THERE is a certain stigma attached to playing Par Three golf, it seems. Sometimes, "serious" golfers express scorn at the idea of pitting their talents against such courses. The question has to be asked - why? Aren't some of the world's great golf holes mere par threes? The 12th at Augusta; the 15th at Portmarnock, the eighth at Royal Troon.

Indeed, at venues such as Augusta National and Valderrama, respectively the prides of the US and European Tours, they have no hesitation at all in taking a mini-bag, minus the titanium and metal clubs, and setting off to conquer the immaculately maintained Par Three courses which are adjacent to the master lay-outs.

So, mortals such as club amateurs shouldn't feel any shame at all in traipsing off, occasionally, to sample the growing number of Par Three courses which have appeared to augment the full-sized courses in Ireland in recent years. Many see the shorter courses as providing a valuable service, enticing new players into the sport before they move onto join clubs or devote themselves to the longer game. In many cases, they are acting as nurseries to clubs.

The quality of Par Three courses in Ireland, like that of full-sized courses, varies. Rathaspeck Manor, in Wexford, is generally accepted as the role model and inspiration for many of the finer short courses, while a recently formed body, which has an early working title of the "Irish Par Three Association," insists that member courses must have a minimum length of 2,750 yards for 18 holes and, also, be properly maintained. "There is a boom in golf," admits Mark Wilkinson, owner of the Tyrrelstown golf complex near Mulhuddart, in north-west Dublin, which includes a 2,900 yards Par Three course. "But it is not just the Tiger Woods factor. We are seeing More older people, not just young kids, taking up the sport and others are being brought in by the corporate market, getting invitations to play golf through their jobs and occupations."

The Par Three sector is attempting to facilitate this boom, often with a golfing academy operating alongside. Johnny Young, the professional at Tyrrelstown Driving Range, actively encourages people to play the short course. "Newcomers, especially, are intimidated by the prospect of going to a course without a stepping stone. It is a decided advantage to experience some Par Three play before venturing out to the longer courses. For club players, or myself even, the Par Three helps to sharpen up iron play because you are playing to greens which are only half the size of those on normal courses."

In fact, part of Young's junior clinics involves a round of golf on the Par Three after the instructional part of the lesson so they can put what they have learned into action and also improve course management.

All over the country, from Rosshill in Galway to Newtownmountkennedy in Wicklow, the perceived stigma is fading(helped by the quality of courses, with a high emphasis on maintenance) and there is an increasing trend to play Par Three.

Ned Stokes not only established the Par Three course at the Castle Oaks House Hotel in Castleconnel, Co Limerick - he designed it, too! A single-handicap player for over 30 years, Stokes, a member of the European Golf Teachers' Federation, assesses the course as "a test for the best players."

His design even includes a double green. "I thought if St Andrews could have them, why not us," quips Stokes, adding "it's just a bit of fun and adds to the character." Originally, he expected most of his clients to be beginners, but Stokes has been pleasantly surprised by the number of more experienced players using the facility on the banks of the River Shannon.

Castle Oaks was a pitch and putt course initially, before being upgraded to a Par Three with a longest hole measuring 170 yards. Elsewhere, there is a trend for farmers to switch over. Paddy Jones, for instance, transformed 25 acres of his land in Balheary, near Swords, into a Par Three pay-to-play course.

Designed with the aid of Pat Suttle of Teagasc, Balheary is attracting a "broad mix of players, young and old," according to Jones. "In the main, a lot of learners are inclined to play, many of them moving up from pitch and putt."

Wilkinson, too, is a farmer who moved into the golf industry. He is chairman of the recently established Par Three association and would like to see the highest possible standards - particularly with regards to course maintenance - accepted by all members.

Tyrrelstown's Par Three course opened for play in the summer of 1992 and the greens were constructed with a sand-peat mixture which allows play right through the year. Indeed, I would suggest that many more established golf clubs would be only too pleased to have greens of such quality.

An indication that Par Threecourses can be testing, in their own way, is that Pro-Am events, for charity, have been held at Tyrrelstown and no one can yet claim to have destroyed the course!

However, apart from seeking high standards from its members, the Par Three body would also like to stem the "leakage" from Par Three. "I estimate we see at least six new people to golf walking in here through that door every day, but most of them, when they reach a certain standard, move on to join a golf club. We've all identified that leakage, and we'd like to offer an incentive to people to actually stay and play Par Three. To do that, we must offer a well maintained, good course and also create a pleasant atmosphere. For instance, we don't have any dress code here. There is no element of stuffiness," says Wilkinson.

Par Three golf is very much here to stay, it seems.