Niagara Falls Country Club, a Tillinghast design, has a mid-length par 3 finisher, surrounded by a great collection of Tillie bunkers. It is home of the Porter Cup, a top amateur event for years, and has provided some great finishes. It comes right after a brute of a par 4 at #17.
Echo Falls in Snohomish Washington has an island green par three that finishes at the club house for great viewing by all enjoying the restaurant and bar.
I love a finishing par three that is a challenge. My grandfather, Alexander H. Findlay (see LINKS summer 2013 pgs 60-63) in which a very good article was put together by Steve Pike. Alex loved to finish an 18 with a good par 3. Take for example Pittsburg Field Club which hosted a PGA championship finishes with a great uphill 3. Of course, you mentioned the Greenbrier which also finishes with a 3, Alex designed the original course there. In Basking Ridge NJ Alex designed the finishing par 3 that is slightly uphill if my memory is correct. You can start with a pitching wedge stretching to 200 yards. The beautiful thing about a par three is the extreme difficulty involved. It's much easier to score a birdie on a par 5, less so on a par 4 seldom on a par 3.
So you want to make your concluding holes eventful in which the outcome could easily change the ultimate winner right to the end. Richard Findlay is my name and I am Alex's grandson. The best to you in your game. Maybe we will meet on a truly unique course that Alex designed.
Hi Richard, found a Findlay course in Rhode Island that has not been attributed to him in many places. Found an old New England Magazine advertisement that names him as the architect. Been trying to find your contact info online but wondering if you have ever heard of Jamestown Golf Course in Jamestown, RI as an Alex Findlay design.
I like a course that ends with a birdie-able short par 4 or 5 for some last minute lightning, better than a par 3!
Our weekend grudge matches frequently come down to the last hole. The course we play has a very nice par five with risk/reward on both the tee shot and the second shot. You couldn’t ask for a better way to end a tight match. Not a big fan of either a par three or brutal par four as a finisher. To me the critical element is choice, more than one way to do it, with multiple chances for good and evil to prevail.
Weak, hate courses ending on Par 3
If the par 3 is over 250 yards and very difficult go for it
I agree with you, it's probably not a good idea for elite tournament courses, but for leisure golf course it's may be OK. Some people says :" I got birdie on the last hole and I can sleep well to night." It's gives a relieved feeling.
Idle Hour Country Club in Macon, Georgia ends with a par 3. It’s a narrow, two-tiered green which is often seeing a crosswind. It’s picturesque and difficult. The GSGA has held the Georgia State Amateur Championship at Idle Hour a record eight times. So it must not be too bad.
Gil Hanse's masterpiece Boston Golf Club closes strong with 15 thru 18 going par 5,4,5,3. The best courses are not formulaic, but natural with inspiring nuances. Televised events manipulate the action appealing to a mass audience. Great golf courses and exciting tournament golf courses can be mutually exclusive.
