We could tell you all about the third at Salish Cliffs — how, played into the wind from its 211-yard Players tees, we often pull the same club we use on the tee of the 250-yard, par-4 second hole just below it, which plays the opposite direction. Instead, we’ll let one of our favorite local pros, Lakewood’s Andres Gonzales, speak for himself: “My favorite par-3 for a public track is the third at Salish Cliffs. It’s a downhill par-3 that makes the hole play shorter than it really is. There is a catch — from the championship tees, it is 291 yards. There is nothing too tricky about the hole except the fescue lining both sides. There’s a bunker protecting the left side of the green as well, preventing wayward balls from bouncing hard left into oblivion. The hole can be played as short as 180, but length is the main challenge golfers face in this exceptional par-3.” Exceptional is the right word — both for its length, its beauty, and its sheer enjoyment.