic Hood, The Kittansett Club was actually the work of well-known Golden Age architect, William Flynn, best-known for his designs at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (Southampton, NY), Cherry Hills Country Club (Cherry Hills Village, CO), and Indian Creek Country Club (Indian Creek, FL).  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Although Flynn is often overshadowed by fellow Golden Age architects, his ability to route a golf course was second-to-none. At The Kittansett Club, though an out-and-back routing, the holes don't feel repetitive, as Flynn laid out the holes with the wind consideration in mind. Much to his credit, only two tee shots play back-to-back in the same direction, and futhermore, each of the four Par-3s are laid out in a different direction, resulting in constant change in wind. "Kittansett is a mentally tough golf course because of the ever-changing wind. It plays completely differently day-to-day, which makes it incredibly unique," said Hannah Berman, Assistant Golf Professional at The Kittansett Club. As a compliment to the routing, Flynn’s superb ability to marry a routing with the natural landscape is perhaps most evident at The Kittansett Club. Situated at end of Butler Point which extends into Buzzards Bay and a combination of sea-side links holes and inland tree lined holes, Flynn masterfully utilized the natural land as a defense on the Par-3 3rd (Pictured Above). "It is similar to No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass with the forced carry but, at Kittansett, the hole is natural," said Berman. "Depending on the tide, it can play differently in the morning than the afternoon. As a result, it's multiple holes within one."  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) One of the most forward thinking architects, Flynn was one of the early proponents of having short grass around the greens. "At Kittansett, players must know where to land it and where to miss it," said Berman. "No. 16 (Pictured Above) is a perfect example of Flynn's use of short grass. As the slightly elevated green is surrounded by short grass, a missed green risks an approach shot running 10 or 20 yards away from the putting surface." While the use of short grass certainly poses an added challenge, Flynn also believed it would lead to a greater number of shots that a player would need to possess in their short game. "What's so great about Kittansett is there's so many different ways to play it, especially around the greens with high and low shots," said Berman.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Off the tee, Flynn believed strategy was paramount. Rather than solely relying on fairway bunkers, where players would be demanded to drive it into a 25-yard corridor, Flynn utilized cross-bunkers and mounds to define corridors and lines of play.
"Kittansett is all about knowing what Flynn is demanding and where to be off the tee," said Berman. "On many of the holes, cross bunkers are directly in the landing area, and as a result you have to ask yourself, 'Would I rather be in the fairway with 150-yards to the pin or in a cross-bunker with 100?'" From tee-to-green, Flynn's forward thinking is the predominant reason his layouts, including The Kittansett Club, have stood the test of time.
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Alex Elias  Courtesy of Interlachen Country Club In 2016, when Oak Hill Country Club (Rochester, NY) retained Andrew Green to restore its Donald Ross-designed East Course, many were left scratching their heads. Now, eight years later, Green has emerged from a unknown commodity to one of the leading renovation and restoration specialists, restoring the aforementioned Oak Hill Country Club, Inverness Club (Toledo, OH), and transforming Congressional Country Club (Bethesda, MD). Most recently, Green spearheaded the restoration of Interlachen Country Club (Edina, MN). “Although many well-intentioned modifications had been made to the golf course in the years following [Donald] Ross’ re-design (1919), our goal was to return the course to how Ross intended for it to be played,” said Nathan Ollhoff, Director of Golf at Interlachen Country Club. To restore the course to Ross’ 1919 re-design, Green turned to Ross’ original blueprints, archived on property. “We were incredibly blessed to have Ross’ original blueprints,” said Ollhoff. “Although the blueprints are very primitive, they still translate to today, and we knew that there was nobody better than Andrew to interrupt Ross’ drawings and notes.”
No. 5 - Courtesy of Interlachen Country Club The restoration of the Par-3 5th green is perhaps the most evident example of the utilization of Ross’ blueprints. “As had occurred on many of our greens after 100 years of topdressing and mowing practices, the 5th green had lost much of the character that Ross had created,” said Ollhoff. “The green had shrunk considerably, become more rounded, developed a severe pitch from back right to front left, and the bunkers had become more offset.” Now restored to its original Ross-design, the 5th green has been expanded on the corners, the transition slope in the center has been reconnected, and the nine surrounding bunkers have been restored. “The character of No. 5 post-restoration is really special. It reminds me so much of the 5th hole at Seminole [Golf Club]. For all intents and purposes, it’s an island green,” said Ollhoff.  No. 14 - Courtesy of Interlachen Country Club Although the overarching emphasis was to restore Ross’ vision, the all-encompassing task was to do so while suiting the modern game. To achieve this goal, the course was lengthened from 6,981 yards to 7,201, the fairways were expanded from 28 acres to 34 acres, 12 bunkers were re-introduced to bring the course total to 104, and the average green got enlarged from 7,000 square feet to 8,300. As a result of the additional yardage and the fairway expansion, Green was able to strategically position the bunkers. “The bunkers are as strategically positioned as any golf course I’ve ever played, which forces the golfer to think,” said Ollhoff. “Throughout the project, Andrew said, ‘I want to make the golfer think, and then make a decision on every shot,’ and the positioning of the bunkers are a significant reason as for how that was achieved.” As a complement to the positioning of the bunkers, the design of the bunkers inherently reject the notion that Green’s bunkers are homogenous. “There’s a ton of variety in the bunkers,” said Ollhoff. “We now have 104 bunkers, and they’re not cookie-cutter by any form. The bunkers vary in size and scale, fitting into the land very well, with the island bunker between No. 11 and No. 12 and the church pew-like bunker on No. 14 being extremely unique.”  No. 12 - Courtesy of Interlachen Country Club Similarly to how Green strived to make the golfer think through the strategic positioning of the bunkers, the expansion of the greens resurrected the shot options that had previously diminished in a period where Interlachen had been described as “one dimensional.” “The approach on No. 12 is intimidating for all players,” said Ollhoff. “Andrew thoughtfully connected the 12th green to the 13th tee with fine turf, which makes the approach shot play significantly longer than it appears from the fairway.”  No. 9 - Courtesy of Interlachen Country Club If the period between the 1930 U.S. Open, when Bobby Jones won the third leg of what would become his Grand Slam, and the 1935 U.S. Women’s Amateur, when Patty Berg finished runner-up, is considered Interlachen’s golden age, then Green masterfully restored Interlachen to an acclaimed era that hadn’t been seen in ages.
“We poured our heart into this project and we couldn’t be more pleased,” said Ollhoff. “To have an old, but new golf course that challenges the highly-skilled player, while being enjoyable for every member is truly incredible.” Alex Elias  Although Fenway Golf Club is often overshadowed by its neighbors, Winged Foot Golf Club and Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Fenway Golf Club is one of A.W. Tillinghast’s finest designs. As Tillinghast’s overarching strategy was that each course and hole deserved its own identity, Tyler Jaramillo, Head Golf Professional at Fenway Golf Club, said, “Fenway [Golf Club] requires every club and shot in the bag. It has dogleg lefts, dogleg rights, short Par-3s, short Par-4s, all-you can-eat Par-4s, and two gettable Par-5s.” As a compliment to the strong variety of holes, Fenway Golf Club features perhaps the most varied green complexes in America. In fact, following Gil Hanse’s restoration in 1997, Hanse said, “It is the green complexes that make this course so special.” “The size of the greens vary drastically, with some being tiny.” said Jaramillo. “Other than Somerset Hills [Country Club], I can’t think of many other courses where the size of the greens vary as much as they do here.” In particular, the Par-4 15th green is barely 2,500 square feet. A mere 13’ feet wide and steeply tilted back to front, Jaramillo described the green complex as “one of the most unique and interesting green complexes in the country.” “Due to the size and severity of the green, it’s amazing how many players are relieved to make Par on a 300 yard Par-4,” said Jaramillo. “If a player misses the narrow green either in the left or right greenside bunkers, they may even have to chip backwards to the fairway to save Par.” Even given the unparalleled variation in the size of the greens, the dramatic contours may be more distinct. One of the most notable, the Par-5 3rd features a two-tiered green sloping from right to left. “The green is so severe,” said Jaramillo. “You could have a putt that breaks three different ways.”  Although Tillinghast believed in little redundancy between his designs, he pioneered the “Great Hazard” template, a massive expanse of waste area that typically comes into play on a player’s second shot on a Par-5. Unlike other renditions, the Great Hazard at Fenway Golf Club doesn’t stretch across the entire fairway. Instead, it obstructs only the right side of the fairway.
“It’s so fascinating because it doesn’t stretch across the entire fairway, but the forced carry is longer here than at other Tilly designs,” said Jaramillo. “As a result, it forces you to play down the left side, where you have a fifteen yard window with OB left.” With immense variety and unrivaled undulating greens, it's difficult to comprehend why this Tillinghast-design doesn't receive more recognition. Alex Elias  In an interview with Links Magazine, Bill Coore said, "There are so many people in our industry who can move earth spectacularly well. We just prefer to follow Maxwell's old adage about doing small things on suitable ground."
As Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are known to like short Par-4s, Coore, in the same interview, said, "But you can really only have this if the land gives it to you." At Old Sandwich Golf Club, the land on which the short Par-4 5th lies did just that, and more, as it perfectly suites a "Cape Hole," a C.B. Macdonald template. Although the defining characteristic of the template is a tee shot over water, the waterless hole at Old Sandwich Golf Club demands the same diagonal forced carry, but instead over a blueberry bush covered gully. "When most people hear 'drivable Par-4', they assume the line is to go straight at the flag, but the line on No. 5 is actually twenty or thirty yards right of the green." said Tyler Sprague. "You have to trust that if you play a right-to-left tee shot and limit the risk by aiming twenty yards right, then the contours of the fairway will kick your ball left, inevitably resulting in a shorter second shot than the one had you taken the aggressive line." Similar to the tee shot, the approach shot is a nervy one. A Cape hole’s green is undulating and surrounded on three sides by water or bunkers. Coore and Crenshaw's rendition at Old Sandwich Golf Club is no exception, as the green is protected by narrow bunkers left, right, and long, and a small, pot-like shaped bunker short. “The approach shot on No. 5 is so difficult because even if you hit a good tee shot, you have to navigate two ridges from 50-80 yards out. If your ball lands on the downslope, it can shoot towards the back bunker and if your approach shot doesn't get up enough, it can catch the front right bowl, where you'll be left with a putt that is one of the most difficult on property to read," said Tyler Sprague. "And if you play it too safe off the tee, then you're left with a blind second shot where you have to trust your number and aim line." Proving to be a superb rendition of a modern risk/reward hole, Tyler Sprague said, "When you have a short Par-4, you tend to think it's a guaranteed birdie, but because of the approach shot and undulating green, you often times just have to play it smart and find the putting surface and two-putt." Alex Elias  Designed by A.W. Tillinghast, Ridgewood Country Club (Paramus, New Jersey) contains three separate 9 hole courses, East, Center, and West, that all begin and end at the clubhouse. The Championship Course, a composite of the three nine hole courses, begins with Nos. 1-7 of the East, proceeds with Nos. 2-6 of the Center, and concludes with Nos. 4-9 of the West.
Officially named “Scoonie”, 6 Center, Ridgewood’s shortest Par-4, is the signature hole on property. Known as the “Nickle and Dime” or “Five and Dime”, 6 Center earns its name thanks to Byron Nelson, who said the best strategy was to hit a 5-iron and 10-iron (pitching wedge), when he served as the club’s assistant pro in the 1930s. Although many players follow the two-shot strategy like Nelson, the short length of the hole (294 yards from the Championship tees and 277 yards from the Back tees) presents a risk/reward opportunity difficult to resist. “I almost always go for it,” said Leo Lee, Assistant Golf Professional at Ridgewood Country Club. “When I began, David Reasoner (Head Golf Professional at Ridgewood Country Club) said, ‘You can’t hit a hole-in-one on a Par-4 with an iron in your hand.’” Although the opportunity for a hole-in-one, or more realistically an eagle or birdie, certainly presents itself, so too does bogey, double-bogey, or even triple-bogey, as the less 2,200 square foot green is protected by six deadly bunkers. “If you hit driver and hit the green, you’re going to have an eagle putt, and at worse, more than likely, two-putt for birdie, but if you are even a little off line, you’re going to have a difficult time getting up and down,” said Lee. “Although it’s a fairly easy up and down from the right bunkers, the left bunkers certainty test one’s short game, as the green slopes hard left to right, making the bounce tough to judge and control.” Even with the treachery around the green though, Lee believes taking on the risk is the wiser of the two options. As for his reason, Lee said, “A lot of amateur golfers struggle with a shot inside of 115 yards. If you mishit your wedge even slightly, then you will likely have the same shot had you hit driver.” Alex Elias  Courtesy of Evan Schiller (@evan_schiller_photography) Although C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor are most associated with template holes, famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast pioneered "Great Hazard," a massive expanse of waste area which typically comes into play on a player’s second shot on a Par-5. Chris Gabriele, Lead Assistant Golf Professional at Quaker Ridge Golf Club (Pictured Above), said, "It [Great Hazard] definitely puts a ton of pressure on the drive, in order to play the Par-5 as you wish." Gabriele continued, "It is an amazing template that stands the test of time."  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Baltimore Country Club (East) - No. 14 - 607 The Great Hazard at Baltimore Country Club (East) encompasses the entire fairway, 225 yards from the green and spans over 150 feet. If carried, players will be rewarded with a downslope, resulting in a wedge third shot.  Courtesy of Evan Schiller (@evan_schiller_photography) Baltusrol Golf Club - No. 17 - 655 Magnificently restored by Gil Hanse in 2020, the Great Hazard at Baltusrol Golf Club is known as the "Sahara". The bunker spans the width of the fairway and has been re-fashioned to include grassy church pews.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@linksgems) Bethpage State Park: Black - No. 4 - 517 Often considered A.W. Tillinghast's greatest Par-5, No. 4 is double dogleg over a diagonal Great Hazard.
Fenway Golf Club - No. 7 - 636 Unlike other renditions, the Great Hazard at Fenway Golf Club doesn’t stretch across the entire fairway. As the Great Hazard is on the right side, players are forced to the left, but must be aware of OB.
Pine Valley Golf Club - No. 7 - 636 The first Great Hazard ever built is No. 7 at Pine Valley Golf Club, as A.W. Tillinghast convinced course architect George Crump. Known as Hell’s Half Acre, the Great Hazard covers 100 yards and puts immense pressure on the tee shot.
Philadelphia Cricket Club - No. 7 - 553 As Philadelphia Cricket Club, Tillinghast's home club and the site of where is ashes were scattered, is known for its superb bunkers, the Great Hazard on the Par-5 7th is the most famed. One must find the fairway with their drive, in order to take the Great Hazard out of play on their second shot.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Ridgewood Country Club - No. 4 (West) - 606
Rather than a massive expanse of waste area, Ridgewood Country Club features "a series of moguls covered with deep rough," named "Muckle." Alex Elias Originally designed in 1899 at Biarritz Le Phare by Willie Dunn Jr., the Par-3 3rd no longer exists, but the template lives on through C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor. The defining characteristic of the Biarritz template is a massive green that stretches up to 60-80 yards, bisected by a prominent swale three to five feet deep, and is flanked by narrow bunkers on both sides of the green.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Piping Rock Club - No. 9 - 227 Locust Valley, NY C.B. Macdonald In 1908, C.B. Macdonald designed National Golf Links of America, with the goal to create "the perfect golf course." Macdonald’s design featured 'Short,' 'Eden,' and 'Redan', but it was at Piping Rock Club, not National Golf Links of America, where Macdonald first introduced 'Biarritz', becoming the standard quartet of template one-shot holes for Seth Raynor. Notably, the front section of the Biarritz at Piping Rock Club is maintained as fairway and guarded by a front bunker.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Camargo Club - No. 8 - 227 Cincinatti, OH Seth Raynor Similarly to Piping Rock Club, the front section of the Biarritz (No. 8) at Camargo Club is maintained as fairway. The green is smaller than most, only 32 yards from the swale to back.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Chicago Golf Club - No. 3 - 219 Wheaton, IL C.B. Macdonald Designed by C.B. Macdonald in 1894, the Biarritz at Chicago Golf Club was added by Seth Raynor during his renovation in 1925. The green is flanked by narrow bunkers on both sides of the green as well in front and back.  Courtesy of Evan Schiller (@evan_schiller_photography) Dedham Country & Polo Club - No. 14 - 221 Dedham, MA Seth Raynor Designed by Seth Raynor in 1925, Dedham Country & Polo Club was restored in 2017 by Brian Silva. Post renovation, the Biarritz green stretches some 70 yards from back to front and features a thumbprint short of the swale.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Elkridge Club - No. 13 - 225 Baltimore, MD Seth Raynor Similarly to Dedham Country & Polo Club, the Biarritz green at Elkridge Club features a thumbprint short of the swale. One of the longest renditions of the hole, the slightly downhill hole plays over 250 yards to a back pin.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Fishers Island Club - No. 5 - 229 Fishers Island, NY Seth Raynor Similarly to Piping Rock Club, the front section of the Biarritz (No. 5) at Fishers Island Club is maintained as fairway. Unlike most Biarritz holes, No. 5 plays slightly uphill.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Fox Chapel Golf Club - No. 17 - 231 Pittsburgh, PA Seth Raynor Fox Chapel Golf Club features the deepest swale (roughly 5’) of any Biarritz template.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Mid-Ocean Club - No. 13 - 238 Bermuda C.B. Macdonald Like Piping Rock Club, the front section of the Biarritz at Mid-Ocean Club is maintained as fairway.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Mountain Lake - No. 5 - 210 Lake Wales, FL Seth Raynor Fishers Island Club is often considered Seth Raynor's finest design. Notably, the founders of Fishers Island Club hired Seth Raynor with the intention of modeling the club after Mountain Lake. As a result, it shouldn't be a surprise that both courses are home to superb Biarritz templates.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Shoreacres - No. 6 - 211 Lake Bluff, IL Seth Raynor Although the swale at Shoreacres isn’t as severe as others, the topography is one of the more flat, allowing for the hole to be played as originally intended, with a low shot that runs through the swale to the back portion of the green.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Southampton Golf Club - No. 14 - 189 Southampton, NY Seth Raynor Although Southampton Golf Club is often overshadowed by its neighbors, Seth Raynor was a founding member of Southampton Golf Club, and therefore the Biarritz is an instant classic.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) St. Louis Country Club - No. 2 - 225 St. Louis, MO C.B. Macdonald At St. Louis Country Club, the Biarritz green is flanked by two bunkers on the left, but only one on the right. The latter is particularly deep and is referred to by members as "the bunker of death."  Courtesy of Evan Schiller (@evan_schiller_photography) The Creek - No. 11 - 195 Locust Valley, NY Seth Raynor/C.B. Macdonald No. 11 at The Creek isn't just a Biarritz, but an island Biarritz.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Westhampton Country Club - No. 17 - 214 Westhampton, NY Seth Raynor The Biarritz at Westhampton Country Club is flanked by narrow bunkers that wrap around the front and back.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Yale Golf Course - No. 9 - 209
New Haven, CT C.B. Macdonald The 1926 C.B. Macdonald design features a 200+ yard forced carry over water. Alex Elias Camargo Club - Cincinnati, Ohio Seth Raynor Designed by Seth Raynor in 1925, Camargo Club features the Eden 5th, the Biarritz 8th, the Short 11th, and the Redan 15th. As Raynor designed several courses that could vie for the best set of Par-3s, Pete Dye declared Camargo's the finest. Notably, many believe the Eden at Camargo Club to be the best rendition of the template. Chicago Golf Club - Wheaton, Illinois C.B. Macdonald/Seth Raynor In 1908, C.B. Macdonald designed National Golf Links of America, with the goal to create "the perfect golf course." Macdonald's design featured 'Short,' 'Eden,' and 'Redan', but it was at Piping Rock Club, not National Golf Links of America, where Macdonald first introduced 'Biarritz', becoming the standard quartet of template one-shot holes for Seth Raynor. In 1925, Raynor added the Biarritz 3rd, the Redan 7th, the Short 10th, and the Eden 13th to Chicago Golf Club. Notably, many believe the Redan at Chicago Golf Club to the best rendition of the template. Cypress Point Club - Pebble Beach, California Alister MacKenzie No. 15 and No. 16 are two of the most breathtaking holes in the world. From tee boxes perched 60 feet above a cove, No. 15 and No. 16 vary drastically in length. No. 15 is one of the best short Par-3s in America, playing no more than 140 yards, while No. 16 plays 233 yards from the tips. In fact, Alister MacKenzie contemplated making No. 16 a drivable Par-4. Although No. 15 and No. 16 receive the highest praise, and rightfully so, the 157 yard Par-3 3rd and 170 yard Par-3 7th are excellent in and of themselves. Los Angeles Country Club (North) - Los Angeles, California George C. Thomas Jr. Designed by George C. Thomas, Los Angeles Country Club (North) was restored in 2010 by Gil Hanse, his associate Jim Wagner and their colleague Geoff Shackelford. In an interview with The Fried Egg, Shackelford said, "I think LA North has the best set of Par-3s on the planet." With five distinct Par-3s, the 11th can stretch to nearly 300 yards, while the 15th often plays just 90 yards. Pine Valley Golf Club - Pine Valley, New Jersey George Crump/H.S. Colt Each hole at Pine Valley Golf Club is incredibly distinct, and the Par-3s are no exception. The demanding, uphill 238 yard Par-3 5th requires players to carry a water hazard, cross-bunker, and avoid deep bunkers left and right. As No. 5 is certainly the most demanding, each Par-3 poses a challenge in variety and strategy. Sleepy Hollow Country Club - Briarcliff Manor, New York C.B. Macdonald/A.W. Tillinghast The 149 yard Par-3 16th may be the most picturesque hole on the East Coast. Set in front of the Hudson River, the green features a thumbprint and is protected by a trench bunker that wraps around nearly the entire green. As No. 16 is the last of four Par-3s, players are greeted earlier in the round with No. 3, a 172 yard Par-3 over a ravine, No. 7, one of the best Reverse Redans in the country, and No. 10, a 168 yard Par-3 over water. Somerset Hills Country Club - Bernardsville, New Jersey
A.W. Tillinghast A.W. Tillinghast's Redan at Somerset Hills Country Club may be the best rendition in the world. From an elevated tee, the 201 yard Par-3 2nd requires a tee shot to the right side, as the green is set superbly over the terrain and severely sloped, with the bulk of the green hidden. By the Par-3 12th, if Somerset Hills hasn't already left a lasting impression, the setting of the beautiful Par-3 will certainly cement the Tillinghast gem as a favorite course. Alex Elias Last year at the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, the Par-3 15th became the shortest Par-3 in modern U.S. Open history, playing a mere 81 yards on Saturday. Ahead of Round 1, the eventual champion Wyndham Clark said, "Your shot can be right online with the flag, right where you want to hit it, but you don’t know whether to tell it to go or sit. If you hit the right yardage, you’re going to have a short birdie putt or maybe even make a hole-in-one. But if you’re off, it’s an easy, easy bogey."  Courtesy of Patrick Koenig (@pjkoenig) Cypress Point Club - No. 15 - 139 Often overshadowed by the Par-3 16th, No. 15 is not only one of the best short Par-3s in America, but one of the best in the world. Perched above the ocean rocks, the green is protected by several superbly designed Alister McKenzie bunkers and breathtaking cypress trees.  USGA/John Mummert Los Angeles Country Club - No. 15 - 133 Listed at 133 yards, No. 15 played a mere 72 yards during one session of matches at the 2017 Walker Cup and played as short as 81 yards and as long as 124 yards at the 123rd U.S. Open. Protected by bunkers on each side, the green is divided by a ridge.  USGA/Fred Vuich Merion Golf Club - No. 13 - 128 The Par-3 13th played a mere 107 yards in the 2022 Curtis Cup. The oval-shaped green, obscured from the tee by a bunker, is one of the smallest on property.  Courtesy of Evan Schiller (@evan_schiller_photography) Pebble Beach Golf Links - No. 7 - 107 Perhaps the most famous Par-3 in the world, the cliffside seventh hole is set against the second-to-none backdrop of Stillwater Cove. At barely 100 downhill yards from tee to green, No. 7 might require a smooth wedge one day and a knockdown 5-iron the next.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Shoreacres Golf Club - No. 12 - 136 No. 12 is as equally demanding as it is picturesque. Playing downhill to a superbly Seth Raynor designed green, the false front is quick to send shots inches short of perfection back into the bunker.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) The Country Club - No. 12 - 131 The Par-3 12th features an elevated tee box, where the green sits roughly 30 feet below and is guarded by four daunting bunkers.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Wannamoisett Country Club - No. 3 - 137
Perhaps Donald Ross' best short Par-3, bunkers surround the front and left demanding a precise short iron. The green is sloped severely back left to front right.
Alex Elias
Courtesy of Patrick Koenig (@pjkoenig)
Boston Golf Club - Hingham, Massachusetts
Designed by Gil Hanse, the opening Par-5 at Boston Golf Club plays 510 yards from the Championship tees and 475 yards from the Member tees, featuring a blind tee shot off the tee and an elevated green. If one decides to go for the green in two, one will have an uphill shot off a downhill lie. 
Courtesy of Patrick Koenig (@pjkoenig)
Castle Pines Golf Club - Castle Rock, Colorado
Although the listed yardage is 644 yards from the International tees and 600 yards from the Combo tees, the opening Par-5 at Castle Pines Golf Club can be comfortably reached in two, as No. 1 plays downhill at 6,220 feet.
Erin Hills - Erin, Wisconsin
Routed around a wetland on the left, the green of the 553 yard opening Par-5 is fairly accessible as the fairway feeds into the green and is only protected by a cluster of bunkers dug into the right hillside some 50 yards short. Notably, the second shot was made less daunting in 2010, when an oak tree at the corner of the dogleg was removed. 
Courtesy of Noah Jurik (@noahjurik)
Kingsley Club - Kingsley, Michigan
Widely recognized as one of the best modern course designs in America, the opening hole is perhaps the best opening Par-5 in the country. No. 1 features a series of bunkers bisecting an upper and lower fairway, immediately testing one's course management.
Old Sandwich Golf Club - Plymouth, Massachusetts
Although No. 1 appears to be a true gentle handshake as players are greeted with a wide fairway, the green is the defense of the 531 yard Par-5. With a steep false front on the left, players must carry the front, but be aware of missing long. If one misses long, the ensuing chip will be very tough to hold.
Riviera Golf Club - Pacific Palisades, California
The most well-known opening Par-5, No. 1 at Riviera Golf Club sits in the shadow of the clubhouse and is elevated 75 feet above the fairway.
Sand Hills Golf Club - Mullen, Nebraska
Designed by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, the 549 yard opening Par-5 plays off a sand ridge into a valley below. The relatively small green is elevated and situated between two large sand dunes, with a treacherous bunker on the right and false front. Anything short will roll fifty yards back into the fairway.
Shoreacres - Lake Bluff, Illinois
Although Shoreacres is designed by Seth Raynor, No. 1 features two massive cross bunkers which split the fairway, a template often used by A.W. Tillinghast called Great Hazard, and must be carried on one's second shot. 
Courtesy of Pebble Beach Resorts
Spyglass Hill Golf Course - Pebble Beach, California
After threading a chute of Monterey Pines off the tee, the downhill dogleg left leads to the Pacific Ocean. If the tee shot didn't test one's game enough, the approach shot certainly will, as players are left with a 75 yard shot to a green surrounded by bunkering — earning the hole the nickname "Treasure Island".
Quaker Ridge Golf Club - Scarsdale, New York
The defining feature of the opening hole at Quaker Ridge Golf Club is a large, yawning bunker 50 yards short of the green and about 15 feet deep forcing players to decide whether to lay up or go for the green. |
