These are the nine easiest golf holes in Eastern Connecticut

When surveying club professionals and golf coaches about the easiest holes on Eastern Connecticut golf courses, one could reminisce about the old days of Par-3, Pitch and Putt layouts that were once popular.

A preponderance of short, par-3 holes dominated our unofficial list of the "Easiest Holes in Eastern Connecticut."

As Mohegan Golf Club professional Joe Mentz said, "One good shot will put you in position to birdie a par-3. It takes two good shots to line up a short birdie putt on a par 4."

There have only been six recorded hole-in-ones on par 4s and one in PGA history - Andrew Magee's ace on a 332-yard par-4 at the Phoenix Open. The rare score even carries a special name: an “Albatross."

Kevin Marcoux, former Killingly golf coach and an avid amateur championship-level scratch golfer, has recorded four aces on par-3 local holes. Two came on the 9th hole at Connecticut National in Putnam and two at Willimantic Country Club.

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While aces are more likely on short par-3s, he claims par-5s are "scoring opportunities" for golfers with length on their woods and irons.

Still, par-3s dominate the scorecards for 17th and 18th "easiest" holes by surveys of club members and scoring statistics.

Here are the holes that can make you feel like Jack Nicklaus at The Masters, Ben Hogan at the U.S. Open, and Harry Vardon at The British Open.

1st hole - Par 4, 323 yards: Norwich Golf Course, Norwich

Norwich Golf Club professional Mike Svab and Marcoux view this as the easiest opening hole around. It's straight, short and without bunkers or water. A great way to start with a par or perhaps a birdie.

"If a good player doesn't get a par on the 1st, it's a blown opportunity," Marcoux said. "If you play conservatively with irons, eight out of 10 times, you will par."

8th hole - Par 4, 329 yards: Quinnatisset Country Club, Thompson

At the home of the Woodstock Academy golf team, this short par-4 is rated 17th (second easiest) on the scoreboard. Four bunkers line the outside of the fairway about 220 yards down the hole, so with an accurate drive, a good player can reach the green in two.

"If you walk out of this hole with worse than a par, you'll be very disappointed," Marcoux said.

8th hole, par 4, 339-yards: River Ridge Golf Course, Jewett City

The fairway is a little narrow and two bunkers outline edges around 230 yards from the tee, but powerful drives could hit the green in one here to make this a birdie and possible eagle opportunity.

"Very long hitters may be able to reach this in one,”' River Ridge Golf professional Jeff Beaupre said.

"The bunkers are very much in play. A long iron is all that is needed off the tee to leave a short iron in."

9th hole - Par 3, 162 yards, Connecticut National Golf Club, Putnam

Marcoux has aced this hole twice even though it is ranked next to easiest behind the 11th, another par03, 162-yarder. The 9th has a miniature golf feel to it with crazy bounces and caroms.

"There have been more hole-in-ones at the 9th," Marcoux said. "If you pitch the ball off the tee with your wedge or 8-iron and miss left, the ball kicks back right to the pin. I've been off left a few times and the ball has caromed left every time."

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11th hole - Par 3, 162 yards, Connecticut National Golf Club, Putnam

Ranked 18th on the scorecard, the hole is a straight shot from the tee with a small bunker on the left in front of the green. Only a wicked slice should keep a good player off the putting surface on the drive.

"Our greens are pretty slopey and if you miss right it's not easy here,” National Golf Club professional Jeff Clang said. "The par-3s just happen to be the easiest on this course compared to the other challenging holes."

11th hole - Par 3, 120 yards, River Ridge Golf Course, Jewett City

A relatively small green (23 yards wide by 22 yards deep) is not the only obstacle in this short hole. There are two small sandtraps on either side of the green.  A large pond comprises most of the “fairway" so if you don't pitch your drive in the air, you'll lose a ball.

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Still, the short distance rates this as the easiest hole on the scorecard.

"The green is fairly deep, so if you take plenty of club, you should be on the green," Beaupre said.

13th hole - Par 3, 110 yards, Norwich Golf Course, Norwich

The incredibly short hole is ranked 18th (easiest) on the scorecard, but an accurate pitch is required to hit a small green that cannot be seen from the tee area at the bottom of a hill leading to the stick. If you don't hit the green with the tee pitch, it's tough to chip on or "get up and down" from severely elevated angles outside the green perimeter.

"It's one of the toughest, easiest holes in Connecticut," Svab said. "It looks easy because you can throw the ball on the green. If you don't hit the green with your pitch, it's another story."

13th hole, Par 3, 166 yards, Quinnatisset Country Club, Thompson

Short, straight and fairly level, this is the easiest hole on the scorecard ratings. Two small bunkers on the right and one on the left in front of the green offer some challenge.

16th hole - Par 3, 160-yards, Mohegan Sun Golf Club, Baltic

The hole, ranked 18th (easiest) on the scorecard, features three small sandtraps, two in the front of the green and one near the back. The green has a downward undulation near the front.

“If you ask a scratch golfer, over 50 percent will say short par-3s are the easiest on the course," Mentz said. "Our 15 to 18th toughest holes are all par-3s."

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Finding Eastern Connecticut's 'easiest' golf holes