Golf Course Architecture - Issue 81, April 2025

41 invariably plays as a ‘half par’ hole, demanding greater skill and precision. Furthermore, mixing up the par three lengths adds some variety to the course layout, allowing for different strategies and club selections. “Hole twelve at Zavidovo PGA National is, at 241 yards, the longest par three I have built to date. The longest I have designed is 252 yards and for a ‘tournament’ course in the Far East. On this project, it suits the site, conditions, challenge (the client’s brief is to test the best players in the game) and the rest of the course layout to have that ‘very’ long par three. Stuart Rennie of Pangaea Golf Architecture says: “I am a fan of shorter par threes but do understand that a longer, tougher par three can be more of a challenge for the better category of golfer. I suppose a long par three requires an accurate long shot, which is fine for the tour players but a bit mundane for the majority of golfers. “When designing the Kings Golf Course in Inverness we tried to create a good variety of par threes ranging from 120-191 yards. The shorter ones are definitely a bit more fun, in my opinion. “The Postage Stamp at my home club Royal Troon is 123 yards. It can play long or short depending on the wind but if the green is missed the challenge can be severe. Most who play are more likely to remember it versus the really good long seventeenth hole. I grew up in the Highlands playing at Royal Dornoch so perhaps my eye aligns with the slightly shorter par three.” Brian Curley of Curley-Wagner says: “To most golfers, a very long par three is just one more chance at an errant tee shot that finds the weeds. My biggest issue with them is changes in wind – that long downhill, downwind, somewhat manageable shot can easily become a beast and really a par four, but typically with an inadequate landing area – and if you do have a large area, it loses visual appeal.” One of the most curious things concerning the negativity about long par threes is that, functionally, they are extremely similar holes to short – especially driveable – par fours, which are almost universally loved. “Someone once asked Alice Dye what she thought about driveable par fours, and she said, ‘I think they are par threes’,” laughs Rees Jones. So perhaps it is the par designation that causes the distaste – which is surely silly – the hole is the hole, and playing it better than the field will give the player an advantage, whatever par number is attached to it. “Years ago I implemented a driveable par four in all on my designs,” says Smyers. “As the game has evolved and elite players’ skill sets have greatly improved, I no longer design short driveable par fours. Elite players are hitting several short irons and wedges, and one more short hole plays right The 241-yard twelfth hole at Zavidovo PGA National Russia Photo: European Golf Design/Jeremy Slessor Photo: Gary Lisbon

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