The Shortest Par 3s in America

July 9, 2026 · Caddie Tap course data team

Golf's best-kept secret: the sub-100-yard hole. Nobody lays up, everybody has a club for it, and it still makes fools of people. These are the shortest par 3s in our 1,197-course GPS database.

Why short holes still bite

A 60-yard shot is an awkward half-swing for most golfers — too short for a stock wedge, too long to chip. Add a green that's 30 yards deep and a back pin, and the birdie hole quietly becomes a bogey. Knowing the exact number — front, pin, back — is the whole game at this range.

How we measured

Par-3 yardages from 1,197 GPS-mapped courses, 55–105-yard window; pitch-and-putt facilities are included when they map real holes. Distances are computed along each hole's GPS playing line (middle-tee geometry), the same data the Caddie Tap app uses on the course. Facility records that map the same course twice are collapsed, and obvious data outliers are excluded rather than published. Counts reflect what is mapped in our database — a famous course's hand-counted total may run higher. Spot a mistake? The app has a built-in "report a course issue" button.

FAQ

What is the shortest par 3 in America?

In our database, hole 1 at Butler Pitch & Putt plays about 56 yards — a full-swing wedge for most players.

Are short par 3s easier?

Not as much as you'd think. Short holes defend themselves with tiny greens, wind and spin control — Troon's Postage Stamp at 123 yards still ruins Open championships.

Data: Caddie Tap GPS course database — distances measured along each hole's playing line, middle-tee geometry.