What Is a Pitch and Putt Course?
A pitch and putt is a short golf course where every hole is a very short par 3, usually reached with one pitch from the tee and finished with a putt or two. You need only a couple of clubs, a round takes far less time than full golf, and it's one of the friendliest ways to start playing.
The name says it all: pitch the ball onto the green, then putt it in.
How a pitch and putt course works
- Hole length: usually well under 100 yards, so a wedge or short iron reaches the green from the tee.
- Par: every hole is a par 3. A nine-hole course is par 27, an 18-hole course par 54.
- Clubs: often just a wedge, a short iron and a putter. Many courses hire them out.
- Time: nine holes can be played in under an hour.
- Cost: usually much cheaper than a full-length course, and often there's no dress code or membership.
Each hole still has a tee, a small green and sometimes a bunker or two, so all the parts of a golf hole are there, just in miniature.
Pitch and putt vs par 3 course vs mini golf
These three are easy to mix up:
| Pitch and putt | Par 3 course | Mini golf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical hole length | Very short, mostly under 100 yards | Longer, up to about 250 yards | A few yards |
| Clubs | A wedge or two and a putter | A full set of irons, maybe a hybrid | A putter only |
| Grass | Real grass greens and tees | Real grass | Artificial surfaces and obstacles |
| Skills used | Pitching, chipping, putting | Full iron shots plus short game | Putting and bank shots |
A par 3 course (or "executive" course, a name often used for short courses that also include a few par 4s) is closer to proper golf, with longer holes that need a mid or long iron. Mini golf is a different game altogether, played on artificial surfaces with ramps and obstacles. There's more on that in mini golf vs pixel golf.
A sport of its own
In some countries pitch and putt is more than a beginner's course. In Ireland in particular it's an organised sport with its own clubs, national championships and rules. Competitive pitch and putt usually limits the number of clubs you can carry, typically to three, and sets a maximum length for holes.
Elsewhere, pitch and putt is mostly casual: municipal courses in parks, holiday resorts and seaside towns, often played by families and groups of friends. For how the game developed, see history of pitch and putt.
Why pitch and putt is good for your game
Most strokes in a round of golf happen within about 100 yards of the green. A pitch and putt course drills exactly those shots:
- Distance control: with no long shots to rely on, you learn exactly how far each wedge swing goes.
- Short game: every missed green is a chance to practise a chip or a pitch. See how to hit a pitch shot.
- Putting: you'll hit a putt on every hole, often several.
- Course management: small greens punish you for going at tight pins.
It's also a gentle way to learn the rhythm of a round: who plays first, where to stand and how to keep score.
Tips for your first pitch and putt round
- Bring or hire a wedge and a putter. A 9 iron is a useful third club for longer holes.
- Tee the ball up if the course allows it. It makes clean contact much easier.
- Aim for the middle of the green, not the flag.
- Keep score against par 3 on each hole. Par is a good score on a small green.
- Let faster groups through. Pitch and putt courses get busy.
Try it in Mashy
Mashy is a pitch and putt at heart: a short-game golf game with irons, chips and putts, and no driver or woods. Its holes are longer than a typical real pitch and putt, with par 3s and some par 4s, but the skills are the same: choosing the right iron, controlling distance, and holing out with the putter. On a par 3, a good tee shot and one putt gives you a birdie 2.
Frequently asked questions
How long are pitch and putt holes?
Most pitch and putt holes are well under 100 yards, short enough to reach the green with a single wedge or short iron from the tee. Lengths vary from course to course, and organised pitch and putt competitions set their own maximum hole length.
How many clubs do you need for pitch and putt?
Two or three is plenty. A pitching wedge or sand wedge and a putter will get you round most courses, and a 9 iron helps on the longer holes. Competitive pitch and putt often limits players to a small number of clubs, commonly three.
Is a pitch and putt the same as a par 3 course?
Not quite. Both have only par-3 holes, but a pitch and putt is much shorter, with holes mostly under 100 yards played with wedges. A par 3 course has longer holes, sometimes over 200 yards, that need a wider range of irons.
Is pitch and putt good for beginners?
Yes, it's one of the best ways to start. The holes are short, the rounds are quick and cheap, and you only need a couple of clubs. It also builds the short-game skills, like pitching, chipping and putting, that save the most strokes on a full-length course.
What is par on a pitch and putt course?
Every hole is a par 3, so a nine-hole pitch and putt is par 27 and an 18-hole course is par 54. A score of 3 on a hole is par, a 2 is a birdie and a 1 is a hole in one.