Ever hear tales of a par 6 on the golf course and wonder if it’s a real thing or just a local legend? Par 6 holes are not only real, but they represent some of the most outrageous, strategic, and downright fun challenges in golf. This guide will show you exactly what a par 6 is, point you to some of the courses that feature these rare beasts, and give you a coach’s game plan for how to tackle one without wrecking your scorecard.
In golf, "par" is the number of strokes a scratch golfer is expected to take to complete a hole. It's based almost entirely on length. While most courses are made up of par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s, the elusive par 6 is built for holes of extreme distance. There's no iron-clad rule, but the United States Golf Association (USGA) provides guidelines:
Think about that for a second. An average male amateur golfer hits their driver around 215 yards. To reach a 690-yard green, it would take more than three perfectly struck drivers just to get there. It’s a monster–a true three-shot hole for even the longest professional hitters, meaning it takes three solid shots just to reach the green, leaving them with a potential two-putt for par.
These holes are designed as a journey. They test every facet of your game: your long irons or hybrids, your course management, and most importantly, your patience. They're about strategy, not just brute force.
Par 6s are rare jewels in the golf world. You won’t find them at your average local muni, but several courses have embraced the super-sized challenge. Here are some of the most well-known courses that boast a par 6.
Perhaps the most famous par 6 in the United States, Farmstead’s 18th hole is an unforgettable experience. Measuring a whopping 767 yards from the back tees, this hole is so long it starts in one state and finishes in another. You tee off in South Carolina and putt out on a green just across the border in North Carolina.
The hole itself is a risk-reward par 6. It's relatively generous off the tee, encouraging you to let the big dog eat. However, water runs up the left side of the fairway and snakes in front of a massive green, forcing you to make decisions on your second and third shots. Do you play it safe to the right or take on the water for a shorter approach? It’s a fantastic finishing hole that a bogey can often feel like a par.
Home to the Korn Ferry Tour's "The Ascendant," TPC Colorado features a behemoth on its back nine. The 13th hole, named "Longer," can play up to 773 yards. What makes this par 6 especially tough is the Colorado altitude, which helps the ball fly farther, but the hole is still a legitimate three-shotter for anyone.
The design is brilliant. It features wide fairways but well-placed bunkers that force you to think about where you want to land your next shot. A center-line bunker complex about 330 yards from the tee means you have to choose to go left or right, each path presenting its own-challenges for the second shot. It’s less about a single heroic shot and more about stringing together three intelligent shots.
An award-winning course in Asia, Black Mountain's par-6 17th hole is a stunning example of creative course design. It can play up to 865 yards but often plays shorter from the amateur tees. The hole doglegs around a lake, constantly tempting you to bite off more than you can chew.
There is a thrilling high-risk, high-reward option for long hitters to go over an inlet of water, potentially leaving a short iron into the green for an eagle-look. For the rest of us, it’s a strategic, three-shot hole where you carefully work your way down the fairway, avoiding the water and setting up a clear third shot into a well-guarded green. The scenic mountain backdrop makes it one of the most beautiful par 6s in the world.
If you're looking for the absolute longest hole in the world, look no further. The 3rd hole on the Jeongeup course at Gunsan Country Club in South Korea is officially listed as a par 7 but is considered by many to be the ultimate par 6. It measures an almost unbelievable 1,097 yards (1,004 meters) from the back tees. That’s over a kilometer long!
This hole requires at least four shots for even the longest hitters to reach the green. It demands a driver, a fairway wood, another fairway wood, and then maybe an iron. It is less a test of precision and more a test of endurance and mental fortitude. It may not be aesthetically pleasing to all golf purists, but it is undeniably a unique bucket-list experience.
Standing on the tee of a 700+ yard hole can be intimidating. Seeing the flagstick as a tiny speck in the distance can make you want to swing out of your shoes. Don't do it. As a coach, my biggest piece of advice for playing a par 6 is to change your mindset. This is not one hole, it’s two or three small holes rolled into one.
Here’s how to break it down and play it smart.
Your first shot sets you up for everything that follows. The goal here is not to hit it as far as humanly possible, but to place it in the ideal position for your *second* shot. Swinging for the fences often leads to a shot in the trees, a hazard, or deep rough, immediately putting you on the defensive.
Once you’re in the fairway, congratulate yourself. Now, do it again. Your second shot on a par 6 should be treated like another tee shot, but this time on a par 4 or a long par 3.
Typically, a "Green in Regulation" (GIR) on a par 5 means being on the green in three shots. For a par 6, your goal is to be on the surface in four shots. This gives you a two-putt for par.
On a par 6, a bogey is not a bad score. Two bogeys on the card aren't great, but a 9 or 10 from one disastrous par-6 attempt can demolish a round. Your goal is to avoid the big number.
Accept that it's going to take a bunch of swings to get home. Stick to your plan of playing it as a series of smaller holes. If you hit a bad shot, don't try to be a hero on the next one. Take your medicine, get back in position, and continue with your plan. Finishing with a 7 is a respectable outcome for most golfers.
In short, a par 6 is a rare and awe-inspiring hole that tests your strategy and patience more than your raw power. These behemoths–found at courses like Farmstead and TPC Colorado–are defined by their extreme length but should be played with intelligent, deliberate shots, not just mindless aggression.
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