Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland
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COURSE<br />
the country’s Open Championship venues.<br />
Sandy Lyle won<br />
the 1985 Open.<br />
players are sweat<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d the<br />
green <strong>in</strong> two – not least because<br />
of the OB wall down the left.<br />
Honourable mentions:<br />
Turnberry, Carnoustie.<br />
10 TURnBERRY<br />
457 yards, par 4<br />
Called ‘D<strong>in</strong>nae footer’, translated<br />
as ‘Don’t mess about’. Two well<br />
placed fairway bunkers create a<br />
dilemma from the tee, while the<br />
Firth of Clyde awaits players<br />
who hit it too far left. The island<br />
bunker protects the approach,<br />
there is fantastic topography<br />
while even better views<br />
complete Turnberry’s best hole.<br />
Honourable mentions:<br />
Carnoustie, prestwick.<br />
11 old coURsE<br />
174 yards, par 3<br />
One of the world’s great holes<br />
with a steeply-slop<strong>in</strong>g green,<br />
vicious bunkers at the front and<br />
disaster long. Replicated by<br />
many great course architects,<br />
‘High’ is another simple but<br />
<strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>itely enjoyable hole. Only<br />
a well struck tee shot will do.<br />
Honourable mention:<br />
Royal Troon.<br />
12 old coURsE<br />
348 yards, par 4<br />
‘Heathery’ is another relatively<br />
short par 4 but it is deceptive<br />
because of a handful of hidden<br />
bunkers. The green is driveable<br />
but gorse will catch anyth<strong>in</strong>g ofl<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
The top level of the twotiered<br />
green is just 12 paces deep.<br />
Honourable mentions: Royal<br />
Troon, Muirfield.<br />
13 pREsTWIcK<br />
458 yards, par 4<br />
‘Sea Handig’ was the 5th on the<br />
12-hole orig<strong>in</strong>al. par feels like<br />
birdie on this awkward, long<br />
two-shotter. An undulat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
fairway results <strong>in</strong> uneven stances<br />
and the green doesn’t<br />
encourage runn<strong>in</strong>g shots. Willie<br />
Campbell’s Grave – a hidden<br />
bunker left of the fairway – lurks.<br />
Honourable mention:M uir fi e ld .<br />
14 old coURsE<br />
618 yards, par 5<br />
‘Long’ is even longer <strong>in</strong> The<br />
Open but test<strong>in</strong>g of any tees.<br />
Rema<strong>in</strong>s a model par 5 with an<br />
array of strategy options. The<br />
extra length means the<br />
‘Beardies’ Bunkers are <strong>in</strong> play for<br />
all on the left with OB right.<br />
Many opt for a three-shot<br />
strategy and hit tight to Hell<br />
Bunker then to a double green<br />
shared with the 4th.<br />
Honourable mention:<br />
Royal Troon.<br />
15 MUIRFIEld<br />
447 yards, par 4<br />
This large green is known by the<br />
members of the Honourable<br />
Company as the Camel’s Back,<br />
so even if you negotiate this long<br />
two-shotter <strong>in</strong> regulation, the<br />
challenge is far from over.<br />
Bunkers protect both sides of<br />
the left-to-right dog-leg fairway<br />
and are also <strong>in</strong> your eye l<strong>in</strong>e for<br />
your approach. An exact<strong>in</strong>g SI8!<br />
Honourable mentions:<br />
Carnoustie, Royal Troon,<br />
prestwick.<br />
16 TURnBERRY<br />
455 yards, Par 4<br />
‘Wee burn’ needs little<br />
explanation, and the moat round<br />
the front of the green is even<br />
more <strong>in</strong> play after the changes<br />
for the 2009 Open. now a slight<br />
dog-leg left-to-right the tee shot<br />
should be aimed up the right to<br />
leave the best approach. The<br />
green slopes back-to-front, and<br />
anyth<strong>in</strong>g short or with too much<br />
backsp<strong>in</strong> risks runn<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>in</strong>to<br />
the stream. Aim for the middle<br />
and hope to two putt!<br />
Honourable mention:<br />
Carnoustie.<br />
17 old coURsE<br />
455 yards, par 4<br />
A predictable choice but ‘Road<br />
hole’ is one of the world’s<br />
greatest and most exact<strong>in</strong>g<br />
holes. The tee shot over the<br />
Hotel ideally hugs the out of<br />
bounds wall on the right (for<br />
once on the Old) for the best<br />
shot <strong>in</strong>to the narrow green hard<br />
to the road on the right. The<br />
fearsome bunker awaits on the<br />
left and Jack nicklaus’ advice to<br />
play the second to the front right<br />
portion of the green and try to<br />
two-putt is predictably sage.<br />
You’ll have to perform greenside<br />
shots under the watchful eye of<br />
a handful of ‘spectators’ <strong>in</strong> the<br />
form of local passers by, or other<br />
golf pilgrims or tourists.<br />
Honourable mention:<br />
Carnoustie.<br />
18 MUIRFIEld<br />
473 yards, par 4<br />
One of several tremendous<br />
clos<strong>in</strong>g holes on the Open rota<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>, this one has two<br />
bunkers eat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the fairway<br />
on the left side at driv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
distance and also one lurk<strong>in</strong>g on<br />
the right. The w<strong>in</strong>d usually blows<br />
across this north-South hole and<br />
the approach to a long slop<strong>in</strong>g<br />
green framed by iconic bunkers<br />
– one with its own island – is a<br />
serious test.<br />
Honourable mentions:<br />
Carnoustie, Old Course.<br />
TOp <strong>100</strong> SCOTLAnD 2015 <strong>Golf</strong> World 27