For many golfers, knocking a stroke or two off of their scores comes down to the short game. (Or straightening out those long but wild tee shots; but that’s another matter.)
A good way to brush up on that is by hitting up a Par 3. Courses with multiple distance options can allow long and short hitters alike to have a similar experience. They are also great for introducing reluctant friends or youngsters to the sport.
“Appreciate that there’s something for everyone,” said Denver golfer Lauren Dundon. “If you’re new to golf, a Par 3 is a low-pressure introduction. And if you’ve been playing since Jack Nicklaus was on tour, you already know the game is won from 100 yards in.”
“It’s like starting to ski on the bunny slope in the mountains,” said Colorado Golf Hall of Fame member Tom Connell. “You become comfortable.”
Connell, who lives in Denver, was the director of golf and head pro at the Denver Country club for 27 years, retiring in 2009. “When I taught golf, I would use the Par 3 facilities to teach the short game. Other than driving the ball onto the fairway, it’s important to be efficient from 30 yards out, pitching or hitting out of the bunker. That’s where you waste all your shots.”
Another tip from the long-time pro: “Work on your speed control. Develop a grip on your putter that you’re comfortable with and (keep) your wrist and elbows still.”
“Just go to have fun.”
Tips for Par 3 play
- You don’t need an entire set of clubs for these short courses. Check out the distances before you go and just bring the clubs you need: typically a putter, sand wedge, a gap wedge, pitching wedge, an 8 or 9 and a hybrid or fairway club for longer distances. (If you are a shorter hitter, go ahead and add the driver.) And if you don’t have one, a Sunday bag is a wise investment, so you don’t have to lug your whole bag around.
- If you are aiming for accuracy, bring a range finder. The distances aren’t always correct on these Par 3 course scorecards (lots of ground under repair and combined tee markers, so you can’t trust signs).
- Don’t play loud music; these courses are so small that others can’t get away from you if they’d rather just listen to the birds and other golfers cussing.
- Most every Par 3 course is walking only; check with the pro shop if you need a riding cart.
- Par 3 courses should take between an hour and 90 minutes or so, depending on the day and how full the course is.
INDIAN TREE GOLF CLUB
Reservations: No.
Par 3 cost: Adults $17, juniors $12 (pay at the driving range pro shop). Discounted rates on regulation course for Apex Park and Recreation District members, seniors, military and juniors.
Total yardage: 1,140 from back tees, with holes between 93 and 189 yards; 831 from front tees, with holes between 66 and 142 yards
What else is there: An 18-hole, par-70 regulation course of 6,856 yards with four sets of tees (shortest is 5,204 yards). Practice putting green, chipping area, sand bunker and driving range. Full clubhouse restaurant and pro shop with extensive inventory (don’t miss the large sale rack). Carts for regulation course and club rentals available.
The experience: On a recent sunny Sunday, the wait wasn’t overly long, just two groups queued up. The round moved briskly; we finished in less than 90 minutes. There are enough trees to appreciate the shade. Holes 5 through 8 hug a good-sized pond that abuts Wadsworth Boulevard. A good variety of undulations and hazards along the fairways, and a few tee boxes are elevated. The staff and fellow golfers were kind and friendly.
“That’s a great spot,” Connell said. “They’ve had that bunny slope out there for years and raised a lot of good golfers there.”
Overall score: Eagle
Details: 7555 Wadsworth Blvd.; 303-403-2542, or 303-403-1152 for Par 3 pro shop;
AURORA
COMMONGROUND
Reservations: Yes.
Cost: Adults $10, juniors (under 18) free. Memberships, punch cards and annual passes available. On regulation course, discounts offered for Colorado Golf Association members, military, seniors and replay, as well as twilight rates.
Total yardage: 977 yards, with holes between 70 and 140 yards.
What else is there: A Tom Doak-designed regulation 18-hole course with four tee boxes, maximum yardage 7,229 yards. Driving range, two large practice putting greens and a chipping area with sand bunkers. Small but newly refreshed clubhouse. Caddies available for booking.
The experience: This out-and-back is sandwiched between Havana Street and the regulation course, with great views of the Front Range. Trees, tall grass boundaries and sand bunkers add interest. The greens are small targets, but the surfaces are kept soft and receptive, to suit less experienced golfers. The Par 3 course hosts junior camps and adult lesson programs, with a dedicated practice green and lessons-only mini driving range.
Overall score: Par
Details: 10300 E. Golfer’s Way; 303-340-1520;
BROOMFIELD
GREENWAY PARK GOLF COURSE
Reservations: Yes, but call the clubhouse (see note below).
Cost: Daily rates for adults $17 Monday through Thursday, $19 on weekends — plus $2.49 fee per golfer when booked online via third-party Golf Now (so maybe call the pro shop instead). Annual passes and punch cards available, with discounts for seniors, military and juniors, league and HOA members and their guests.
Total yardage: 1,122 yards from the back tees, and 1,000 from the front. Holes are between 70 and 204 yards, but the ground was under repair when we played and there was only one tee box throughout, so distances had to be approximated.
What else is there: Short (100-yard) driving range, chipping area and practice putting green. The course hosts several leagues, Spark among them. Tiny pro shop with just the essentials, but staff is friendly and welcoming.
The experience: Deb Thomas and Bill Kipp of Lafayette were in our foursome and said it is one of their favorite Par 3 courses, so gave us a wealth of tips while playing. “We love it here, and play it all the time,” Thomas said. It’s a pretty course, situated around a couple of ponds hosting turtles and cormorants, and not too many trees. Bunkers are small and not obnoxious. Mostly flat, but slopes on greens can be tricky. (Note: Sometimes the people you are paired with can make the whole course that much more enjoyable, as Thomas and Kipp did for us that day.) One of the quicker Par 3 rounds, even with groups in front of us on a Saturday.
Overall score: Birdie
Details: 110 Greenway Drive; 303-466-3729;
CENTENNIAL
SOUTH SUBURBAN
Reservations: Yes
Cost: $13-$17 Monday through Thursday; $15-$19 weekends. Discounts for residents, juniors and seniors and for twilight hours. Punch cards and annual passes available.
Total yardage: 1,318 from the back tees with holes 90 to 204 yards; 1,059 from the front tees, with holes 81-145 yards
What else is there: Full 18-hole regulation course. Large driving range, putting greens, chipping area and practice bunker. A well-stocked pro shop and lovely restaurant that was swingin’ on a recent Friday night, with live music scheduled. Lessons available. Parking can be at a premium, however, so be prepared to park on the street and walk up. (Small price to pay for this gem.)
The experience: Beautiful greens, gentle slopes and well-tended greens, with some tree-lined fairways and plenty of holes where water, bridges and creeks come into play. (We won’t say how many balls we lost in the brush.) It took us less than 90 minutes to play on a Friday evening, even with groups in front of us. Be sure to chat up Par 3 starter Roger Waufle, who might regale you with stories about golfing with former Broncos player Billy Van Heusen or Dutch Deutschendorf, father of John Denver.
Overall score: Birdie
Details: 7900 S. Colorado Blvd.; 303-770-5500;
DENVER
EMERALD GREENS
Reservations: Yes
Cost: Non-resident $15, Windsor Gardens resident $10, guest $15. Juniors (15 and under) $10, and replay rate on weekdays $10. Car rental $9 per rider, $13 per solo rider. Pull carts $4, and club rental $6.
Yardage: Back tees 74 to 198 yards (for a total of 1,236 yards); front tees 68 to 164 yards (for a total of 1,063).
What else is there: Compact pro shop with all the necessary gear. Putting green, chipping area (no driving range). Cart rental available. Lessons offered, tournaments played there, according to website.
The experience: Emerald Greens is a surprisingly well-designed course tracking through this 55-plus community’s mid-century condo complex. Water hazards, mature trees and rolling greens provide plenty of challenge, and two tee boxes per hole let you select your distance. The tee sheet is frequently full, so it’s a popular option.
Overall score: Par
Details: 597 S. Clinton St. (within Windsor Gardens); 303-366-3133;
FOOTHILLS GOLF COURSE
Reservations: Yes
Cost: $16 for adults and seniors Monday through Thursday. Fridays-Sundays and holidays, it’s $18 for adults. Juniors always pay $8. Discounts for Foothills District residents, twilight rates offered. Preferred reservation green fees (11 to 60 days). Twenty percent discount for second round.
Yardage: 1,175/1,065 yards (3 holes had two tee boxes, but the rest were single tees) with holes from 70 to 195 yards
What else is there: Championship 18-hole and executive 9 courses, plus a golf simulator. Driving range, practice putting and chipping areas. Beautiful new clubhouse with giant windows, a well-stocked pro shop (with an online store) and welcoming bar/restaurant. Classes available, as well as men’s and women’s leagues. Rental clubs and pull carts.
The experience: Mats on tee boxes, which might psych out some players (including me). While plenty of players were teeing up on the ground nearby, course managers ask that players stay on the mats. Mature trees, a few ponds and bunkers, mostly flat but still interesting. A couple of the longer holes may stretch the Par 3 concept for some players. There was a long wait on a weekend, even with reservations, so it took us nearly 2 hours to finish.
Overall score: Bogey
Details: 3901 S. Carr St., 303-409-2400;
GREEN VALLEY RANCH
Reservations: No
Cost: $18 per adult, $10 per junior, walking only. Bonus: You pay one fee for the day, and can repeat the course as many times as you want.
Total yards: 818 yards, with holes between 50 to 130 yards.
What else is there: A full 18-hole regulation course, a driving range with TrackMan technology, plus practice chipping and putting greens. Sim Room available. Full restaurant, GVR Smokehouse, is on-site. Memberships offered, plus discounts for Green Valley Ranch residents, military and seniors, and twilight rates. Club rentals available.
The experience: Sweet little undulating course, with holes very close together. The designers squeezed a lot of course into a small footprint (the website says it takes up 7 acres, but that’s hard to believe.) Plenty of bunkers to make it interesting, but very few trees. Clubhouse has a solid inventory, with a generous selection for women. There can be a short wait on weekends if groups are in front of you, obviously.
Overall score: Birdie
Details: 4900 Himalaya Road; 303-371-3131;
HARVARD GULCH
Reservations: Yes, through
Cost: $12-$21 on weekdays, $17-$21 on weekends. Discounts for seniors and juniors. Also, check out the City of Denver Golf’s , like the Friends & Family, Junior Aces and Practice & Play passes, as well as the Learn & Play programs.
Total yards: 872, with holes between 65 and 204 yards. (See note below.)
What else is there: Practice putting green, and a small pro shop with a few snacks and meager inventory (but, hey, it’s a Par 3). Push cart and club rentals available. What you must try is golfing in the dark, for $65 per person. Bring a few clubs, plus headlamps if desired; Harvard Gulch supplies the glowing track balls and goodie bags (which include glow sticks) for these night golf sessions, which fill up fast. Registration opens two weeks before; see the schedule at
The experience: Mostly short holes, easy and family-friendly. A few bunkers and water hazards add interest, and lots of mature trees on this tight, 1982 layout. Mats are on every hole but unless there are signs saying they are mandatory, a staffer told us you can use a tee. When we were there, a lot of tee boxes were under repair, changing the marked distances for every hole. This is one to bring your range finder to, especially if you are looking to dial in your short iron distances. (No driver needed on this course.) We had to wait a short while on a few holes on a Saturday, but it wasn’t long.
Overall score: Par (but night golf gets a birdie)
Details: 660 E. Iliff Ave., 720-865-0450; cityofdenvergolf.org
KENNEDY
Reservations: Yes, through cityofdenvergolf.org
Cost: Posted rates vary from $5 to $21 per round. The city of Denver uses dynamic pricing, so prices are higher at peak hours. Discounts offered for juniors (ages 4 to 17) and seniors (over 62).
Yardage: 1,317 yards total, with holes between 83 and 167 yards from the back tees; 1,115 yards with holes between 73 and 140 from the front tees
What else is there: 27 holes of regulation golf (on the Babe, Creek and West courses), FootGolf, mini-golf, lighted driving range (on mats), practice putting greens, full clubhouse with good prices and bar food selection (and friendly wait staff). Club rentals available.
The experience: If you play on weekends, be prepared for a long wait. On a recent Saturday, there were three groups (10 players total) waiting to tee off on the second hole, and after nearly 90 minutes, we hadn’t reached Hole 5. My playing partner’s theory: Because most of the holes are similar lengths, the weaker players can’t reach the green quickly so take many more strokes — and time — to get there. In fact, some holes are really a par 4 for some players. But there may be changes afoot: According to the City of Denver’s $30 million for Kennedy, in addition to a new clubhouse (Phase 1), changes to the Par 3 course as well as the West course are planned (Phase 2). For our part, we would suggest adding some tee boxes closer to the greens to shorten some of the holes for less experienced players, which should greatly improve pace of play. What we saw in the first four holes included gentle slopes, a water hazard and plenty of mature trees. But after that we gave up.
Overall score: Snowman
10500 E. Hampden Ave., 720-865-0720;
ENGLEWOOD
BROKEN TEE GOLF COURSE
Reservations: Yes
Cost: $10-$17 on weekends, $8-$15 weekdays, with junior and senior rates available. Monday Madness rate: $10.
Yardage:1,365 yards from the back tees, 967 from the front. Three sets of tee boxes. Holes between 78 and 196 yards.
What else is there: A regulation, links-style, 18-hole course with 6,797 available yards. Driving range, practice putting and chipping greens. Carts and rental clubs available. The pro shop is compact but well-stocked. The restaurant serves the typical snack fare you’d find in the average municipal venue.
The experience: Broken Tee’s Par 3 course sits along a hilly ridge that wraps the driving range, and overlooks the championship front nine. Sweeping views of the foothills and Red Rocks Amphitheatre give this wide open layout a distinctly Western feel. The tee boxes at each hole are spread by up to 50 yards, so no matter your skill level, you’ll find a workable combination of distances to test nearly your entire bag. You won’t find large trees or water hazards unless an errant shot finds the main course, but rocks, ravines and natural grasses offer ample opportunity to lose a ball. Even so, there’s rarely a backup of more than one hole, which is a credit to the course design and its wide selection of distances off the tee.
Overall score: Birdie if you like desert golf; par if you like lush trees
2101 W. Oxford Ave., Englewood; 303-762-2670;
LOVELAND
CATTAIL CREEK
Reservations: Yes
Cost: $16 to $18, slight adjustments for peak times, plus discounts for juniors (18 and under) and seniors (over 62) as well as a twilight deal. Punch passes and multi-play Smart Cards offered.
Total yards: Up to 1,355 yards with holes between 66 and 206 yards. Four tee boxes for wide range of skill levels.
What else is there: A small but pristine clubhouse with small inventory, regripping services and friendly staff. Driving range, rental clubs (free for the Par 3 course), and a SNAG mini course for the young ones.
The experience: A beautiful layout with great views, open fairways with gentle slopes, a few bunkers and some large water hazards that come into play on five holes. Not terribly challenging but is that what you really want in a Par 3 anyway? A pleasant experience all around, with a knowledgeable pro shop staff. There were short wait times for groups in front of us on a Friday evening, but not intolerable. (Middle-schoolers play and practice here during the week, but they moved along briskly — and a few had a much better swing than mine.)
Overall score: Birdie
2116 W. 29th St., 970-663-5310;
WESTMINSTER
Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills
Reservations: Yes, for the South Par 3 course, but not the North Par 3, which is first-come, first-served.
Cost: $13 per person, or $24 with cart, mostly allowed during the week) for the South Par 3; the North Par 3 is $9 per person, and is walking only
Yardage: The South Par 3 has 1,053 yards, with holes between 65 and 204 yards. (When we were there, the tee box markers were absent; this is one to bring a range finder to if you’re trying to be accurate.) The North Par 3 is a shorter course, with a maximum 637 yards and holes between 50 and 108 yards.
What else is there: An 18-hole regulation Gold Course, a 9-hole Blue Course. Full driving range by the South Par 3, plus a practice putting green, chipping and sand practice area by the clubhouse. Plus, mini golf and go carts next door at . Full clubhouse with broad menu. Glow Golf in the summer is $85 per person and includes the greens fee, a goodie bag, drink tickets and food and beverages before dark. (Be warned: Registration fills up fast.) There are also events like Nine & Dine, Ladies Night Out and more, plus golf lessons. A large, fully stocked pro shop, and friendly and welcoming staff.
The experience: “This is hard,” said my playing partner. Hole 1, “The Pond”: water. Hole 2, “Highline”: water and trees. Hole 3: Sherwood Forest. And Hole 8, Sunburst: the sand! Narrow approaches, not much in the way of fairways for some holes. For the open, longer holes, short-hitters might need a bigger fairway club or even a driver.
Overall score: Bogey (unless you brought your ball retriever); the clubhouse, however, gets an eagle
9650 Sheridan Blvd., Westminster; 303-428-6526;
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Did not play, but you should know about them anyway
COLORADO SPRINGS
Cherokee Ridge
Reservations: Yes
Cost: $10 Monday through Thursday, $12.50 weekends. Juniors (ages 5-17) $9 and $12.50. Punch cards and annual passes available.
Total yardage: 1,077 yards with holes between 88 and 181 yards
What else is there: Regulation 9-hole course, driving range, practice putting green, chipping green and bunker. And beautiful views. Golf shop and restaurant with a patio. Par 3 is walking only. Lessons, plus women’s and men’s leagues.
1850 Tuskegee Place; 719-597-2637;
AVON (VAIL)
Willow Creek Avon
Reservations: not required, first-come, first-served
Cost: $20-$30, discounts for EagleVail members, juniors and military. Season passes and punch cards available.
Yardage: 781 yards, with holes ranging from 50 to 125 yards
What else is there: A regulation 18-hole course, foot golf and fling golf. Rental clubs, lessons and a golf simulator. available. The Par 3 course, located with the EagleVail Golf Club, is walking only. Gorgeous views (of course). Because of its location, the Par 3 course opened on May 15, later than Front Range courses. The restaurant, Whiskey Hill Bar & Grill, serves standard pub fare.
646 Eagle Road, Avon; 970-790-1200;
Freelance writer Lauren Dundon of Denver contributed to this report.
