The Best Par 3’s on the Brainerd Golf Trail

Par 3 holes provide so much promise as you walk up to the tee. Typically the holes are of a manageable length—a respite from long, tough par 4’s. They often contain beautiful yet beguiling features: water, encroaching trees, and difficult, but well-crafted bunkers. The opportunity to put a 2 on the scorecard is always there, and even thoughts of that elusive and exciting ace creep into mind as you waggle your club.

All along the Brainerd Golf Trail, there are plenty of great holes, and in particular some excellent par 3’s. We selected a few of them here in our list of some of the best par 3’s on the Brainerd Golf Trail. If you haven’t been there to check them out, now is the time to do it.

The Pines at Grand View Lodge (Lakes Course)–No. 7—100-152 yards

This signature hole at The Pines is one of the more photographed holes in the state. The short par 3 requires a water carry (tee to green) on the left, and it features woods to the right. There is a tall hill up by the green that is held in place by long timbers, and it offers the occasional fortuitous bounce onto the green if you miss (or are bailing out) to the right. It’s a very tight tee shot, but a fun hole to play.

The Preserve at Grand View Lodge—No. 13—106-162 yards

This downhill hole looks easier at first glance than it really plays. With just 162 yards from the back and downhill past a slender, macaroni-shaped bunker front right of the green, you might be brimming with confidence looking at the scorecard. But trees surround the tee box and the woods encroach even closer around the green, so some nerves could set in as you take back the club. Everything from birdie to bogey is possible here, so be sure to pull the right club.

Cragun’s Resort (Bobby’s Legacy)–No. 9—78-112 yards

Not every great hole has to be long if it is designed well. The 9^th hole at the Bobby’s Legacy course is one of those challenging short par 3’s. It’s tees range from only 78-112 yards, but the elevated tee to an island green is in front of the clubhouse and adds some nerves to the shot. Check the wind — sometimes swinging a short wedge can be too much. On the other side of the coin, the hole will have you thinking about the possibility of a hole-in-one every time you put a peg in the ground there.

The Classic at Madden’s–No. 12—140-218 yards

The long and very difficult No. 12 at The Classic at Madden’s is a memorable hole on a course filled with them. A vision of the tee shot is slightly obscured by trees on the right, and the green itself is wide but not very deep and difficult to hit. While it is a large green, there is a huge hump in the middle, causing balls that do reach the surface to run left or right. A pin placement in the center always makes for a challenging shot. The 12^th is a hole where you leave the green satisfied with a bogey and beaming with a par.

Golden Eagle—No. 13—135-178 yards

Get out your camera phones for this photogenic par 3 at Golden Eagle in nearby Fifty Lakes, Minnesota. From an elevated tee, you must hit over a wooded marsh area to the green surrounded by even more trees — making you tighten your grip ever so slightly. The cantered green is guarded by bunkers front left, front right, and back right, putting a premium on accuracy on this beauty. Hit the relatively large green and life is good, but miss anywhere here and it may be tough to escape with bogey.