Love them. When at Bandon I usually play The Preserve at least once. We will get to play The Cradle at Pinehurst in a few weeks. Occasionally do Reidy Creek Par 3 in Escondido. Good way to focus on iron play and short game. I wish there were more of them.

That story is legendary! Im with you man, I Love a nice course as much as the next guy. Theres something about a great course in nice shape that you can't replace. But, Im the kind of golf'r that says, if theres a hole I'm playing it! I love courses like the one you describe! Whenever I travel for work or maybe a wedding, I'm on google looking some hidden gems like this! They are the spirit of the game man!

I love those little courses. Anytime I can get out it's a bonus.

If you got a hole-in-one on a par 3 course, would you count it?

Golf Monthly Magazine UK

There’s no defined length a hole has to be for a hole-in-one to count. If you’re playing from a recognised teeing ground on a correctly measured hole with a definite yardage, it doesn’t matter if the hole is 430 or 65 yards. Obviously a hole-in-one at the former might impress your pals to a greater extent but still, a one will go down on the card either way.

I'm all for it. Anytime you can play is a great thing. Even being a "short" course, you still get to work on short irons and putting.

Trust me if there was a course nearby that I could fit a few holes during my lunch hour, I would be there daily.
Enjoy

I agree. These little gems save time but the best part is being able to introduce the Grandkids and new golfing friends to this great game.

Haven't played one in years but played several when I began playing.

Good stuff, helps with fine tuning the short game.

I think those type of courses are great. There should be more of them.

SHORT GAME SHORT GAME SHORT GAME!! I love executive courses, even the ones in not so great shape. You still have to hit a quality shot to get it close. AND OFCOURSE AN ACE ON A EXECUTIVE COURSE COUNTS...............hitstraightmadgolfer :)

I wish we had one of those around my area... Nothing wrong with a little short par 3 to work on ya short game and have some fun versus sitting in front of ya computer and munching away...

I have played the Orchards a number of times back when I lived and worked in Milford. It was a great place to work on wedge distances without people waiting behind you. The 2nd hole has to be the easiest hole I ever played, anywhere. SW is all you need. The 9th and final hole is a par 4 and drive-able for some. Not me, back then. Maybe today. I'm a much better player now.

I took my wife there for her very first round ever on a golf course, maybe 10 years ago. I had worked with her on the range prior and got her swing somewhat presentable. She parred the 1st, 2nd and 3rd holes! I bogeyed the 3rd! She was one up on me. On the 4th she finally had some trouble and was literally upset that she doubled it. She was so disappointed. I had to try to explain to her that 3 pars in a row on her first three holes ever on a golf course of any sort was amazing.

As a side note, Josh, eventually I moved to Oxford where I was a member for 8 years at Oxford Greens Golf Club. (I think I have mentioned that to you in the past.)

Goat Hill Park Oceanside, CA.
9 Holes 1 hour and 15 min.
$15...Drop the Mike.

Cheers,
Dr. K

Golf is golf!!! I grew up on a scruffy 9 hole city course which maxed out at 3,000 yards in the 1970s and 80s. I became a golfer at this course because it was accessible and cheap. We need more cheap city and mom and pop tracks to grow the game. Not these ridiculously priced, 7,000 yard, surrounded by water layouts that when you finish in 5.5 hours you question whether it was worth the $600 the foursome laid out.

So yes the little executive gem you found is real golf - enjoy!

I love an executive or par three or even 6 hole loops. In expensive, great to practice and even better to learn on.

The moral of the story is, the more golf the better!!