How to Grow Your Golf Game Through the Par 3

Par 3 golf courses take the anxiety out of the game, which is crucial for those new to the sport

By Jay McKinney

Average golfers know how daunting it can be to step onto the tee of a lengthy par 5.

The flag (if it can be seen) looks miles away. Hazardous native borders the fairway. It’s easy to get distracted wondering how to get to the green in regulation. For tour pros par 5s pose scoring opportunities, but for many golfers they induce anxiety. It’s these types of holes that can cause first-time golfers to post a two-digit score and then decide the game is not for them.

Every golfer lost to the game because they struggled at a regulation course that had an oasis awaiting them – the old-school par 3 course.

Par 3 golf courses take the anxiety out of the game. Not only is the green reachable from every tee shot, but par 3 courses often have a much more laid-back atmosphere in general. The greens fees are the lowest in the game, golfers tend to walk, flip flops aren’t frowned upon, and the twilight rounds may be the most sought after as golfers scramble after work to get nine in before the sun sets.

The first known par 3 golf course was opened in 1914 in Portsmouth, England according to golf course architect J. Drew Rogers. Since then, they have become increasingly more popular around the world even as traditional 18-hole monsters still dominate the golf course market.

In 2023, the National Golf Foundation reported that there were just over 700 par-three golf courses in the United States. Teagan Underwood is among the believers. He has been playing golf for nearly four years in and around Denver and says he plays a par 3 course about once a week, in addition to playing par 72 courses as well. “It’s great for beginners but it’s also good just for improving your midrange game,” he said. “You know some of these strokes are earned in the mid-range, so I think really dialing your irons is beneficial.”

Some 18-hole courses such as Foothills Golf Course in Denver or Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada have nine-hole par 3 layouts. Others stand alone. Harvard Gulch Golf Course located in the Rosedale neighborhood is one of two par 3 courses for the City of Denver with the other being located at Kennedy Golf Course. It’s the perfect course for those looking to enjoy the game and have fun rather than sweat their scores. Golfers can frequently be seen carrying one or two wedges, a putter, and a six-pack of beer.

John Stachowski, pro shop employee and de facto starter at Harvard Gulch, estimates nearly 10 percent of the golfers who visit the course are beginners playing one of their first rounds ever. It’s also a popular golf course among seniors because of its short distances and ease of walking. “Let’s face it, I can’t reach the 450-475 (yard) par 4s in two, I can’t reach them,” Stachowski says. “So, what do you have to rely on, you have to rely on that 30–50-yard shot, and guess what we got here? A lot of that. It helps me to play here and then go out on 18.”

Another reason first-time golfers should visit courses Harvard Gulch is that hundreds of used golf clubs, balls, bags, and other accessories are donated to the course by individuals

and the nonprofit organization, First Tee. The items are sold for cheap and can help build a starter set. While the course is perfect for golfers who are starting out, any par 3 can elevate a golfer’s game and get them hooked.

“For me, it was good for learning how to use my wedges and putt better and kind of understand golf before I actually got on 18,” says Conner Hammond who took up the game within the last two years. “I’m pretty sure we did a few different par 3 courses before I even got out on 18.”  Hammond and his friend Paul Smith who has been playing for nearly seven years enjoy a post-round putting contest on the practice green at Harvard Gulch. They love the short distances the course offers and try to play a par 3 course once or twice a week.

“The Broken Tee par 3 is super fun,” Hammond says. “If you play the back tees at their place you can get into some cool clubs.”

Despite golf’s long-standing stereotype as a wealthy sport defined by fancy country clubs, it’s the humble par 3 courses that are growing the game and making golf more accessible. From hyper kids looking to whack a ball around to couples seeking a fun date idea, par 3 courses are responsible for a variety of people catching the golf bug.

When recently asked what his favorite tradition of the Masters was, Jordan Speith said the par 3 contest on Wednesday. He described it as unlike anything else on tour and a super fun day. The day before the best players in the world compete at Augusta National, they have fun with the game on a par 3. It shows that no matter the skill level, everyone can fall in love with golf at a par 3 course.

 

---

Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram