Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland

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Top 100 scoTland 2015 LYLE’S DREAM OPEN Scotland’s two-time Major champion selects his perfect composite course from Sandy Lyle made his debut in the 1974 Open as a 16-year-old amateur and has played in every championship since 1977. Starting in 1979 he began a run of nine top-20 finishes in 12 Opens – a remarkable run that also brought him victory at Sandwich in 1985. During his four decades in The Open he has played the Scottish courses on the rota several times, starting with the legendary Turnberry championship of ’77. Thus, few are as well placed to assess the finest composite course from these venues than the Scotsman. And what a course the two-time Major champion would form. It is one of two halves, with three short holes on the front nine balanced by what would be the Open’s most stringent closing stretch. 1sT old coURsE 376 yards, par 4 The burn makes the hole genius. Totally diferent depending on wind direction (usually either into or down). Add in the drama of the location and its history and this is one of the greatest experiences in golf. And deceptively dangerous! Honourable mentions: prestwick, Muirfield. 2 caRnoUsTIE 435 yards, par 4 Known as ‘Gulley’, a straight drive is required to avoid the bunkers of the tee – especially one almost central – and then a long but narrow green awaits. The green in fact measures 60 yards in length so long putts are common – but so are nasty little chips from the banks to the side. Honourable mentions: M uir fi e ld , Royal Troon, Old Course. 3 pREsTWIcK 533 yards, par 5 ‘Cardinal’ oozes character. The 4th on the original 12-hole course, obstacles include the fearsome eponymous bunker, the pow Burn/out of bounds right and plenty of awkward mounding littering the lay up area. probably as dramatic a hole as there has been in Open Championship golf. It is visually made by the bunkers which you should lay up short of from the tee. A great strategic par 5. Honourable mentions: Turnberry, Royal Troon. 4 old coURsE 480 yards, par 4 Wide fairway ofers loads of space at certain distances and the ideal line is at the flag of the tee, but it then narrows to give partial sight of the shared green. Huge bunker awaits at left of the green. Much longer in The Open than its 419 yards for daily play. Honourable mentions: Musselburgh Old, prestwick. 5 RoYal TRoon 210 yards, par 3 Takes its name of ‘Greenan’ from the old Kennedy Castle ruin south of Ayr, the prevailing wind is right to left so the best route in is often over the front right bunker. Views of Arran and Ailsa Craig are superb. Honourable mentions: Turnberry, Muirfield, prestwick. 6 caRnoUsTIE 512 yards, par 5 ‘Hogan’s Alley’ is a classic riskreward par 5 and great example of how bunkers in the centre of the fairway can add to a hole’s strategic value. Ben Hogan’s famous route between the bunkers and the out of bounds ofers the best line although right of the bunkers is the safer track. normally played into the prevailing wind, the second shot is as hard with the out of bounds continuing down the left and a burn sneaking in along the right. Then it’s a pitch to the undulating green. Honourable mentions: Turnberry, Muirfield. 7 MUIRFIEld 187 yards, par 3 This uphill hole plays into the prevailing wind so often requires a wood to reach the exposed green. A single bunker lurks right with three left. The green slopes back-to-front and right-to-left. Honourable mentions: Royal Troon, prestwick. 8 RoYal TRoon 123 yards, par 3 Shortest hole in Open golf, but often back into the wind. Still, looks easy, but miss the narrow green right or left and it presents a real tackle to be putting for par. The ‘postage Stamp’ has a great view of Ailsa Craig from the tee but there’s no safe way to play it. Honourable mentions: Carnoustie, Turnberry. 9 MUIRFIEld 558 yards, par 5 This also plays into the prevailing wind like the 7th. The breeze and a landing area narrowed by a deep bunker to the left and thick rough to the right, adds length to this relatively short par 5 and often means even the best 26 Golf World TOp 100 SCOTLAnD 2015
COURSE the country’s Open Championship venues. Sandy Lyle won the 1985 Open. players are sweating to find the green in two – not least because of the OB wall down the left. Honourable mentions: Turnberry, Carnoustie. 10 TURnBERRY 457 yards, par 4 Called ‘Dinnae footer’, translated as ‘Don’t mess about’. Two well placed fairway bunkers create a dilemma from the tee, while the Firth of Clyde awaits players who hit it too far left. The island bunker protects the approach, there is fantastic topography while even better views complete Turnberry’s best hole. Honourable mentions: Carnoustie, prestwick. 11 old coURsE 174 yards, par 3 One of the world’s great holes with a steeply-sloping green, vicious bunkers at the front and disaster long. Replicated by many great course architects, ‘High’ is another simple but infinitely enjoyable hole. Only a well struck tee shot will do. Honourable mention: Royal Troon. 12 old coURsE 348 yards, par 4 ‘Heathery’ is another relatively short par 4 but it is deceptive because of a handful of hidden bunkers. The green is driveable but gorse will catch anything ofline. The top level of the twotiered green is just 12 paces deep. Honourable mentions: Royal Troon, Muirfield. 13 pREsTWIcK 458 yards, par 4 ‘Sea Handig’ was the 5th on the 12-hole original. par feels like birdie on this awkward, long two-shotter. An undulating fairway results in uneven stances and the green doesn’t encourage running shots. Willie Campbell’s Grave – a hidden bunker left of the fairway – lurks. Honourable mention:M uir fi e ld . 14 old coURsE 618 yards, par 5 ‘Long’ is even longer in The Open but testing of any tees. Remains a model par 5 with an array of strategy options. The extra length means the ‘Beardies’ Bunkers are in play for all on the left with OB right. Many opt for a three-shot strategy and hit tight to Hell Bunker then to a double green shared with the 4th. Honourable mention: Royal Troon. 15 MUIRFIEld 447 yards, par 4 This large green is known by the members of the Honourable Company as the Camel’s Back, so even if you negotiate this long two-shotter in regulation, the challenge is far from over. Bunkers protect both sides of the left-to-right dog-leg fairway and are also in your eye line for your approach. An exacting SI8! Honourable mentions: Carnoustie, Royal Troon, prestwick. 16 TURnBERRY 455 yards, Par 4 ‘Wee burn’ needs little explanation, and the moat round the front of the green is even more in play after the changes for the 2009 Open. now a slight dog-leg left-to-right the tee shot should be aimed up the right to leave the best approach. The green slopes back-to-front, and anything short or with too much backspin risks running of into the stream. Aim for the middle and hope to two putt! Honourable mention: Carnoustie. 17 old coURsE 455 yards, par 4 A predictable choice but ‘Road hole’ is one of the world’s greatest and most exacting holes. The tee shot over the Hotel ideally hugs the out of bounds wall on the right (for once on the Old) for the best shot into the narrow green hard to the road on the right. The fearsome bunker awaits on the left and Jack nicklaus’ advice to play the second to the front right portion of the green and try to two-putt is predictably sage. You’ll have to perform greenside shots under the watchful eye of a handful of ‘spectators’ in the form of local passers by, or other golf pilgrims or tourists. Honourable mention: Carnoustie. 18 MUIRFIEld 473 yards, par 4 One of several tremendous closing holes on the Open rota in Scotland, this one has two bunkers eating into the fairway on the left side at driving distance and also one lurking on the right. The wind usually blows across this north-South hole and the approach to a long sloping green framed by iconic bunkers – one with its own island – is a serious test. Honourable mentions: Carnoustie, Old Course. TOp 100 SCOTLAnD 2015 Golf World 27
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