Our panel have played the best English courses ahead of compiling the NCG Top 100s: England list – but what is their favourite par 3?
From short holes by the coast, with the wind whipping off the sea, to inland par 3s that require thought and nouse through the trees, there are some amazing par 3s up and down the country.
There are some on our list that you will know from seeing on TV, but there are others that you might never have even thought about!
What do our panellists think? There are many incredible par 3s around the country, but will our panellists have gone for the same short hole? Or will there be several different par 3s in their mentions?
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What do our panellists rate as the best par 3 in England?
Craig Morrison: Burnham‘s 9th, a Colt/Mackenzie masterpiece torn up and made better. How did they do that? It requires a heroic strike and is named ‘Wreck’ after heroic events.
Dan Gould: Coombe Hill 9th. A classic par 3. Tricky but beautiful.
Philip Bedford: 4th hole – Dunstanburgh Castle
Steve Watton: Hankley Common 7th Hole. Beautiful par 3 played over a heathery valley, although I’m not sure a new back tee was necessary!
Joss Powick: A very difficult decision, there’s so many good ones….. 3rd at Hindhead
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Neil Gray: ‘Bloody Point’, the par 3 5th on the Himalayas 9 at Prince’s is a short but very cleverly designed hole
Jason Ling: The iconic island green 17th at the JCB Club – superb!
Neil White: 18th at Parkstone – insane finale
Andi White: Piltdown 4th 173 yards for women, downhill over a deep ravine and dense heather, quite an intimidating hole.
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Dove Jones: Royal Liverpool 11th – Alps – great view, Birdied it the first time I played it – never again after scores of tries
David Elliott: Royal West Norfolk, 4th. a Fabulous looking par 3, designed & Built over 100 years ago and still stands up today.
Pat O’Connor: 12th at Wallasey. This hole has been transformed in recent years to become one of the most memorable holes in golf – and it is only 140 yards.
Michael Verity: 5th at West Sussex. Designed by God. Ace green. Thrill to play every time
Steve Carroll: 4th, Swinley Forest – 171 yards of wonder. I don’t know how you better it. The Redan green, the steep drop off the front, the cavernous bunkers waiting for your misstep. It’s basically perfect.
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There were a number of short holes that received more than one nomination from our panellists…
Daniel Meredith: 10th on The Berkshire Red
Chris Griffiths: Hole 10 (The Berkshire – Red). Can’t think of a better hole in golf.
Mike Robertson: 5th at Royal Worlington. Short but so, so fiendish. Miss the green and it can be serious trouble.
Neil White: 5th Royal Worlington & Newmarket – simply deadly or deadly simple…
Lewis Marr: 9th at St Annes Old Links with the clubhouse in the background
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Greg Webber: Difficult, as there are so many possibilities, but let’s say between the 9th at St Anne’s Old Links or the 6th at Royal Ashdown Forest
David Walker: Royal Birkdale 12th – generous greens sat in dunes with roll off and deep bunker
Dan Murphy: The 12th at Royal Birkdale is awe-inspiring. The shelf green looks so small from back on the tee when the wind is whipping off the Irish Sea.
Ed Battye: 7th at Rye. Devilish.
Chris Myatt: Rye Golf Club – 7th Hole. A short hole with a small target set against the backdrop of sand scrapes and dunes, protected at the front by more sand – a bunker.
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Now have your say
Would you agree with our panellists? What do you think is the best par 3 in England? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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