Toughest Par-3's in Southeastern Wisconsin

WHEN PGA PRO Phil Mickelson ponders the low points of his performance at the 2008 Masters he will be thinking about those pesky Par 3s. Similar par-3 challenges await amateurs on Southeastern Wisconsin's many fine courses

This is by no means a comprehensive list because there are so many good courses in the area. But this is my attempt at 18 of the toughest and most interesting par 3s. In later issues, I'll look at par 4s and 5s, but let's start with the ones that produce the most holes-in-one AND the most nightmares.

The courses below often have more than one winning par 3, but I limited my selections to one per course. Some superb courses are conspicuously absent for several reasons, including location of the course. Remember, this is for visitors who aren't familiar with the area and can't spend the entire day traveling to and from a course.

In other cases, it was just too difficult to make a selection. All of the par 3s at any of the Kohler courses (Rivers, Meadow Valleys, Whistling Straits and The Irish) in Sheboygan County are excellent, as are all the par 3s at The Bull in Sheboygan Falls. It's equally hard to single out one Par 3 on a hidden gem in Dodge County - Rock River Hills along the Horicon Marsh - where three of the four par 3s are as good as you'll find anywhere..

Here are my favorites with their courses in alphabetical order (all distances are from the back tees):

The Bog, #13, 195 yards - All carry over a ravine to a wide, but relatively narrow green, with bunkers immediately in front; don't be short or long, or you'll struggle to par and probably worse (262-284-7075)

Brightondale (White Birch Course), #15, 200 yards - Difficult-to-hit green sits on somewhat of a pedestal and at an odd angle to tee, plus there is a bunker in front; if that isn't enough the tee shot is over water (262-878-1440)

Bristlecone Pines, #12, 230 yards - Water from tee to front and right side of two-level green; sand and trouble on left side will give you second and third thoughts about club selection (262-367-7880)

Broadlands, #18, 177 yards - You always seem to be fighting the wind here because the hole sits so high; steep drop off to the left and behind the green; bunkers also guard the left side (262-392-6320)

Brown Deer, #3, 171 yards - Downhill to green that slopes from back to front and is protected in front by large bunker; trees on both sides (414-352-8080)

Erin Hills, #9, 164 yards - Plays shorter than the yardage, but lightning-fast green is surrounded by deep sand and grass bunkers (262-670-8600/866-724-8822)

Fire Ridge, #17, 182 yards - Marsh in front and behind an undulating green makes commitment to shot a must (262-375-2252)

Geneva National (Player Course), #6, 184 yards - Slightly downhill to large green guarded in front by bunker and water and bunker in back; plenty of bailout room to the left if you have second thoughts about going for pin (262-245-7000)

Geneva National, (Trevino Course), #17, 192 yards - Large bunkers guard front and back of wide, narrow green that is difficult to hold and has a lot of break; tall trees also surround green (262-245-7000)

Hawk's View, #3, 215 yards - Long, sharply downhill shot to green that has quite bit of break and is surrounded by closely cropped grass that will allow the ball to run down steep embankments if green is missed (262-348-9900)

Ironwood, #2 (Meath), 202 yards - Downhill shot to extremely undulating green guarded 270 degrees by deep bunkers (262-538-9900)

Kettle Hills, #8 (Ponds), 173 yards - Relatively narrow but wide green slopes from the center to front and from center to back; pond in front of green means you can't be short or ball will roll back into water (262-628-0200)

Kettle Moraine, #13, 218 yards - Long uphill shot to fairly narrow green whose surface you can't see from tee; trees guard both sides and water along left side, while not really in play catches your attention (262-965-6200)

Morningstar, #14, 222 yards - 40-foot narrow drop to a green surrounded by trouble; visually daunting and awe-inspiring (262-662-1600)

Muskego Lakes, #16, 199 yards - Trees and bunker left of green, and water and trees right of green make a straight shot imperative (414-425-6500)

Nagawaukee, #13, 231 yards - Uphill to a huge sloping (left to right) green with trees & bushes both left and right from tee to green; even when wind isn't in your face, this hole is a nail-biter (262-367-2153)

Washington County, #6, 189 yards - Tough to hit long and narrow pedestal green with bunkers on left and drop off to long grass on the right; make sure you know what the wind is doing (262-670-6616)

Western Lakes, #17, 194 yards - This hole can ruin a good round; more than 170 of the 194 yards are over two stretches of water; green must be hit or ball probably will roll back into water; bail out to right if you don't have gonads to go at the pin (262-691-1181)