Top 100 Golf Courses in Scotland

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