Golf is a game built on tradition. From the 18 holes on a golf course to how many par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s you can expect to play on your golf journey.
Golf is loved by many and the most dedicated look for any excuse to play.
Every golfer starts his or her round with great hope that this is their day! They are going to play great golf and have a great time!
We all know that sometimes or for many, most times this does not occur, but hopefully the golfer leaves with some promise for their next round.
If you are new to the game, you might wonder why certain things are the way they are! Why are there 18 holes on a golf course? Why do they call it the front 9 and back 9? Why are there so many rules and strange elements to the game?
One question we receive frequently is related to par 3s on a golf course.
How many par 3 holes on a golf course?
Most golf courses will have at least 4 par 3s for every 18 holes. However, some may have only 3 and all the way up to 6.
Then of course you have the par 3 courses, which are made up of the majority of holes being par 3s!
Overall, on the standard par 72 golf course, a golfer can expect to play 4 par 3s, 4 par 4s and 10 par 4s. However, this number will vary from course to course with most total courses totaling between a par 70 and par 72.
What is a par 3 on a golf course?
A par three is a shorter hole where the golfer is expected to hit the green on their first shot of the hole. Typically, the total distance ranges between 50 yards and 220 yards. Recently, some par 3s on professional golf tours have played over 220 yards.
The expectation for the tee shot hitting the green, leaves the golfer with the standard two putts to get into the hole to make their par.
Hit the green and the golfer has a chance for birdie! The longer the par 3 the more difficulty in hitting the green for most golfers. However, there are some rather difficult par 3s out there that leave plenty of bunkering and hazards such as water.
What makes a par 3 difficult?
There are different elements that can make a par 3 difficult. For most amateurs the pure length of a 200 yard plus par 3 makes hitting the green in regulation near impossible. The best hope is to leave the ball in a place on the hole that allows the golfer a chance to save his or her par by chipping it close and making the next putt.
The next factor that influences the difficulty of the par 3 is the bunkering. You might find a small green with a significant amount of bunkering around the hole that makes missing the green in regulation penalizing. The difficulty of hitting a green even from 140 yards is increased as the golfer stares at the bunkers before hitting the shot.
If you end up in one of these deep bunkers and short side yourself, you are looking at making at least a bogey on this hole and that is if you have a quality bunker game.
The third factor is water hazards. For many amateurs, simply looking at the water and the fear that it brings can lead to some miserable results. If you enjoy watching the PGA Tour on television one of the best holes to watch is the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, which is an island green and only plays between 140-150 yards.
However, once the wind kicks in and the green firms up, you might be surprised and pleased to watch the best in the world dump their tee shots in the water.
A final factor that can make any hole tough, but especially par 3s where there isn’t a bail out area is the wind. A fine example of this is the 12th hole at Augusta. In 2019, we saw numerous players on the leaderboard with Tiger Woods hit their shots short into the water leading to big numbers and shooting Tiger into the lead, which he managed to maintain and win the tournament for his 15th career major!
Golf can be an exhilarating game and the par 3s bring another exciting element. The hole in one!
What is a Hole in One In Golf?
A hole in one is when a golfer hits their tee shot into the hole on the first attempt. This is most likely to happen on a par 3, but it has occurred on par 4s.
The par 3 three brings the extra excitement of the potential hole in one. A memory making moment that is truly special and will always be remembered.
I have been fortunate enough to witness two hole in ones by my father, one took place on a special golf trip in Arizona. While I have hit the flag and left it on the edge several times, I am still seeking my first hole in one!
Did you know that Tiger Woods went many years between hole in ones?
Check out this post to learn more about Tiger Woods and hit amount of hole in ones in his career!
How to make more pars on par 3s?
I would recommend aiming for more middle of the greens. While you may be searching for your first hole in one, the real key is hitting the green in regulation. This starts with taking conservative start lines and ensuring that you are hitting the green.
From there you can give it a good run for birdie if it is within 30 feet or simply lag the ball within 3 feet if you are outside of 30 feet. You want to leave a no drama tap in for the par and move onto the next hole.
The exception is if you are playing a par 3 that is 125 yards or less. You will want to aim more at the pin and possibly make a birdie to reach your full potential for that round!
Favorite Par 3 Hole?
My personal favorite par 3 hole is the 16th hole at Augusta. There has been some great history there by many golfers including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. They both have hit some amazing shots and amazing short game shots to propel themselves to victory. The traditional Sunday pin placement brings excitement as the golfers can use the slope of the green to work the ball close and bring a potential hole in one into play!
Final Thoughts: How many par 3 holes on a golf course
The best way to get better at par 3s is to become a better iron player. Working the ball both ways and making solid contact are two things you can work on to increase your par 3 scoring and to bring the hole in one into play.
Stay within yourself on par 3s, ensuring you have enough club, and play more conservatives if par is your goal on the par 3s. If you can ever get through the par 3s in even par, this is a great accomplishment for that round of golf!