Par-3 Course
A par-3 course is a golf course on which every hole is a par 3. Holes usually range from about 90 to 220 yards, and a full 18-hole layout has a par of 54.
What is a par-3 course?
Every hole on a par-3 course has a par of 3. There are no par 4s and no par 5s, which makes the layout much shorter than a regulation course. On a regulation course, par 3 holes are one of three hole types and typically account for four of the eighteen holes. A par-3 course strips out the longer holes and keeps only the short ones.
The format exists because not every round has to last four or five hours. Par-3 courses need less land than a regulation layout and play in roughly a third of the time. They also cost less to build and maintain. Most come in two sizes: a 9-hole version with a par of 27, or an 18-hole version with a par of 54. Many sit on a corner of a city park or behind a driving range, while at larger resorts, they share grounds with the regulation course.
How par-3 courses work
The defining feature is hole length. Most holes on a par-3 course measure between 90 and 220 yards from the regular tees, with many in the 100 to 150 yard window. A full 18-hole par-3 course typically totals between 1,000 and 2,500 yards. A regulation 18-hole course, by comparison, runs roughly 6,000 to 7,500 yards.
The maximum length follows USGA guidance. Under the World Handicap System revisions introduced in 2020, a hole counts as a par 3 if it measures up to 260 yards for men and up to 220 yards for women. Those figures replaced the older 250-yard and 210-yard guidelines, which, according to Ryan Ballengee at Golf News Net, had been in place since 1917.
Measured yardage is only part of the calculation. Course raters also consider what is called effective playing length, which adjusts for slope, prevailing wind, and similar factors. A hole measured at 268 yards downhill, for example, can still be rated as a par 3 if it plays significantly shorter than its raw distance.
Rounds finish fast. A 9-hole par-3 course usually takes about an hour to ninety minutes, and a full 18 generally takes between an hour and a half and two and a half hours, according to GolfNow’s round-time data. Because there are no long drives, golfers usually carry only a putter, wedges, and a handful of short to mid irons.
Par-3 courses vs. other short formats
Three related terms in golf often get confused: par-3 hole, par-3 course, and executive course. Pitch and putt is a fourth.
| Format | What it is | Typical hole length | Typical total yardage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Par-3 hole | A single short hole on a longer course (regulation courses usually have four) | 90 to 220 yards | Not applicable (one hole) |
| Par-3 course | A full course where every hole is a par 3 | 90 to 220 yards | 1,000 to 2,500 yards (18 holes) |
| Executive course | A short course made mostly of par 3s with a few short par 4s and the occasional par 5 | Mixed | 3,500 to 5,000 yards (18 holes) |
| Pitch and putt | A short par-3 course where holes generally top out around 100 yards | Under 100 yards | Often under 1,000 yards |
A par-3 course and an executive course are not the same. Golf writer Brent Kelley describes par-3 courses as a subset of the broader executive course category; all par-3 courses are short courses, but most executive courses include at least a few longer holes alongside the par-3s.
Notable par-3 courses
The Augusta National Par-3 Course is the most famous example. The 9-hole layout sits in the northeast corner of the Augusta National grounds and hosts the Masters Par 3 Contest each year on the Wednesday before the tournament. According to Golf Compendium, the course plays 1,060 yards with a par of 27 and includes holes ranging from 70 to 155 yards. It opened in 1958, and the Par 3 Contest itself dates back to 1960, when three-time Masters champion Sam Snead won the first edition, according to Wikipedia’s Masters Tournament Par 3 Contest entry.
Other widely known examples include The Cradle at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, a 9-hole Gil Hanse design where the longest hole runs 127 yards; Bandon Preserve at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, a 13-hole loop along a cliff above the Pacific; and Palm Beach Par 3 in Florida, which sits on a thin strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.
These are not entry-level layouts. Augusta’s par-3 course has been described by Paul Azinger as “the best golf course in the world,” and the resort par-3 courses at Pinehurst and Bandon Dunes were designed by architects whose names also appear on top-100 regulation layouts.
Handicaps on par-3 courses
For years, par-3 courses sat outside the formal handicap system because they did not meet minimum length requirements. The 2024 revision of the World Handicap System changed that. According to the USGA, the minimum course length needed for an official Course Rating and Slope Rating dropped from 3,000 yards to 1,500 yards for 18 holes, and from 1,500 yards to 750 yards for 9 holes. The USGA estimated the change would qualify more than 600 additional golf courses for ratings, the majority of them par-3 courses.
In practice, that means a round on a properly rated par-3 course can now count toward a golfer’s Handicap Index. Until 2024, that was only possible at longer courses.
Related Golf Terms
- Par — The predetermined number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to complete a hole.
- Overlap grip — A grip where the pinky of the trail hand overlaps the index finger of the lead hand.
- Out of bounds — Areas outside the boundaries of the course, marked by white stakes.
- Pace of play — The speed at which a round of golf is played.
- Outside-in swing — A swing path traveling from outside the target line to inside at impact, often causing a slice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to play a par-3 course?
A 9-hole par-3 course generally takes about an hour to ninety minutes. A full 18-hole par-3 course usually takes between an hour and a half and two and a half hours, according to GolfNow data.
Are par-3 courses only for beginners?
No. The shorter holes make par-3 courses approachable for new players, but experienced golfers use them too. Professionals play and practise on par-3 layouts at venues such as Augusta National and Bandon Dunes.
Can par-3 scores count toward a handicap?
Yes, since the 2024 World Handicap System revision. Par-3 courses meeting the new 1,500-yard minimum for 18 holes (or 750 yards for 9 holes) can be officially rated, allowing scores to count toward a Handicap Index.
What is a typical par-3 course score?
Par for 9 holes is 27, and par for 18 holes is 54. A recreational golfer averaging a bogey per hole would shoot 36 for 9 holes or 72 for 18.
What clubs do golfers use on a par-3 course?
Mostly short to mid irons, wedges, and a putter. Drivers and fairway woods are rarely needed because most holes top out around 220 yards.
Sources
- United States Golf Association. “WHS 2024: Reduced Minimum Course Length FAQs.” usga.org. Accessed May 2026.
- Kelley, Brent. “Definition of a Par-3 Hole.” LiveAbout. Accessed May 2026.
- Kelley, Brent. “What Is a Par-3 Course in Golf?” LiveAbout. Accessed May 2026.
- Kelley, Brent. “Features of an Executive Golf Course.” LiveAbout. Accessed May 2026.
- Kelley, Brent. “Augusta National Par-3 Course: Scorecard, Handicaps, Flyover, History.” Golf Compendium. Accessed May 2026.
- Wikipedia contributors. “Masters Tournament Par 3 Contest.” Wikipedia. Accessed May 2026.
- Easton, Roderick. “What Is The Maximum Length A Par 3 Can Be In Golf?” Golf Monthly, June 2024. Accessed May 2026.
- Ballengee, Ryan. “The minimum and maximum yardage for golf holes to be par 3, par 4, par 5 or more.” Golf News Net, January 2020. Accessed May 2026.
- GolfNow Blog. “How Long Do 9 Holes of Golf Take? A Practical Guide to Play Time.” Accessed May 2026.
