or the average golfer, playing on a regulation par-72 course can be challenging and rewarding.

But most golfers have experienced forgettable moments in the woods, cursing under their breath as they hack their way to a score of 10 on a 600-yard, par-5 hole. Times like those can spoil a round and make golfers wonder why they wasted their time and money.

Shorter courses without par 5s, sometimes called ”executive” or ”mid-iron” courses, can help alleviate those problems. Such courses welcome a variety of skill levels and offer a quicker, less expensive round of 18.

Dan Brand, the assistant golf professional for Eagle Crest Resort’s Ridge and Challenge courses in Redmond, says the Challenge course was built with quicker and cheaper in mind.

”It captures a wider variety of players and those who may not want to take a whole day to play golf,” Brand notes. ”Only about 2 to 3 percent of people can realistically break 90 (on a par 72 course). (Shorter courses) give people an opportunity to score the ball and enjoy the day, and not be intimidated by 500-yard holes.”

From the back tees, the longest hole at the par-63 Challenge course is 398 yards. The course includes nine par 3s and nine par 4s and is a total of 4,160 yards. Brand says that, on average, the Challenge takes about three hours to play 18 holes, compared with 4> hours on a par-72 course.

Other courses in Central Oregon offer the same type of experience, including Orion Greens in Bend, The Greens at Redmond, and Missing Link Family Golf Center in Redmond.

The Greens at Redmond (par 58) is 3,554 yards from the back tees and includes 14 par 3s and four par 4s.

Jeff Cunningham, head professional at The Greens, says that executive courses help golfers focus on their short game.

”It gives you everything a big course does, except you don’t hit the tee ball as far,” Cunningham says. ”The game of golf, as far as I’m concerned, is still played from 100 yards in. Everybody needs work on their short game. The difference on the PGA Tour between winning and losing is how many putts you make.”

Brand agrees.

”You hit more shots from 100 yards and in, and that’s 95 percent of the game,” Brand says. ”Everybody likes to boom big drives, but short game is the biggest thing.”

The nine-hole Orion Greens includes five par 3s and four par 4s. The longest hole on the 2,075-yard course is No. 1, at 346 yards. With four holes more than 300 yards, players still have a chance to hit the long ball.

”It’s a good course for families and people just starting out,” says Mary Penner, who works in Orion Greens pro shop. ”It’s small, but real challenging, and reasonably priced.”

Orion Greens embodies the true meaning of an executive course. Just a few miles from downtown Bend, working people can squeeze in nine or 18 holes before or after work.

Some shorter courses prefer not to be labeled as an ”executive” or ”mid-iron” course. The Challenge changed its name from the Mid-Iron last year, because players can use more clubs than what the name suggested.

”The Mid-Iron name gave people a picture that that’s all you hit,” Brand says. ”It didn’t do it justice. You can use a driver, and it becomes more risk and reward. You can hit long irons and a 5-wood.”

But some shorter courses are strictly for short irons and putters. Missing Link Family Golf Center in Redmond is the only par-3 course in Central Oregon. Owner Jim Wilson says that his course has attracted beginners, juniors and seniors, and, to a lesser extent, the avid golfer who wants to work on his or her short game.

”We wanted a course that was designed to bring in beginners,” Wilson says. ”There’s a lot of emotional and psychological pressure on a beginner on a big course. We intended this course to relieve that stress.”

The nine-hole course is 699 yards, with the longest hole 104 yards and the shortest hole 45 yards.

At just $15 for 18 holes and $9 for nine, Missing Link is the least expensive golf in Central Oregon.