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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, Assistant Golf Professional at Old Sandwich Golf Club. "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 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, 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."
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Alex Elias  Designed by Golden Age architect 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 than 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, fellow Golden Age architect A.W. Tillinghast pioneered "Great Hazard," a massive expanse of waste area that 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: Lower - 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 finest 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 one of the most famed renditions. 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 hole, known as 'Chasm,' no longer exists, but the 'Biarritz' template—later adopted by C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor—does. The defining feature of the Biarritz template is its massive green, stretching 60 to 80 yards, bisected by a prominent swale three to five feet deep, and flanked by narrow bunkers on both sides.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Piping Rock Club - No. 9 - 227 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 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 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 as in front and back.  Courtesy of Evan Schiller (@evan_schiller_photography) Dedham Country & Polo Club - No. 14 - 221 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 Similarly to Dedham Country & Polo Club, the Biarritz green at Elkridge Club features a thumbprint short of the swale. One of the longest Biarritz holes, the slightly downhill hole plays over 250 yards to a back pin.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Fishers Island Club - No. 5 - 229 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 Fox Chapel Golf Club features the deepest swale (roughly 5’) of any Biarritz template.  Metairie Country Club - No. 3 - 248 Unlike many Golden Age architects who relied on dramatic topography, Raynor often worked with relatively flat, featureless terrain, using templates to create variety and strategy. At Metairie Country Club, the Biarritz 3rd is one of the many templates that showcase his ability to introduce strategic challenge on otherwise flat land.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Mid-Ocean Club - No. 13 - 238 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 As Florida golf tends to be homogeneous (flat land, copious water, palm trees), Raynor's templates, including the Biarritz 5th, at Mountain Lake present a stark contrast from the other top Florida courses.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) Shoreacres - No. 6 - 211 Although the swale at Shoreacres isn’t as severe as others, the topography tee-to-green 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 Although Southampton Golf Club is often overshadowed by its neighbors, Seth Raynor was a founding member of Southampton Golf Club and considered the club's Biarritz to be among his favorites.  Courtesy of Jon Cavalier (@LinksGems) St. Louis Country Club - No. 2 - 225 At St. Louis Country Club, the 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 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 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
The 1926 C.B. Macdonald design features a 200+ yard forced carry over water. Alex Elias Camargo Club 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 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 Alister MacKenzie No. 15 and No. 16 are two of the most breathtaking holes in the country. From tee boxes perched 60 feet above a cove, No. 15 and No. 16 vary drastically in length. No. 15, one of the best short Par-3s in America, plays 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 overshadowed, the 157 yard Par-3 3rd and 170 yard Par-3 7th are excellent in and of themselves. Los Angeles Country Club (North) 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 George Crump/H.S. Colt It is often said that Pine Valley Golf Club has 18 signature holes. Among those eighteen are four superb Par-3s, including the demanding, uphill 238 yard Par-3 5th, which 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 of the Par-3s poses a challenge in variety and strategy. Sleepy Hollow Country Club 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
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 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.  USGA/John Mummert Los Angeles Country Club (North) - 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 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 infamous 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
Designed by Gil Hanse, the opening Par-5 at Boston Golf Club stretches 510 yards from the Championship tees and 475 yards from the Member tees, featuring a blind tee shot and an elevated green. Those opting to go for the green in two will face an uphill shot from a downhill lie. 
Courtesy of Patrick Koenig (@pjkoenig)
Castle Pines Golf Club
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
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
Widely recognized as one of the best modern courses 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.
Los Angeles Country Club (North)
Although the Par-5 1st at Los Angeles Country Club (North) may not be as recognized as the Par-5 1st at nearby Riviera Country Club, both begin with gentle handshakes, a hallmark of George C. Thomas' designs. A Redan-like green, the green opens from the right and slopes from right to left, with a bunker guarding the front.
Riviera Golf Club
The most iconic opening Par-5, No. 1 at Riviera Country Club, sits in the shadow of the clubhouse and is elevated 75 feet above the fairway.
Sand Hills Golf Club
Designed by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, the 549 yard opening Par-5 plays off a sand ridge into a valley below. The small, elevated green sits between two large sand dunes, guarded by a treacherous bunker on the right, and a false front. Anything short will roll fifty yards back into the fairway.
Shoreacres
Although designed by Seth Raynor, the opening Par-5 at Shoreacres features two massive cross bunkers that divide the fairway, reminiscent of A.W. Tillinghast's 'Great Hazard' template. 
Courtesy of Pebble Beach Resorts
Spyglass Hill Golf Course
After threading a chute of Monterey Pines off the tee, the downhill dogleg left leads toward the Pacific Ocean. If the tee shot isn’t challenging enough, the approach will certainly test one's game, with a 75-yard shot required to a green encircled by bunkers — earning the hole its nickname, "Treasure Island."
Quaker Ridge Golf Club
The opening hole at Quaker Ridge Golf Club is defined by a large, yawning bunker 50 yards short of the green and about 15 feet deep, forcing players to choose between laying up or going for the green. |
