After Tommy's thread on the 11th at TOC, I started thinking about the pound for pound hardest par 3 I have ever played.. What immediately comes to mind is a hole like #16 at Cypress Point, but Dr. Mac provided one with the means to take a 4
there if he humbles himself and lays-up left. While there are obvious par 3s where length (230-250yds) makes them difficult, the most difficult mid par 3 (150-190yds)
I have ever seen is the 7th at Rye..
The 7th at Rye I have played 4 times and when the wind comes off the channel it plays into a vicious hook wind.. While it is highlighted in Doak's book, I think given
10 or 20 shots I would be lucky to put one on the green. Why? Rye almost always plays firm and fast and the green is slick as linoleum. Holding an approach (which
best be the tightest of fades) is almost impossible. Want to run it up? Two sleepers guard access to the green for a bumped approach. Want to work the ball with the
wind? Guess wrong to the left and you are in jail!! Hollows and a tight lie chipping area guard the left side. Miss short? You are looking for you ball in the junk? Miss right, same thing or at the best. Have a chip to a green that undulates and has good pitch to it. I've never even bogeyed this hole.. 5 or 6 everytime in winds that vary from 15-40 mph.
Thank the lord for match play because this hole takes its pound of flesh. I would love to have that bucket of balls and try to get one close.
I have a pic of the left side of the hole if someone can post it for me..