Famous Par 3 Holes
The most famous par 3 holes in golf include the Postage Stamp (8th) at Royal Troon, the 12th at Augusta National, the island-green 17th at TPC Sawgrass and the 7th at Pebble Beach. None of them is long. Their fame comes from tiny targets, wind and trouble on every side.
The famous par 3s at a glance
| Hole | Course | Rough length | The danger |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8th, the Postage Stamp | Royal Troon, Scotland | About 120 yards | A tiny green ringed by deep bunkers |
| 12th, Golden Bell | Augusta National, USA | About 155 yards | Rae's Creek and tricky wind |
| 17th | TPC Sawgrass, USA | About 135 yards | Water all round the green |
| 7th | Pebble Beach, USA | About 100 yards | Ocean wind and a small green |
| 16th | Cypress Point, USA | About 230 yards | A long carry over the Pacific |
| 15th, Redan | North Berwick, Scotland | About 190 yards | A green angled away from the tee |
Lengths change with the tees used, so treat them as a guide.
The Postage Stamp, Royal Troon
The 8th at Royal Troon is the shortest hole on the Open Championship rota. The green is very narrow and set into a sand dune, with deep bunkers all around, so a slight miss can mean several shots to escape.
Its most famous moment came at the 1973 Open, when Gene Sarazen, aged 71, made a hole in one there. It's a lovely reminder that the shortest holes can produce the best stories.
The 12th at Augusta National
The 12th, called Golden Bell, sits at the heart of Amen Corner. Rae's Creek runs in front of a shallow green, with bunkers short and long. The trees around it make the wind hard to read, so even the best players can pick the wrong club.
The 17th at TPC Sawgrass
Pete Dye's island green, on the Stadium Course that hosts the Players Championship, is probably the most copied par 3 in the world. Only a narrow walkway joins the green to dry land. Professionals hit a wedge or short iron, yet balls still splash every year, especially when the wind gets up.
The 7th at Pebble Beach
Often called one of the shortest holes in championship golf, the 7th plays downhill to a little green on a point above the ocean. On a calm day it's a gentle wedge. When the wind blows off the sea, players have been known to hit much longer clubs, punching the ball low to keep it out of the gusts.
The 16th at Cypress Point
Near Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula, Cypress Point's 16th asks for a long carry across an ocean inlet to a green on the cliffs. Golfers can play safe to the left and pitch on, which makes it a classic risk-and-reward hole.
The Redan at North Berwick
The 15th at North Berwick is the original Redan: a green that sits at an angle, running away from the tee and sloping from front right to back left, protected by a deep bunker. The idea has been copied by architects all over the world, so "Redan hole" is now a design term.
Why short holes are so hard
- One shot to get it right: there's no second shot to fix a poor drive.
- Small greens: short holes usually have tighter targets.
- Wind matters more: the ball is high in the air for a long time with a short iron.
- Pressure: everyone is watching, and the score is often decided in seconds.
For playing tips, see how to hit a tee shot on a par 3, and for the wider list of great holes, famous golf holes.
Try it in Mashy
Every course in Mashy has par 3s over water, sand and wind. Closest to the pin mode is made for them: one tee shot on each of the course's par 3s, the feet from the hole add up, and the lowest total wins. Read the wind indicator, pick an iron and see how close you can get.
Want to learn the format? Read closest to the pin explained.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortest hole on the Open Championship rota?
The 8th at Royal Troon, known as the Postage Stamp, is the shortest hole on the courses used for the Open, at around 120 yards. Its green is tiny and surrounded by deep bunkers, which is why such a short hole is so feared.
Who made a hole in one on the Postage Stamp?
Gene Sarazen made a hole in one on the 8th at Royal Troon during the 1973 Open Championship, when he was 71 years old. He had won the Open at Prince's in 1932, so the ace at Troon was a famous late moment in his career.
Why is the 12th at Augusta so difficult?
The green is shallow, Rae's Creek runs in front of it and bunkers guard it front and back. The trees around Amen Corner make the wind swirl, so players often can't be sure which club to hit, and a ball that comes up short usually ends up in the water.
What is a Redan hole?
A Redan is a par 3 whose green is set at an angle to the tee, sloping away from the player and guarded by a deep bunker. The original is the 15th at North Berwick in Scotland, and course architects have built copies of it around the world.
Can you get a hole in one in Mashy?
No. In Mashy only a putt can drop, so a tee shot that reaches the cup lips out. On a par 3 the best realistic score is a birdie 2: find the green with your tee shot, then hole the putt.