Hole 3 at National Golf Links of America

Par 4 • 426 Yards • Southampton, New York

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Tough

The 3rd hole at National Golf Links of America, known as "Alps," is one of golf's most famous template holes, faithfully replicating the legendary blind approach shot from Prestwick's 17th. This strategic par four demands golfers carry their approach over a confrontational hill and massive bunker to reach the undulating green beyond.

Tees:

426y378y

Green:50y × 30y

13 Bunkers dogleg

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National Golf Links of America

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Hole Stats

Par: 4
Yardage: 426 yds
Green: 9028 sq ft
Bunkers: 13
Course Slope: 141
Course Rating: 74.3

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Recommended Gear

Bunkers everywhere — a versatile wedge is your scoring club on this hole.

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Strategy Tips

tee shot

The Alps hole presents an immediate strategic decision off the tee - with no fairway recorded at either 200 or 250 yards, you're facing the famous blind approach scenario that requires precise positioning short of the confrontational hill.

approach

Your approach shot must carry the massive bunker complex positioned at 172 yards from the green, replicating Prestwick's legendary blind shot over the hill - club up and commit to the shot as you cannot see the pin position.

approach

Target the center of the generous 9,028 square foot green (50 yards deep by 30 yards wide) since the blind nature makes pin-hunting extremely risky - the undulating surface will provide enough challenge even with a center approach.

hazard warning

At 426 yards with no defined landing zones, course management is critical - many players lay up short of the hill with a mid-iron off the tee, leaving a longer but more controlled approach over the bunker guardian.

green

Once you reach the 30-yard wide putting surface, expect significant undulation typical of template holes - lag putting to the correct tier is more important than aggressive putting on this historic design.

train this shot at home

This 426-yard par 4 is ideal for working on your driver accuracy. Launch monitors from $600 let you practice this exact shot with real course data from home.

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Scoring Tip

With bunkers guarding the green, pick the side with the most room and let the slope feed the ball toward the pin.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best strategy off the tee?

For this 426-yard par 4, most players will hit driver to set up a comfortable approach.

How difficult is hole 3?

This hole is a good scoring opportunity for most golfers. Key challenges include: large green requiring good lag putting.

How big is the green on hole 3?

The green is large and can play quite long. The green is wider than it is deep, rewarding shots that find the correct tier. Three-putt territory if you don't manage your approach distance well.

What's a good score on hole 3?

This hole is a demanding hole where bogey is not unusual. This longer par 4 will test most golfers. Focus on position over distance.

Can I practice hole 3 on a golf simulator at home?

Yes — many modern launch monitors and simulators include real course data for National Golf Links of America. You can play this exact 426-yard par 4 shot-by-shot at home. Entry-level options like the SkyTrak+ (around $2,500) and Garmin Approach R10 (around $600) support course play, while premium systems from Trackman and Foresight offer tour-level accuracy. Most systems pay for themselves in a season or two versus green fees and range balls. Shop home golf simulators →