Short Courses, Big Impact: The Golf Course Trends Redefining Play for a New Generation

Courses & Experiences
Written By Matt Nitowski

Shorty’s at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Walk onto The Cradle at Pinehurst on a late afternoon and you’ll see what the future of golf looks like. Music hums softly from portable speakers. A group of friends — some in sneakers, one barefoot — laughs as they take turns pitching wedges across 100-yard holes that roll and ripple like sculpture. The energy is loose, playful, and alive.

Once, short courses were the sleepy side acts of golf — utilitarian “pitch-and-putts” meant for beginners or warm-ups. Today, they’ve become the heartbeat of the modern game. From Oregon to Florida, par-3 layouts and short loops are redefining what golf can feel like — faster, friendlier, and just as architecturally serious as their full-length counterparts.

The Rise of the Modern Short Course

When a destination like Bandon Dunes — the gold standard of pure golf — builds two short courses, it’s clear this is more than a trend.

Bandon Preserve, designed by Coore & Crenshaw in 2012, set the template: 13 beautifully crafted holes, no tee markers, and views that rival any 18-hole layout. A decade later, Shorty’s, by Whitman, Axland & Cutten, took the same philosophy even further — more community-oriented, more walkable, and even more joyful. Both are built to the same meticulous standard as Bandon’s championship courses.

At Streamsong in Florida, Coore & Crenshaw’s The Chain takes the concept to another level. It’s 19 holes of pure experimentation — short holes, match-play setups, and a design built entirely around fun and flow.

These aren’t afterthoughts. They’re investments in the future of the game. Unlike the par-3s of the past, today’s short courses are crafted with the same artistry, conditioning, and storytelling as the world’s best 18-hole designs. They’re not side projects — they’re showpieces.

Why They Work — Accessibility, Reps, and Social Play

On paper, short courses solve golf’s most persistent barrier: time. A 90-minute loop fits easily into a weekday or a family trip. The lower price point and easier access attract new players — but that’s only part of the story.

For experienced golfers, the appeal runs deeper. Short courses amplify what makes the game satisfying: more shots, more creativity, and more social energy.

Without the grind of keeping score, players swing more freely. They try new trajectories, experiment with wedges, and rediscover the simple satisfaction of making a shot purely because it feels good. Every hole offers a different puzzle — and none of them take four hours to solve.

For serious golfers, short courses aren’t easier — they’re freer. They strip the game down to its essence: precision, creativity, and camaraderie.

The Psychology of Play

The best short courses are masterclasses in emotion. They change the entire vibe of golf.

A full-length course can be serious — focused, sometimes even tense. You’re managing score, pace, and expectations. A short course flips that script. You walk faster, talk more, and laugh louder. Every hole feels like a fresh start.

Psychologically, it delivers what modern players crave: flow and joy. The gratification loop is quicker because moments of success come more often. It’s golf without the shadow of perfection — just the rhythm of play, conversation, and connection.

It’s the same game, just played in a different emotional key.

The New Benchmark — Quality and Craftsmanship

The quality of today’s short courses is what truly separates this era from the past.

Gone are the flat, fenced-in “pitch-and-putts.” In their place: meticulously contoured greens, native vegetation, and world-class shaping that rivals — and often exceeds — longer layouts.

At Bandon Preserve, every hole is postcard-perfect, sculpted by the same hands that built Pacific Dunes. Shorty’s invites players to hit imaginative shots they’ll remember as vividly as anything on the big courses. The Chain at Streamsong pairs Coore & Crenshaw’s artistry with a design built for match play and movement — proof that “short” can be architecturally rich.

These courses represent a shift from utility to artistry. The bar has been raised — permanently.

Flexibility — The Perfect Modern Golf Day

A full 36-hole marathon used to be the ultimate golf trip badge. Today, it’s often too much — too long, too exhausting, too rigid. The modern answer? One long round paired with a short course.

You get the best of both worlds: the challenge and satisfaction of a full test in the morning, and the creativity and camaraderie of a quick loop before dinner. It’s balance, both physically and emotionally.

For destinations like Bandon, Pinehurst, and Streamsong, this flexibility isn’t just convenience — it’s part of the brand experience. It invites every kind of golfer to find their rhythm, no matter how much time they have.

One full-length round feeds your competitive side; a short-course loop feeds your soul.

The Business of Joy

For resorts and operators, short courses make economic sense — but their real value lies in emotional ROI. They create memories, repeat visits, and word-of-mouth buzz.

Short courses are also photogenic — tailor-made for social media and storytelling. They project accessibility without sacrificing prestige. And they show that golf can evolve without losing its integrity.

Short courses prove that joy and design can coexist — and that the future of golf doesn’t have to be longer to be better.

Stats at a Glance

  • ~35% of new course developments now include a short or par-3 component

  • Average short-course round: ~90 minutes (vs. 4+ hours for 18 holes)

  • The Cradle (Pinehurst): 789 yards, averages 500+ rounds/day in peak season

  • Bandon Preserve: 13 holes, proceeds benefit local conservation

  • The Chain (Streamsong): 19 holes, built for flexibility and social play

Further Reading & Resources

Matt Nitowski https://www.evolgolf.com
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