Par 3 and Pitch and Putt Golf Courses in the UK: A Guide

Short courses are a good way to learn golf, because they are quick and relaxed. Two formats come up often: par 3 courses and pitch and putt. This guide explains both and lists short courses from our directory, with facts from each club’s own website.

What is a par 3 golf course?

On a par 3 course, most or all of the holes are meant to be reached in one shot. You then putt out for a score of three. Rounds are quick, and you carry only a few clubs, since the holes are short.

Hilden Park in Kent, for example, shows how a mixed layout can work. The club says it has six par 3 holes and three par 4s. That adds up to a par of 30 for nine holes.

What is pitch and putt?

Pitch and putt is a smaller version again. The holes are very short, and golfers normally use a wedge and a putter. It is popular with children, beginners and anyone who wants to work on touch around the green.

However, we should be honest about one point. Our directory does not yet flag courses as pitch and putt, and we have not yet verified a venue that is purely pitch and putt. Until we do, we list short courses that the clubs describe themselves. Check each club’s site for its exact format.

Par 3 courses in the directory

These venues describe a par 3 or short-hole layout on their own websites, so the details come straight from the clubs.

• Hilden Park in Kent has a 9-hole course on 27 acres. The club lists six par 3s and three par 4s. It also has a 33-bay driving range, and 24 bays use Toptracer technology. It says the course suits all levels and is ideal for a quick round.
• Burgess Hill Golf Academy in West Sussex offers a nine-hole Championship Par 3 course. The website says it is pay and play and welcomes beginners. Rounds were listed from £17.50 when we checked on 10 October 2026. Club hire is available, and four PGA coaches offer lessons.
• Ballyearl Golf Course in County Antrim describes an excellent par 3, nine-hole course. It is run by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The site mentions PGA coaching and a Toptracer simulator.

Short nine-hole courses

Some nine-hole courses mix par 3s and par 4s. They are not pure par 3 layouts, but they still offer a quick round.

• Treloy Golf Club near Newquay describes a beautifully maintained 9-hole executive course. The website names Bob Sandow as the architect and gives 1991 as the opening year. The site also lists a driving range. It asks players to book tee times in advance.
• Kinmel Park Golf in Denbighshire says it has its own 9-hole course. The range is designed for golfers of all levels.
• South Beds Golf Club in Luton lists a 9-hole, par 32 course called Warden Hill. The club says it has full-length par 3s and par 4s.
• Oaksey Park Golf & Leisure Club in Wiltshire calls its course a par 35 parkland layout. It uses different back-nine tees for 18-hole play.
• Poulton le Fylde Golf Club in Lancashire lists a 9-hole parkland course of 2,863 yards and a par of 35. The club says visitors are welcome.

You can browse more in our 9-hole course finder. Our guide to nine-hole golf courses explains the format in more detail.

Why play a short course?

There are plenty of good reasons to try one, as the list below shows.

• Time. A short round fits around work and family.
• Cost. Short courses can be cheaper than a full 18, though prices vary, so check with the club.
• Learning. Approach shots, chipping and putting get the most practice.
• Confidence. New golfers can score on every hole and enjoy the game sooner.

Our beginners’ guide to golf courses suggests how to take the next step. If your children want to play, see our junior golf guide. To play without joining a club, read about pay and play golf.

Tips for your first short-course round

A little planning makes the day smoother, especially if you are new.

1. Check the format first. Some venues are pure par 3, while others mix in par 4s.
2. Ask whether you need to book. Burgess Hill describes itself as pay and play, while Treloy asks for tee times in advance.
3. Bring a few clubs. A wedge, a mid-iron and a putter are usually enough.
4. Warm up on the range or putting green if the venue has one.
5. Keep score, but do not worry about the total. The aim is to enjoy the round and learn.

Many short courses also have a driving range, so you can combine the two, because it saves a second trip. Our driving range guide explains how ranges work and what to expect.

Finding a short course near you

Start with our par 3 golf course finder and pitch and putt finder, which list every venue whose own website describes one. Then try the England golf course directory and look at each listing’s holes and par. Nine-hole courses with a par in the high twenties or low thirties are usually the shortest. Then confirm the details on the club’s own website, because formats and opening times can change.

Where to start

If you are in the south of England, our posts on golf courses in Essex and golf courses in Hampshire cover two counties with short-course options of their own. Gosport & Stokes Bay in Hampshire, for example, is a nine-hole links.

We do not quote most prices because they change often. Visit each club’s website to confirm fees, booking rules and opening times. The facts above were checked on 10 October 2026. Where a club does not publish a detail, we have left it out.

To find short courses near a city, try the directory pages for golf courses near London, golf courses near Birmingham and golf courses near Manchester. Each one lists holes and par, so the short courses are easy to spot.