Golf Course Architecture - Issue 59, January 2020

52 Spogárd. “Brute length is less of a challenge and as a result the hole becomes inviting and fascinating. Everyone has his or her eyes on the prize. It can give a sense of comfort that the target is so close. However, with really short par threes, the lack of length actually starts posing difficulties, which you often only encounter on really short shots. The really short par threes require great attention to the ball flight and especially the spin on the ball. If you are hitting a sand wedge to a green you risk spinning back out – or stalling completely in a headwind. You can guard the green more tightly than you would on other holes, as you can expect more golfers to actually hit a high and soft-landing shot on the green surface. Himmerland Hill demands great precision to find the right levels. It almost plays like an island green, as any shot not on the green surface is extremely likely to result in something higher than a par. But the shortness of the hole lures you in and gives you a false sense of comfort, which is almost the main hazard to be aware of. “In my opinion golfers prefer the shorter holes – not just par threes, but in general – as they provide more golfers with the chance to reach the green in regulation and actually think about course management, as they can most likely reach the target in a variety of ways – which is what each hole should offer. For many golfers a par four plays like a par five and many par fives play as par sixes or even sevens as golfers can’t reach the greens in regulation even with their best shots. As a result, the number of transportation shots increases – arguably the most boring shots in golf – and the experience becomes less enjoyable. With “In my opinion golfers prefer the shorter holes – not just par threes, but in general – as they provide more golfers with the chance to reach the green in regulation” The sixteenth at Himmerland in Denmark has played as short as 79 yards on the European Tour. Architect Philip Spogárd says it plays almost like an island greem, as missing the green will likely result in a score over par SHORT PAR THREES