A New Era in Public Par-3 Golf

You might have heard some people say that golf is going through a “short course movement.”

The reality is that it is… and it isn’t.

When it comes to new course openings in recent years and those under construction, a healthy percentage of them are par-3s. Consider that last year, almost half of the nation’s new additions were short courses. And yet, par-3 courses account for only about 4 percent of overall U.S. golf supply, according to the National Golf Foundation, and over the past two decades they’ve closed at a higher rate than regulation length courses.

That said, it’s undeniable that some resorts and high-end clubs have eagerly embraced the short course as an added amenity for avid golfers—public openings in the last year included The Chain at Streamsong (Fla.), Shorty’s at Bandon Dunes (Ore.), and both The Squeeze and The Wedge at Cabot Citrus Farms (Fla.), along with private additions in Tom’s 10 at Spanish Peaks Mountain Club (Mt.) and Panther9 at Panther National (Fla.). Another notable, the forthcoming Cliffhangers at Missouri’s Big Cedar Lodge (the resort’s third short course), plans to open in 2025.

While special, the reality is that most average golfers aren’t going to sniff places like these due to affordability or accessibility.

Encouragingly, however, another trend is emerging in the short course world—with fun, loose, and lighted facilities like 3’s Greenville, Grass Clippings Rolling Hills, East River 9, and other facilities in the works that are ushering in a new era in public par-3 golf. Most of these facilities aren’t brand new, but revamped and reimagined courses in major metro areas that have introduced a food and beverage component and lively social element in addition to nighttime engagement.

If it sounds a bit like the Topgolf model, there’s good reason.

These venues are seeking to deliver a more golf-centric approach to golf entertainment, all while addressing some of the game’s traditional pain points—access, cost, and the time it takes to play.

“We looked at it as just green pastures to focus on par-3 golf,” says Jake Hoselton, part of the ownership team behind Grass Clippings Rolling Hills, which is minutes from downtown Phoenix and Old Town Scottsdale, and is the first fully lit golf course in Arizona. The renovated layout has given new life to a tired municipal facility and is seeking to redefine what public golf can be, appealing to a broad range of participants of all ages and ability. “It brings in those same entertainment value pieces that the ‘PopStrokes’ and ‘Topgolfs’ of the world bring, but it is still real golf.”

Golf entertainment venues like Topgolf have been a boon for the broader industry, creating new and often less-intimidating avenues of introduction. They help get golf clubs in the hands of non-golfers and, hopefully, give them that first taste of “shot euphoria” after solid contact. But questions persist about the long-term appeal for traditional golfers. And for those who are interested in making the jump from a Topgolf bay to an actual course, there are limited transitional opportunities.

The modern public Par-3s that are starting to pop up with greater frequency aim to address those potential shortcomings.

Take the brand 3’s, which is backed by 8AM Golf and partner Justin Timberlake. The company debuted in Greenville, S.C., and is undertaking an extensive renovation of another public course it recently acquired in the Charlotte, N.C., area, with plans to open during the latter half of 2025.

“The 3’s blueprint that we created in Greenville has proven to be everything we had hoped—it’s the perfect golf destination for a relaxed gathering of friends and family,” says 8AM Golf President Hoyt McGarity, adding that there’s an “expansive vision” to continue refining and replicating the model in other major U.S. metro areas.

Par-3 courses have long been a breeding ground for golfers. Lee Trevino learned to play the game with one club on a par-3 course. Tiger Woods grew up playing lighted short courses like Hartwell and Bellflower in California and has fondly recalled those who would show up with six clubs and a six-pack for an evening of fun.

But over the years, a lot of existing par-3 courses have shown signs of age. It’s why a growing number of companies are looking to invest in one of the game’s newest niches.

“It goes back to the old retail store mantra, which is if you don’t update your store, don’t carry fresh inventory, don’t repaint your walls, reposition your goods, and make it look fresh and inviting to your customer, they’re going to go next door to the new store or down the street,” says Steve Lapper, a former Wall Street derivatives trader who co-owns two regulation facilities in the New York area and is part of the team behind a nascent player in the par-3 space called “Playground.”

“That’s been the dilemma of these open par-3s which, by the way, were fantastic. They were neighborhood assets,” adds Lapper. “So, our mantra, our culture, our Zen is about making golf accessible and fun with a capital F.”

He’s not alone, and this new era in public par-3 golf just might be coming to a market near you soon.

Do you view par-3 courses as real golf? Tell us your thoughts on short courses in the comment section.