Hole 3 at Pinehurst Resort Country Club The Cradle

Pinehurst, North Carolina
Par
3
Yardage
66 yds
Hazards
1 bunker
Hole 3 aerial at Pinehurst Resort Country Club The Cradle

Aerial source not provided

Green size: 29 yds deep × 32 yds wide

Scorecard yardage is for The Cradle tees. The aerial shows its labeled reference position; distance rings measure to the green.

The Cradle tees · Par 3 · 66 yards

The plan for No. 3

The punchbowl shape is an invitation to use the green's contours, with sand guarding the front.

Off the tee

Aim at putting surface with enough distance to get beyond the bunker. Do not make the short yardage an excuse for a tentative strike. From this tee the green is 49 yards to the front, 62 to the center and 77 to the back. Carrying front native area 1 takes 31 yards. Carrying front bunker 2 takes 46 yards.

Approach & recovery

From sand, the first objective is a ball on the green. From a clean surrounding lie, consider how the bowl can help the ball settle before choosing extra loft.

On the green

The bowl can gather shots, but the day's flag still needs a read from the ball. Treat its broad shape as context rather than a guaranteed feed into the cup.

Watch for

  • Front bunker
  • Punchbowl banks
  • Sandy side surrounds

Hole 3 Green Complex

Mapped green boundary

Green Surface

Green size: 4,986 sq ft

Dimensions
29y Deep × 32y Wide
Mapped green boundary
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Research notes

  • The third green is described as a punchbowl that can gather a ball back from beyond the hole. This is a broad shape description, not a current pin read. (Paragraph beginning The Punch Bowl is just that)[1]
  • The architect’s published episode notes discuss The Cradle’s role in making short-course golf central to the resort experience. (Architect-published episode highlights; not audio)[2]

Sources

  1. Gil Hanse’s second ace on The Cradle — Pinehurst Resorthttps://www.pinehurst.com/news/gil-does-it-again-another-hole-in-one-on-the-cradle/
  2. Golf Advisor Podcast Ep. 17: Gil Hanse and Matt Ginella at Dornoch Cottage — Hanse Golf Course Design / Golf Advisorhttps://www.hansegolfdesign.com/news/golf-advisor-podcast-ep-17-gil-hanse-and-matt-ginella-from-the-dornoch-cottage-in-pinehurst/