There are few things in golf quite like a great par 3.
It might be 400 yards and require a helicopter ride. It might be 56 yards and require absolute precision. It might be one of the most famous holes in the world—or a hole at a little course you've played a hundred times.
That's what made this edition of The Golf Draft so much fun.
The topic: The Best Par 3s in Golf.
Jonathan and Robby each drafted five par 3s in a snake draft, with the goal of building the best collection of holes. And, as usual, there were some obvious choices, some surprises, and at least one attempt to bend the rules.
Here's how the draft played out—and who we think won.
The Draft
Jonathan's Team
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#4 — Augusta National
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#17 — The Castle Course
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The Chalk Mine
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Extreme 19th — Legend Golf & Safari
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#17 — LinRick Golf Course
Robby's Team
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#12 — Augusta National
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#16 — Cypress Point
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#16 — Sleepy Hollow
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#11 — Old Course
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#2 — Lofoten Links
Jonathan's Team
#4 — Augusta National
Grade: A
Jonathan started the draft with a little controversy, taking #4 at Augusta National instead of one of the more obvious par 3s at the course.
And that's part of what makes the pick work.
Jonathan made it clear that most of his selections were going to be "heart picks" rather than simply choosing the holes that would appear on everyone's list. #4 is a great example.
It's Augusta National, after all. Even if it isn't the first hole that comes to mind when you think of Augusta's par 3s, it's still one of the most recognizable golf holes in the world.
Draft value: Excellent
Personal appeal: High
Bucket-list factor: Very high
#17 — The Castle Course
Grade: A
This might be Jonathan's best overall pick.
Why?
Because we've actually played it.
And there is a story attached to it.
The hole requires a full carry over water and rocks, and when we played it, several golf balls were sacrificed to the sea. Eventually, everyone made it onto the green—but it took more than one attempt for some of us.
It's picturesque, challenging and tied to a great day of golf with good people.
And that's an important part of what makes a great golf hole.
Sometimes the best holes aren't necessarily the ones with the highest rankings. They're the ones you remember.
Draft value: A
Personal connection: A+
Story potential: A+
The Chalk Mine
Grade: A-
Jonathan technically cheated here.
Instead of drafting one par 3, he drafted the entire Chalk Mine.
We'll allow it.
Located in the Aiken area, the Chalk Mine is a short par-3 course that is considerably more difficult than its yardage would suggest. Some holes are only around 60 yards, but the small greens and surrounding hazards demand serious precision.
It's the kind of place where being five yards off can turn a good shot into a disaster.
And that's exactly why it makes sense for The Golf Draft.
This isn't necessarily a famous golf course. But it's memorable, challenging and fun—and it has plenty of character.
Draft value: B+
Personality: A+
Rule-bending: Excellent
Extreme 19th — Legend Golf & Safari
Grade: A+
This is Jonathan's steal of the draft.
A 400-yard par 3.
In South Africa.
And you have to take a helicopter to the tee.
That's hard to beat.
Jonathan's reasoning was simple: it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You're playing golf in the middle of a safari, and just getting to the tee box is part of the adventure.
This is exactly the type of golf hole that makes you stop and say:
"Wait...what?"
It's unique, memorable and almost impossible to duplicate anywhere else.
Draft value: A+
Uniqueness: A+
Story potential: A+
#17 — LinRick Golf Course
Grade: B+
This is the ultimate heart pick.
LinRick isn't going to show up on many lists of the world's greatest golf courses. But Jonathan has played it countless times, and that personal connection makes the hole meaningful.
It's about 135 yards on the card but can play around 177 because of the severe uphill elevation.
And if you ever make a hole-in-one there, you apparently won't even see the ball go in.
That's a pretty good par-3 story.
It's another example of why this draft isn't simply about picking famous golf holes. It's about picking holes that mean something to the golfer making the pick.
Jonathan's Team Overall
Grade: A-
Jonathan built the more personal and unconventional team.
His five picks take you from Augusta National to Scotland, South Africa, Aiken and Columbia.
There's a common theme running through the team:
These are holes you remember.
They're not all famous. They're not all beautiful. They're not all bucket-list destinations.
But every one of them has a story.
Robby's Team
#12 — Augusta National
Grade: A+
This was the safest pick in the draft—and probably the right one.
Augusta National's 12th hole is one of the most recognizable par 3s in golf.
The setting, the history, Rae's Creek, the swirling wind and the pressure of the Masters make it an obvious first-round selection.
Jonathan's #4 was the more interesting pick.
But if we're talking about pure draft value, #12 is difficult to argue against.
Iconic status: A+
Draft value: A+
Risk: Very low
#16 — Cypress Point
Grade: A+
This is Robby's best pick.
It's almost impossible to create a more compelling par 3.
Ocean.
Cliffs.
Pebble Beach.
Golf history.
And a hole that you've probably seen dozens of times in photographs without ever getting the chance to play it.
That's what makes #16 at Cypress Point such a great pick.
It isn't simply beautiful.
It makes you want to go play it.
And isn't that one of the best measures of a great golf hole?
Draft value: A+
Beauty: A+
Bucket-list factor: A+
#16 — Sleepy Hollow
Grade: A
Another excellent visual pick.
Sleepy Hollow is the type of course that makes you stop scrolling when you see a picture of it.
We've also heard stories from people who have actually played it, which makes the hole even more intriguing.
It's a different type of pick than Cypress Point, but it fits the same larger theme of Robby's team:
These are places you want to experience.
Draft value: A
Visual appeal: A+
Bucket-list factor: A
#11 — The Old Course
Grade: A-
This pick comes with a story.
When we played the Old Course, Robby left his tee shot short of the bunker, tried to get a little too cute with the next shot and eventually found himself in trouble.
Jonathan's advice?
Take the safe route.
Robby's decision?
Ignore Jonathan.
The result?
Exactly what you'd expect.
The 11th hole may not be the first par 3 that comes to mind when you think about the Old Course, but that's part of what makes the pick interesting.
It's also another hole with a personal memory attached to it.
Draft value: A-
Story value: A+
Iconic setting: A
#2 — Lofoten Links
Grade: A
This was a great way to finish the draft.
Robby hadn't played the hole, but the visuals alone were enough to make it a pick.
The green sits among rocks with water surrounding the hole, creating a setting that looks almost unreal.
It's another example of a par 3 that makes you want to travel somewhere simply to experience it.
And that's a pretty strong way to close out a five-hole team.
Robby's Team Overall
Grade: A
Robby's team has more universally recognizable golf destinations and arguably the stronger collection of bucket-list holes.
Augusta National.
Cypress Point.
Sleepy Hollow.
The Old Course.
Lofoten Links.
There's a clear theme:
These are par 3s that make you want to go somewhere.
🏆 Who Won The Draft?
Robby
After looking at both teams, we're giving this one to Robby.
And it's close.
Jonathan's team is arguably more interesting from a personal and storytelling perspective. But Robby's five holes have a slight advantage when you combine iconic status, beauty, history and the simple desire to experience them in person.
Final Grades
Robby — A
Jonathan — A-
Robby's team includes the most iconic par 3 in the draft with Augusta #12, perhaps the most visually spectacular with Cypress Point #16, and three additional bucket-list destinations.
Jonathan's team has more personality and some incredible wild cards, particularly the Extreme 19th.
But if we were given the choice of which five holes to play tomorrow?
We're taking Robby's team.
The Golf Draft Awards
🏆 Draft Winner
Robby
🎯 Best Pick
Robby — #16 Cypress Point
The combination of beauty, history, setting and sheer desire to play it makes this the best overall pick.
💎 Steal of the Draft
Jonathan — Extreme 19th
A 400-yard par 3 that requires a helicopter ride is tough to beat.
🤔 Most Debatable Pick
Jonathan — The Chalk Mine
We're still trying to determine whether drafting an entire golf course was legal.
❤️ Best Heart Pick
Jonathan — #17 LinRick
This is what a heart pick is supposed to be: a hole that means something to the person making the pick.
📸 Most Instagrammable
Robby — #16 Cypress Point
Not much debate here.
🌍 Most Unique
Jonathan — Extreme 19th
Helicopter. Safari. 400 yards. Par 3.
Enough said.
🧠 Best Draft Strategy
Robby
He combined iconic holes with bucket-list destinations without making every pick predictable.
🎙️ Best Story
Jonathan — #17 The Castle Course
Because we've actually played it, struggled on it and have a great memory attached to the hole.
What Makes a Great Par 3?
The most interesting part of this draft came after the picks were finished.
The conversation eventually moved away from which holes belong on the list and toward why we love par 3s in the first place.
There's something different about standing on a par-3 tee.
Before you hit the shot, there's always that little bit of anticipation.
Maybe this is the one.
Maybe today is the day.
Maybe you hit the perfect shot.
Maybe it goes in.
Even if you've never made a hole-in-one, you know that feeling.
And even if you have, you're still looking for the next one.
That's part of what makes par 3s so much fun.
The best par 3 isn't necessarily the most famous one.
It might be the one you've played 100 times.
It might be the one where you made your first birdie.
It might be the one where you hit your best shot.
Or it might be the one you've only seen in a picture and desperately want to play someday.
The best par 3s aren't just golf holes. They're experiences.
And that's what made this edition of The Golf Draft so much fun.
What Did We Miss?
There are plenty of obvious holes we didn't draft.
TPC Sawgrass #17.
Pebble Beach #7.
The Postage Stamp at Royal Troon.
The 16th at TPC Scottsdale.
And plenty of personal favorites from courses all over the world.
So now it's your turn:
What's the greatest par 3 you've ever played?
And which one did we completely blow by in this draft?
Let us know.
Because we're always looking for another excuse to talk about—and play—great golf holes.