Best Par Threes in Ireland

Kevinmarkham

Stuck up a couple of lists on my blog, with photos... already had a few withering comments, but no surprise there.

Top Ten Links

Top Ten Parkland

dines08

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Stuck up a couple of lists on my blog, with photos... already had a few withering comments, but no surprise there.

Top Ten Links

Top Ten Parkland

7th in Dromoland??? On a nice day there is nothing as picturesque

ShriekingSheet

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Stuck up a couple of lists on my blog, with photos... already had a few withering comments, but no surprise there.

Top Ten Links

Top Ten Parkland

Good idea for a post Kevin.

Mine would be

Bray GC 10th (I think), down the hill. Lots of courses (Hermitage, South County, Grange) have steep downhill par 3s, but I like this one best.

Carton O'Meara 16th, because it genuinely looks like the Augusta Par 3 course, and comes at the perfect time to put the sh*ts up someone on a good score.

Slade Valley 5th is a tricky little one that's nice to play.

Newlands 10th is tough and looked amazing in Senior Cup 2011 with the crowd around the green and on the balcony watching.

Courtown 18th, as par 3 finishes go, is a good one too.

Kevinmarkham

dines08 wrote: »

7th in Dromoland??? On a nice day there is nothing as picturesque

It's in the 2nd tranche. Agree with you about how gorgeous it looks with the castle behind.

Golfgraffix

Tough job Kevin but good picks, for me I would have included the 10th at Hermitage, 13th at The Island.

I have never played Tralee but we have just started some work on it and although I have still to see it in the flesh as we model it I am blown away by it, it looks any of the par 3s could make it.

What is great to see is that non of the top ten for both lists have no ubber long holes, I think 200 yards being the longest. There was a time wen the 230 yard par 3 was fashionable, there was one on the Red nine at Holystown, 237 Yards of pure boredom.

The 14th at Doonbeg is a great example of a par 3 that is short, strategic and makes great use of the vista. Never found it a tough hole tough, always seem to have caught it on a not so windy day.

TheGolfer01

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Stuck up a couple of lists on my blog, with photos... already had a few withering comments, but no surprise there.

Top Ten Links

Top Ten Parkland

Good idea for a Thread Kevin, but it's a shame that you seem to take the forward tees on alot of the holes and in turn not do them full justice, e.g Waterville 12th is 200 odd yards from the blues and about 185 carry, while from the whites it is about 165 and only 150 carry, big difference and almost a completely different hole from the elavated back tee.

FixdePitchmark

Good thread, good list - to add.

Corballis 1,
Corballis 4,
Corballis 6,
Corballis 13,

Take your pick all short but great holes.

ArielAtom

Some great Par 3's around

A few that I like or just cant score on and may or may not get a mention are:

2nd Grange
11th Grange
10th Hermitage
16th Lisheen (South County)
Garden Hole in Coolatin (upturned saucer springs to mind)
7th Arklow
5th Greystones (if pin is on top level)

PARlance

Like the 16th at Lisheen and the 13th at Luttellstown

Plenty of danger on both holes, but if you want to play safe there is also that option there too.
I'm not good enough to have an all or nothing hole in my top 10

Great list Kevin! Thanks for sharing

ShriekingSheet

ajcurry123 wrote: »

Like the 16th at Lisheen and the 13th at Luttellstown

Plenty of danger on both holes, but if you want to play safe there is also that option there too.
I'm not good enough to have an all or nothing hole in my top 10

Great list Kevin! Thanks for sharing

Yeah, at Lisheen / South County, the Junior Cup was there a few years ago and it was carnage. Lots of matches on a knife edge coming to it, and it has that amphitheatre feel around it. Really good watching.

Milkers

Kind of amazing that the 17th at Waterville , and the 3rd & 13th at Tralee only make the honourable mention list. Talk about an embarrassment of riches! Nice lists.

ps in the best of the rest list you mention 2 at Tralee, you probably mean 3

PARlance

You'll have to do a best Par 3 Golf Courses (par 54) next Kevin

fullstop

16 on the O'Meara should be in there IMO, and possible the 7th in Glashedy, it can play anything from a 4 iron to a wedge depending on the wind.

ThunderCat

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Good thread, good list - to add.

Corballis 1,
Corballis 4,
Corballis 6,
Corballis 13,

Take your pick all short but great holes.

Totally agree with the 13th in particular. Absolute gem of a par 3 in my opinion. Strong list from Kevin and always going to cause a debate. I'd have included the 7th at RCD for sure and the 4th at Rosses Point.

link_2007

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Bray GC 10th (I think), down the hill. Lots of courses (Hermitage, South County, Grange) have steep downhill par 3s, but I like this one best.

The 14th in Dunmore East in Waterford in another excellent 'down the hill' par 3.

The_Architect

I part way with you on quite a few of your links ones, Kevin.

Ones I might include would be

14th at Rosapenna Old
9th at County Sligo
12th at Portmarnock
Original 11th at Lahinch
Drop 16th at Carne for a couple of ones on the new 9
15th at Ballybunion
7th at Royal County Down
17th at Enniscrone
5th at Donegal

Seves Three Iron

Par 3s I also like;

Royal Tara 15th
Slade Valley 5th
Seapoint 17th
Abbeyleix 3rd
Rosses Point 4th
K Club, Smurfit 8th
Luttrellstown Castle 13th
Naas 17th
Headfort New 17th
Knightsbrook 18th
Old Head 16th
European Club 12A & 14
Nuremore 6th

Kevinmarkham

The_Architect wrote: »

I part way with you on quite a few of your links ones, Kevin.

Thought you might.

Nice picks. I haven't seen the new 9 at Carne yet.

The_Architect

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Thought you might.

Nice picks. I haven't seen the new 9 at Carne yet.

We've a great bunch to choose from so it's hardly surprising I suppose. probably put 15 at Portsalon in there too.

f22

I'd have to put the islands 13th on my shortlist

im invisible

i hit a partridge on a par three once

fullstop

The_Architect wrote: »

We've a great bunch to choose from so it's hardly surprising I suppose. probably put 15 at Portsalon in there too.

I wouldn't have 15 at Portsalon. It's very difficult, but the green is bordering on stupid and the pin is down front right seemingly every time I play it. You're either within 6 feet off the tee or lucky to keep it on the green with the next shot.

FixdePitchmark

Lads had a think about this – played about 30 courses 18mths. I’ve been trying to think of one of them that did not have a good / decent par 3 and can’t.

The Island, Balbriggan, Clontarf, St.Anne’s, Corbalis, The Island, Royal County Down, Rathsallagh, Seafield, Castleknock, Co Louth, Mt Julet, Gold Coast, West Waterford, Old Head, Arklow, Druids Heath, Headford New, The Heath, Enniscrone, The Heritage, Portmarnock Links.

I’m just making the point how hard it is to pick one out, when most courses have a good/great one. If a course can't get one par 3 right, it is not a golf course I want to play at all.

The_Architect

fullstop wrote: »

I wouldn't have 15 at Portsalon. It's very difficult, but the green is bordering on stupid and the pin is down front right seemingly every time I play it. You're either within 6 feet off the tee or lucky to keep it on the green with the next shot.

One of my favourite greens in Ireland. Plenty of little miniature bowls for pin positions. Big slopes but playable in my opinion. And strategic - don't miss left.

f22

I'd also add Portmarnock Links 17th onto my list, especially off the back pegs. Not for scenic value, just a genuine tough memorable uphiller that generally plays into the wind. Hitting the green guarantees nothing.

Dayor Knight

Anyone for the 8th at Palmerstown House?

http://www.palmerstownhouse.com/golf/The-Course/Course-Guide/Hole-8.aspx

boardlog

7th or 16th Dunmore East Golf Club
I hit a seagull on the 14th---still feel guilty:-(

Dtoffee

Good to see the Garden hole at Coolattin getting a mention, one of my favs along with .....

7th at Arklow,
4th at Carrickmines,
13th at The Island,
10th at Headfort (old)

Peterdalkey

Surprised not to see the 4th (the bowl) or the 17th at Woodenbridge not mentioned. Two cracking holes on which you would always take a 3 off the tee and have to played according to the wind on the day.

Great thread!

Cheers

Peter

Tin_Cup

Dayor Knight wrote: »

Anyone for the 8th at Palmerstown House?

http://www.palmerstownhouse.com/golf/The-Course/Course-Guide/Hole-8.aspx

All Par 3's pretty good in Palmerstown to be honest. In particular like the 12th

Myksyk

The 8th in Woodstock in Summer. Water to the greens edge. Trouble left right and back. Two tier green to make it more interesting. Lovely, tough par 3. A demon off the whites. Can be a three wood when the wind blows.

FixdePitchmark

f22 wrote: »

I'd also add Portmarnock Links 17th onto my list, especially off the back pegs. Not for scenic value, just a genuine tough memorable uphiller that generally plays into the wind. Hitting the green guarantees nothing.

Agree with that - they are all great par 3s there imo.

dvemail

The 16th in Adare, 7th in Dromoland would be two I'd add to the Parkland.
The 5th in Murvagh up in Donegal is a great par 3 also.

dcmm

The 14th hole in Castletroy is a little teaser.A downhill shot landing on its well
guarded green,is a triumph for me any day.Water on both sides is full golf balls,
lots of which are mine:rolleyes:

IanPoulter

14 and 16 on the O'Meara (Carton House)

The 6th at Roganstown - cardwrecker but a buzz when you par it.

fullstop

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Good thread, good list - to add.

Corballis 1,
Corballis 4,
Corballis 6,
Corballis 13,

Take your pick all short but great holes.

Only played there for the first time this weekend but none of these are great, IMO.

link_2007

The 11th at Mount Wolsely is another I really like. Here's a couple of pics from Kevin's excellent flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmarkham/4919298268/in/set-72157624662890419/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinmarkham/4919298540/in/set-72157624662890419/lightbox/

I think the first pic is taken from the white tee box. The blues would be about 10 yards to the right (as you're looking at the green) and means it's water pretty much from tee to green.

Dats me

Myksyk wrote: »

The 8th in Woodstock in Summer. Water to the greens edge. Trouble left right and back. Two tier green to make it more interesting. Lovely, tough par 3. A demon off the whites. Can be a three wood when the wind blows.

And you're usually livid after the 7th...

neckedit

all 4 at Driuds Glen do it for me......specially the 8th. Also always enjoy the 16th at The Slieve Russell........water short, narrowish green and bunkers long.

FixdePitchmark

fullstop wrote: »

Only played there for the first time this weekend but none of these are great, IMO.

Yes that is the problem with this - if you don't like hole 6 and 13 in Corballis it is going to be hard for anybody to agree on any par 3s - as i said , Is there any course without a good par 3 ?

It is subjective.

The_Architect

Well,
It's subjective up to a point because all par-3's ask you to attack the green from a fixed position.

But really all great par-3's should demand different shot types for different pin positions and wind conditions. Add some drama in to the mix in terms of surroundings and the ideal par-3 is born. Add tees at different angles and you have an even better par-3.

Nervous Nigel

What about the 15th in Portmarnock?

Great hole.

fullstop

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Yes that is the problem with this - if you don't like hole 6 and 13 in Corballis it is going to be hard for anybody to agree on any par 3s - as i said , Is there any course without a good par 3 ?

It is subjective.

But what's great about any of those that you mentioned? 1 is just a 150 yard hole with a massive, flat green and not a lot else. 4 is ok, but very short and featureless. 6 is the best of them IMO, but top 10 in the country?? and 13 could be good if it was longer.

FixdePitchmark

fullstop wrote: »

But what's great about any of those that you mentioned? 1 is just a 150 yard hole with a massive, flat green and not a lot else. 4 is ok, but very short and featureless. 6 is the best of them IMO, but top 10 in the country?? and 13 could be good if it was longer.

So you like 6. Grand. Great hole. Up there with the best IMO.
I think hitting a sw close to a par 3 is a great Joy in golf. That is not going to be everybodies thing.

I think the thread has spread outside the best in the country , I've been saying there are great par 3 on every course. So people are going to have their own favourite.

How many did you par ?

fullstop

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

So you like 6. Grand. Great hole. Up there with the best IMO.
I think hitting a sw close to a par 3 is a great Joy in golf. That is not going to be everybodies thing.

I think the thread has spread outside the best in the country , I've been saying there are great par 3 on every course. So people are going to have their own favourite.

How many did you par ?

Par? Sure I wouldn't be having any of them!

FixdePitchmark

fullstop wrote: »

Par? Sure I wouldn't be having any of them!

lol.

If you hit wrong part of green, nightmares some of them. But 4 birdies solves that - anyway a bit short for your level.

The_Architect

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think hitting a sw close to a par 3 is a great Joy in golf. That is not going to be everybodies thing.

This is a point I fully agree with.

Give them a short club and a treacherous green and they go of with a 4 or 5 when they think it was their right to make 3.

Some great short par-3's worldwide (think 128 yard Postage Stamp) but the best of them in Ireland is the 93 yard "Fairy" at North-West in Buncrana.

thewobbler

The_Architect wrote: »

This is a point I fully agree with.

Give them a short club and a treacherous green and they go of with a 4 or 5 when they think it was their right to make 3.

Some great short par-3's worldwide (think 128 yard Postage Stamp) but the best of them in Ireland is the 93 yard "Fairy" at North-West in Buncrana.

I played it once, with a 20 mph wind behind. A flick of a wrist with a wedge went long. Being short really does not mean being easy.

fullstop

The_Architect wrote: »

This is a point I fully agree with.



Some great short par-3's worldwide (think 128 yard Postage Stamp) but the best of them in Ireland is the 93 yard "Fairy" at North-West in Buncrana.

Was going to mention this as a good example of a short hole. You can't see the whole green from the tee and it's surrounded by bunkers.

Arsenium

neckedit wrote: »

Also always enjoy the 16th at The Slieve Russell........water short, narrowish green and bunkers long.

Had forgotten about that hole...great little hole. There can be a breeze there also which can make club selection tricky. If you hit the green you can enjoy your walk to the ball...but a tough putt is usually left to get the ball to the hole. Super Green.

There's another earlier in the round also...maybe the 7th (??). It's from a really elevated tee making club selection tough. Throw in a strong breeze there and it's a toughie.

I love the 4th hole on Headfort New. In fact just thinking here...3 of the 4 par 3s in Headfort New are water from tee to green, and none of them are exceptionally long. Great holes.

GreeBo

The first two par 3's in my own club are regular card wreckers.
1st 173M uphill, OB right, lateral WH all along the left, 20m drop off the left of the green.
2nd 122M downhill, 20m drop to the green, river in front, 6 greenside bunkers, green slopes towards each bunker and the water.

But I think anyone can find at least 1 good par 3 on any course.