The 9th on the Heritage nine at Heritage Point (just South of Calgary)  This hole is a dead ringer for the 12th at Augusta, short (approx 150 yrds) water in front, green slopes back to front, bunkers, and jail (shrubs) in the back and sides.  If you are in the back bunker, you will find religion.

Second choice is any par three with a typical right to left wind, and a pin placed on the right side.  Man I hate the way that looks.

Ohh man, too many to choose from.  I think Ill have to list my top 5 in no particular order.

1. #8 St Georges

2. #7 Cedar Brae

3. #13 Cherry Downs

4. #4 Scarboro GCC

5. #12 Angus Glen South (when the wind is into you from back deck)

One that I will always remember is the 9th hole at Chateau Montebello Golf Club. Not sure if it is catagorized as the toughest or strangest par 3 I've played.

It is about 190-200 yards straight uphill where the green resides on a cliff. If you go for the pin, if located anywhere on the left of the green, the most likely result is a shot out of bounds. On top of that, the green slopes severly from right to left towards the cliff. Very challenging.

Toughest par 3 I can think of is at Scarborough, I think it might be the 4th or 5th... 200 yards + straight down hill water right tree's left, and a huge green front to back.  

Second would be the 19th at Scarborough, short 120 yard par 3 but you have to land it on the club house to make it stay on the green it slopes so much back to front.

Third would be any par 3 when I playing with Matt Sim, he usually whines the hole time on the team about how he's can't ever hit it inside of my tee shot.

Brad 

I think Stanley Thompson made some of the best par 3's.  He always designed the "short holes" first when drawing up a course plan.

 

3 holes come to mind:

- #3 at Highland Links. It is only about 150 yards  but it has an elevated tee shot over the Atlantic to a well bunkered green.  From the tee box the green looks tiny although in reality it is quite generous. Swirling winds off the ocean have you guessing about club selection and direction on most days. A good knock down shot is usually called for here.

 

- #2 at Digby Pines. Similar to #3 at Highlands, longer and less vertical drop but the water is in play front and left with a severely sloped green. Its a killer when the ping is at the front. Its usually windy there as well.

 

- #4 at Banff Springs.  Dubbed the "Devil's Cauldron". This hole is framed with the Canadian Rockies in the background and it is very well bunkered, this is one intimidating iron shot.  It plays 200 yards from the back tee and has water most of the way to the green. The real challenge here is that the hole is so beautiful that you feel anything other than a perfectly struck golf shot would be an insult to the designer.

 

Hardest par 3 I've ever had to play was into the wind and rain #10 at The National, not usually a hard hole but when the wind is in your face so hard that it's a knockdown 3 wood off the tee it's not easy. #5 at The National is also a very hard par 3, have to be very accurate with the tee shot and once on the green you need to be very careful with your putt. A par there is a great score....just like every other hole on that course. Hardest par 3 that I've played in the world might have to be #16 at carnoustie, 250+ into the wind it was a ripped 3 wood and still came up short. Other notable mentions would have to be #5 and #17 at Pebble Beach. Very very small greens from the US Open tees. You can't even see the greens from the tee as they are very narrow at some points. Also the distraction from the view doesn't help either.