Pitch and Putt Goes Premium With Par-3 Golf Courses Trending
The short course offers a fun and accessible golf experience, particularly for those seeking a quicker round or to introduce new players to the game.
For all of its positives, golf is a sport that takes a lot of time. Rounds lasting anywhere from three to five hours can be a stumbling block for both new and experienced players. One of the primary solutions has been a renewed focus on the par-3 course, made up of shorter holes, laid out in the style of a full-size golf course that can be played with just a few clubs, and usually in an hour or less. The term “pitch and putt” is often used derisively in golf circles, but more and more the format is being implemented not just at public courses but also by major golf resorts looking to offer something quicker, less formal, and above all, good fun.
Examples exist worldwide. Pinehurst, which is often regarded as “The Home of American Golf,” has 10 separate 18-hole courses under its umbrella, but one of its most in-demand tee times is for The Cradle, the nine-hole, 789-yard, par-3 course designed by Gil Hanse. Entirely set in front of the main club house, the laid-back setting and casual atmosphere (there is a bar perched in the middle of the holes, and speakers play music heard throughout) offer golfers the chance to play a world-class course in a fraction of the time it would normally require.
The par-3 is no longer an afterthought or a way to use up subprime plots of real estate but a meticulously thought out set of holes designed by some of the world’s premier golf course architects. In Canada, at Cabot Cape Breton, The Nest par-3 course is the work of Rod Whitman, who is responsible for the 18-hole Cabot Links on the same property, which is ranked the number three course in the country.
While there is always debate over whether it counts or not, one undeniable draw of the par-3 course is the heightened chance of making a hole in one, and the courses know it. A quick scan through social media will show jubilant teebox scenes as a member of a large group holes out from 100 yards. Add to all that the fact that par-3 courses can be enjoyed by new golfers or casual players who may not want to commit an entire holiday to the links, and the continued renaissance of these layouts seems like more and more of a no-brainer.
