Wisconsin's 10 Best Par 3 Holes

There is no more exciting hole in golf than a well-made par three. Great par threes begin with imagination, and are cultivated to provide a challenging one-shot experience interlaced with amazing aesthetics, and occasionally options.

This article is dedicated to the par threes that I will never forget, and will be an ongoing examination of the greatest one-shot holes in the Midwest.

I have to preface this list by telling you that I have yet to play some of the state's legendary par three holes, like the 17th at Whistling Straits' Straits Course or the 16th at Sentry World. I suspect that these and others will quickly find their way into this dynamic list next season.

1. Wild Rock #15 (179,166,134,130,118 yards):

With six individual tee boxes separated by trees, the fifteenth hole is one of the most picturesque holes on one of the state's most picturesque golf courses. A large stone quarry lives between the elevated tee boxes and the elevated green, and anything hit short will be claimed by the waste area that lies beneath.

2. Castle at the Bay #10 (146,132,127,95,81 yards):

A beautiful replica of the world's most famous golf hole, number 17 at TPC Sawgrass, the tenth at Northern Bay is intended to challenge your mettle at the 132-yard distance that is played on the PGA Tour.

3. Blackwolf Run, River Course #4 (219,195,185,146,117 yards):

Narrow and well-guarded, Swan Lake is one of the most charming holes on the world-famous River course.

The two biggest stars on this hole are the swans that live in the pond and are avid golf enthusiasts, themselves: When you're on the tee boxes, they swim near the tee boxes. When you're on the green, they swim toward the green. This is sure to be one of the holes receiving a lot of attention during the 2012 US Women's Open, and these swans are sure to be popular with the national media.

At 195 yards from the blue tees, the tee shot is long and intimidating. Oh, and anything hit right will find the bottom of Swan Lake. Zero in with a long club that you can fly straight. No pressure - not like there is an audience.

4. Whistling Straits, Irish Course #11 (208,193,177,169,125 yards):

Nicknamed "Lamb Chop," the 11th at the Irish course is a long, and usually heavily wind-influenced hole chocked full of treachery. The cliff on the left side of the approach air zone provides a lot of character to the hole, and even that is wrought with sand traps. A sand trap from those areas would probably be best [or only] struck by the old "hand wedge."

That was a bad joke, but this hole is not. It is absolutely gorgeous, with views of Lake Michigan and glorious mounding and bunkering.

5. Edgewood, Oaks Course #14 (178,153,141,104 yards):

Featuring another fantastic island layout, the fourteenth is the signature hole of the fantastic back nine on Edgewood's Oaks course. From elevated tee boxes, the green is absolutely huge, and is affronted by a long sand trap and water on all sides.

6. Lawsonia, Links Course #7 (161,146,140,109 yards):

The seventh on the Links course is famous for the boxcar buried beneath it which creates the steep embankment surrounding the green. Opened in 1930, the Links is rated the number 55 classic course in the country, and the seventh is its signature hole.

7. Trapper's Turn, Canyon Course #7 (158,140,126,93 yards):

The seventh on the Canyon course is a very intimidating tee shot, but actually plays a little easier than expected. Both sides of the approach area are slanted upward, which funnels shots slightly left or right towards the green. Both times I have played it I have found myself on the green by way of the friendly bounce, which is much appreciated when playing on a course as tight as the Canyon.

8. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms #6 (193,183,173/163,153,80 yards):

On a difficult golf course, the sixth at The Bull does not let up. Narrow and guarded by trees and sand, this hole requires absolute precision. This is a gorgeous hole, and "follows" one of my all-time favorite par fours: "Follow On."

That being said, the sixth is a beast of a par three. With a downhill tee shot, the edges of the green slope sharply towards the forest and deep greenside bunkers. The green is two-tiered, and slants from the back to the front. It must be nicknamed "Elation" after the feeling few golfers get who are able to find the putting surface with just one swing.

9. Castle at the Bay #3 (194,170,164,160,158 yards):

A fantastic replica of the 16th hole at Augusta, known as "Rosebud," the third at the Castle course is absolutely gorgeous to look at, but very tough to play!

The long water hazard down the middle of the layout on this hole replaces what would otherwise be fairway, and cozies up to the bottom of the green area. The green is rather narrow, but long. It slopes severely downhill from the back to the front, and three strategically placed sand traps will make for a hellacious shot on to the green. Anything hit above the pin will roll downhill fast, and is almost likely to roll off and into the pond.

10. Lawsonia, Woodlands Course #3 (168,156,145,105 yards):

Overlooking Green Lake to your right, the tee boxes on the third hole of the Woodlands course at Lawsonia are elevated high, high above the green. The left side is all trouble, with dense woods, while a short tee shot will inevitably land in the long sand traps, and anything right can carom quickly downhill and out of play. The only safe way to play this hole is the center of the green, which runs quickly downhill to the right.

For honorable mentions, and dynamic lists of my top ten courses and par three, four and five holes in the state of Wisconsin, visit Paul's blog at http://wiscosportsaddict.blogspot.com.