PAR 3 COURSE RANKINGS

I love par 3 courses.  My criteria for what makes a good par 3 course is much different than a regular course, and my opinions are best captured in two categories: Variety and atmosphere.  I don't have as refined a formula for ranking par 3 courses since I feel like it is even more subjective than ranking regular courses, but my rankings just reflect my favorite overall experiences.

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Variety:  If I am at a par 3 course, I want to get to hit a variety of shots.  This doesn't necessarily mean that I want to use every club in my bag, but I don't enjoy having 80 yard wedge shots repeatedly where the only option is to hit the same shot over and over again.  I think one of the benefits of a par 3 course is that the greens can be much more severe than a typical course.  Having interesting and different greens that may require a low hook wedge into a green, a 60 yard 7 iron drilled into a severe false front, or a high spinny wedge to hold a tiny green are the types of shots I look for.  If a par 3 course doesn't offer the opportunity to hit fun shots, then I will automatically like it less.

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Atmosphere:  This is a tough one to objectively describe, but its kind of a you know it when you see it situation.  A couple that come to mind for me that have awesome atmospheres are Schoolhouse Nine - looking at the Shenandoah mountains, having the course mostly to yourself, and watching the one maintenance worker get around to all the greens; and The Bootlegger at Forest Dunes - a feeling of remoteness despite being at a resort and feeling like the course takes you to different areas of the property despite it being all wedges while a completely random playlist plays on the speakers.