Short List

Honorable Mention - Shorty's, Bandon Dunes Resort, Bandon, Oregon

Honestly ... we just didn't know how to classify Shorty's. Yes, it's a 9 hole course, designed by David McLay Kidd, and hole #3 might be the most devilish test on the entire property. Then again, this is a

free ammenity that's just part of the practice center, and it isn't even Bandon's "official" par 3 course. So we'll park it here and let you decide where you rank it.

The Short List by the Western Golf Alliance

As an organization with an outstanding (and well-earned) reputation for evaluating golf in the western United States, we recently discovered that we had

failed to uphold our responsibilities in one key area ... providing guidance about outstanding par 3 courses. Some call them "executive" or "short" courses, but that can

actually include a mixture of any course that doesn't reach the classification of "championship".

In evaluating this classification of courses, our criteria were simple. First, the courses must be comprised of ALL par 3 holes. Second, the courses must be publicly

accessible. And third, the courses must be within the geographic region of the Western Golf Alliance. As with all of our rankings, we consider many factors

including golf quality, complimentary experiences, overall service, and value.

With that in mind, we proudly present The Short List, our ranking of the 10 best par 3 courses in the western U.S.

#7 - Eagle Landing Golf Course, The Aerie Wedding Venue, Happy Valley, Oregon

If you're a guy getting married in Oregon, pay attention!! This place in an awesome wedding venue, that also has ... a 27(!) hole all par 3 golf course, a massive 36 hole

miniature putting course, and a separate 9 hole soccer golf course. So convince the fiance to get married here, and you and the boys can arrive early and play all you want.

#8 - Heron Links, Willows Run Golf Complex, Redmond, Washington (pictured below)

This massive eastside golf location has two championship courses, and this high-quality short course (plus a legitimatelly cool miniature golf course). While the place is

always very busy, Heron Links is family friendly and low-key, with the same level of challenge and care as the rest of the facility.

#9 - The Mif Albright, Corica Park, Alameda, California

This is a major "true muni" golf facility, with two championship courses, of which the South Course was recently redesigned by Rees Jones. At the same time, they also did a full

redesign and upgrade to "The Mif" in 2018, a short track that runs through a mounded-parkland setting.

#10 - Challenge Course, Monarch Dunes Golf Club, Nipomo, California

This California coastal golf club sports a great par 3 courses, with holes ranging from 80 to 200 yards, and bringing water into play on 5 of the 12 holes. This course

presents a ligitmiate challenge to advanced players, but also has four sets of tees (one set in the 20-40 yard range) and a 'larger cup' format for a great family experience for all.

#1 - Bandon Preserve Golf Course, Bandon Dunes Resort, Bandon, Oregon (pictured above)

When the Bandon Resort had some extra land that wasn't big enough for a golf course, they did the least obvious thing possible ... hired the premier golf design firm in

the U.S. (Coore/Crenshaw) and told them "build whatever fits". The resulting 13 par 3 holes - all with two tee boxes - was born, perfect for golf trippers who

want a second (or third) round during their day. The Preserve is yet another reason Bandon is superior to Pebble as a pure golf destination.

#2 - The Short Course, Mountain Shadows Resort, Paradise Valley, Arizona

Consistently ranked as one of the best par 3 courses in the in U.S., this is a wonderful and challenging par 3 layout. It is a full 18 holes, and the ONLY downside is that it's priced

like a full 18 hole course. The most unique feature of the course is probably "the Forrest Wager" ... a massive green in between the 17th green and 18th tee, complete with

recommended rules about how to gamble with a special putting-only version of Bingo-Bango-Bongo (maybe ... the loser buys lunch at Rusty's post-round?!).

#3 - Caldera Links, Sunriver Resort, Sunriver, Oregon (pictured below)

The Caldera Springs community at the Sunriver Resort boasts a par 3 course that many visitors - mistakingly - skip. It plays similar to the world-class Crosswater course,

with a links-like layout, and just as good of conditioning. Since play is restricted to only residents and resort guests, you are likely to have the course to yourself at most

times, making complicated group games acceptable.

#4 - The Links at Terranea, Terranea Oceanfront Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, California (pictured below)

Consistently ranked as one of the top handful of short courses in the U.S., this layout still exercises every iron in your bag (or at least your 5 iron through gap wedge). Add in a

full-blown golf academy and training center, and official stay-and-play packages, and this is really a full golf destination, not some "executive course".

#5 - Cloud 9, Angel Park, Las Vegas, Nevada

Vegas has a thing for replica courses (see Royal Links, Bear's Best), and Cloud 9 delivers well on that theme. Their 12 holes incorporate replicas of famous worldwide greens

(think of St Andrews Valley of Sin, or the bunker-in-the-middle design at Riviera), and nine of the holes are lit for night play as well.

#6 - Golden Gate Park Golf Course, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California

Tucked into the heart of San Francisco, this is a "true muni" par 3 embedded inside a city park. Many of the holes are picture-perfect grass paths tucked between cypress

trees, giving the entire course an isolated feel you can't find at many resort courses, let alone any city tracks.