ALL BUT A FEW SHORT COURSES IN SOCAL HAVE BEEN MEASURED AND RATED AND ARE READY FOR OFFICIAL SCORE POSTING

The secret is out: It’s cool to tee it up at a short course. Once shunned by purists as the red-headed stepchild of golf layouts, par-3 courses — and their siblings, nine-hole and executive courses — are enjoying soaring popularity across America and in Southern California.

There’s no mystery as to why these courses are riding a wave in the current climate. Many golfers want a faster, more fun, more family-friendly and less expensive experience during a day on the links. A recent handicap initiative by the USGA has elevated the short-course experience even higher, allowing golfers to post scores on these pint-sized tracks. In short, there’s never been a better time to play small ball.

To be sure, impactful short courses have been around for years. Augusta National’s nine-hole, 1,055-yard, par-3 track has enthralled pros and spectators alike since its debut in 1958. Its flower- and pond-splashed beauty led to Paul Azinger calling it “the best golf course in the world.”

Other influential courses followed, both nine holes and 18, riding and walking, many at prominent resorts such as Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst and at decorated communities such as Desert Mountain and The Quarry at La Quinta. Still, such courses were often dismissed as little more than non-competitive playgrounds, bridging the gap between regulation courses and off-course entertainment venues such as Topgolf.

A move made by the USGA in 2023, however, further legitimized teeing it up on short courses. Beginning in 2024, the World Handicap System® approved a low-end limit for courses to be issued a Course Rating® and Slope Rating® of 1,500 yards for 18 holes or 750 yards for nine-hole courses. This is a reduction from the previous minimum of 3,000 yards for 18 holes and 1,500 yards for nine holes.

Doug Sullivan, the SCGA’s Director of Course Rating, explained the purpose — and plusses — of the handicap changes. “The first and main reason for the USGA’s actions focuses on inclusivity,” said Sullivan. “Permitting and encouraging players to post scores on short courses means we can include golfers who play par-3 courses, beginning golfers and all types of golfers who may not have the time to play a four-, five- or even six-hour round. It also gives all golfers the ability to track their progress and improvement over time. You couldn’t get a handicap at these courses in the past. Now you can. And more rated courses mean more opportunities for not only new golfers to post scores, but veteran golfers who do play big courses when they go play a par-3 or executive course.”

Somehow, in a few short months, Sullivan mobilized the volunteer course rating team at SCGA and got more than 50 short courses rated. “The USGA recommended that we rate 25 percent the first year, 50 percent the second year and have them all done within year three,” he said. “But we kicked it around in the office and said, ‘If we’re going to do this, let’s just do it.’ Why would we pick this golf course over that one? Our staff amassed and trained a dedicated volunteer base and we got 50 courses rated within three months. A lot of boots on the ground, a lot of hard work. It was fun.”

L.A. & NORTH

Amid the rich vein of noteworthy short courses in Southern California, I’ve mined a fistful of public-access nuggets. Topping my list is The Links at Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdes. Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design may have kick-started the nationwide shift to walkable, enjoyable-by-all par-3 layouts in 2009 with this enchanting nine-holer for the Terranea Resort.

The course is awash in Pacific Ocean vistas (and fresh off a bunker renovation in 2023), and Eckenrode made it family friendly, with firm, open green entrances, yet interesting for low handicappers, thanks to thoughtful bunker placement and excellent variety in the green shapes and contours. I can personally vouch for its all-ages appeal: During my first visit in 2014, my 92-year-old mother-in-law, Peg, enjoyed her round immensely, as did the eight-year-old boy in the group ahead of us.

In the northern reaches of the SCGA jurisdiction, the standout is The Challenge Course at Monarch Dunes in San Luis Obispo County. This Damian Pascuzzo/Steve Pate collaboration resulted in a 12-hole par-3 spread brimming with variety. Holes range from 82 to 198 yards, feature vast, cunningly contoured greens and play uphill and downhill.

To promote player development, included is a set of green tees with holes as short as 18 yards and as long as 40 yards, and two cups per green, one regulation and one larger. Currently, The Challenge at Monarch Dunes is rated only for nine holes, but Sullivan foresees a day when the SCGA will be able to rate a course no matter how many holes.

In Los Angeles and its surrounds, more than a dozen worthy, newly rated candidates have emerged. Any such list starts with Heartwell GC in the northwest corner of Long Beach. The 2,143-yard, par-54 18-hole tract was designed in 1962 by William F. Bell, the same architect who delivered Torrey Pines GC, Sandpiper GC and Industry Hills GC. With holes measuring from 85 to 140 yards, plus trees and bunkers, it’s sufficiently testing for all abilities — and a starting place for potential greatness. Just ask Tiger Woods, who began his golf career here.

I chatted with Tiger about Heartwell in 2017 and how his experiences there factored into how he thinks about short courses. “The par-3 courses I grew up on, Heartwell [and Bellflower] were short and they were lit at night,” said Woods. “So you’d get people with, say, six clubs and a six-pack and they’d really enjoy themselves. They catered to us [juniors] but also to anyone who wanted to play. It was quick and fun. That’s what stuck with me.”

What also stuck with Woods was when he made his first ace — at Heartwell’s 12th hole. “I was eight years old and I hit a nice little two-and-a-half wood up there. And I couldn’t see the ball. I was too short to see over the bunker.”

Four other rated L.A. short courses deserve special mention. The Rancho Park 3-Par shares facilities with its legendary championship sister layout, yet has a nice identity of its own, as a tree-lined, nine-hole par-3 course of 992 yards. Similarly, the Los Feliz 3-Par is 989 yards, and it too dials up the challenge via overhanging branches from mature trees that block many intended targets.

And a golf clap for the Heroes. Now known as the Bandini Foundation Heroes GC, the nine-hole, 1,159-yard, par-27 layout was built by Hillcrest CC members in 1946, on the grounds of the nearby Sawtelle Veterans Hospital. Golden Age great William F. Bell handled the design, and today, amid an upgraded course and facilities, it continues its association with veterans, who play for free.

Finally, keep an eye on Maggie Hathaway GC. Now 62 years old, the par-27, 1,008-yard muni is mere months away from a significant upgrade, with design services donated by Gil Hanse.

ORANGE COUNTY & BEYOND

In northern Orange County, a popular option since 1972 is Birch Hills in Brea. At 3,120 yards, par 59, Birch Hills stretches out as a short course with five par 4s and 13 par 3s. Hilly, yet walkable, Birch Hills was re-routed in 2015 with bunker and green refinements from architect Casey O’Callaghan, who instilled some stylish bite into the proceedings.

Down San Diego way, Mission Bay GC rolls out a 2,706-yard, par-58 layout, with two par 4s on each nine, designed by Ted Robinson in 1964. Mission Bay crackles with life, thanks to its coastal location adjacent to Mission Bay, amid dog, skate and people parks. These days, however, it’s not crackling with electricity as the lights that illuminate the golf course for night play will be under repair for the indefinite future.

Finally, two short courses in the Palm Springs desert are worth a special detour. Shadow Hills’ North Course was created to serve a retirement community, but this 2,999-yard, par-54 Schmidt-Curley design wows all ages with artfully sculpted bunkers, natural desert areas, sparkling lakes and mountain backdrops. Five holes on the back nine measure between 186 and 218 yards from the blue tees, a serious workout for low handicappers.

When the sun sets, more outstanding short-course action awaits at The Lights at Indio. Its 18 holes range from 108 to 230 yards, with seven of them stretching beyond 160 yards, so this is serious golf. It’s also serious fun, even in the daylight. Ten-dollar replay rounds on the 2,777-yard, par-54 course, FootGolf and $15 all-you-can-hit range balls add to the value.

With the spotlight brighter than ever on short courses, it’s a win-win for golfers and facilities. Is short the new long? In SoCal, the answer is a resounding YES!