The Best Sets of Par-3s

Alex Elias

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Camargo Club
Seth Raynor 

Designed by Seth Raynor in 1925, Camargo Club features the Eden 5th, Biarritz 8th, Short 11th, and Redan 15th. With Raynor having designed several courses that could vie for the best set of Par-3s, Pete Dye famously declared Camargo's the finest. Notably, many consider the Eden at Camargo 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 of creating "the perfect golf course." Macdonald’s design featured 'Short,' 'Eden,' and 'Redan.' However, it was at Piping Rock Club, not National Golf Links, where Macdonald first introduced 'Biarritz', becoming the quartet of template one-shot holes for by 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 consider 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, widely regarded as one of the best short Par-3s in America, plays no more than 140 yards, while No. 16 stretches 233 yards from the back tees. Alister MacKenzie even considered turning No. 16 into a drivable Par-4. Though often overlooked, the 157-yard Par-3 3rd and the 170-yard Par-3 7th are equally impressive in their own right.

Los Angeles Country Club (North)
George C. Thomas Jr.
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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 as short as 90 yards.

Pine Valley Golf Club
George Crump/H.S. Colt
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Pine Valley Golf Club is often said to have 18 signature holes, and among them are four exceptional Par-3s. One of the most demanding is the uphill 238-yard 5th, which requires players to carry a water hazard, clear a cross-bunker, and navigate deep bunkers on both sides. While No. 5 stands out as the toughest, each Par-3 poses a challenge in variety and strategy. 

Sleepy Hollow Country Club
​​​C.B. Macdonald/A.W. Tillinghast

The 149-yard Par-3 16th is arguably the most picturesque hole on the East Coast. Overlooking the Hudson River, the green features a thumbprint and is protected by a trench bunker that wraps around nearly the entire surface. As the final of four Par-3s, No. 16 is preceded by three equally captivating holes: the 172-yard 3rd, which plays over a ravine; the 7th, one of the finest Reverse Redans in the country; and the 168-yard 10th, which requires a precise tee shot over water.

Somerset Hills Country Club
A.W. Tillinghast

A.W. Tillinghast's Redan at Somerset Hills Country Club is often regarded as the finest rendition of the template. From an elevated tee, the 201-yard Par-3 2nd demands a precise tee shot to the right side, as the green is perched over the terrain and features a severe slope, with much of the green hidden. By the time players reach the Par-3 12th, if Somerset Hills hasn't already made a lasting impression, the setting of this hole will undoubtedly cement Tillinghast's masterpiece as a favorite course.