Our panel have played the best English courses ahead of compiling the NCG Top 100s: England list – but which opening hole blew them away?
When you stand on the 1st tee, what do you want to see? Do you want to see heather, the open water above the dunes, or a wide fairway for you to smash your first tee shot down?
The opening hole sets up the rest of the round. Whether you make birdie or bogey (or even double), you will always remember a great opening hole!
But what do our panellists think? A number of venues received several nominations, but which opening hole in England do our panellists believe is the best?
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What is the best opening hole in England according to our panel?
Neil White: Bamburgh Castle – 180-yard Par 3 – North Sea hard on your right-hand side
Mike Robertson: I quite like the 1st at Alwoodley. It’s straightforward-ish and the tee is RIGHT in front of the clubhouse.
Craig Morrison: The first on the Red at The Berkshire. A big ask. Something to think about as your tee time approaches.
Neil White: Berkshire Blue – arguably the most difficult par three in England
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Joss Powick: Parkstone. Incredible short risk / reward par 4. New tees are perfectly framed with heather.
Chris Griffiths: St George’s Hill. Insane on so many levels
Steve Carroll: Royal Birkdale – none of this gentle start lark. Into the wind, and out of bounds is an ever present threat down the right. Miss the drive, you won’t even see the green. Bogey is brilliant.
Greg Webber: 1st at Royal Liverpool – the OOB most of the way up the right of the hole, makes it daunting, especially in left to right wind
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Andi White: Royal North Devon – par 4 for women, has a lot of carry over burns and ditches. There is also a diagonal ditch to get over so a tricky first hole.
Steve Watton: Saunton East 1st. Played from a tee high in the dunes offering a tantalising view of both the hole and the perfect linksland over which both of Saunton’s courses are laid out.
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Three opening holes received twice the adulation – with Wentworth’s West Course, Burnham & Berrow, and Southport & Ainsdale all nominated more than once…
Craig Redston: Wentworth West after watching it so many times with my dad
Dan Gould: Wentworth West 1st. Iconic hole. Huge pressure on the tee shot with what feels like the world watching, followed by a challenging approach.
Ed Battye: 1st at Burnham & Berrow. In at the deep end.
Dan Murphy: I love the 1st at Burnham & Berrow. It’s the way you enter the arena of dunes on your way down the fairway. The excitement for what is to come is off the charts.
David Walker: Southport & Ainsdale – a beautiful par 3 framed within dunes
Pat O’Connor: Southport & Ainsdale – 215-yard par 3, usually with a vicious left-to-right wind
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RELATED: What is the best par 5 in England?
But there was one hole that ran away with this one… A long par 5 to start, what better way to get your round underway at St Enodoc!
Neil Gray: The opening par 5 hole at St Enodoc is a proper testing way to start a round
David Elliott: St Enodoc. Quintessential British links hole.
Michael Verity: St Enodoc. Rollercoaster land with a stunning sea-reveal 200 yards out. Generous enough to get everyone away from the tee but with a challenging lay-up shot and a wicked, upturned green. Class opener!
Chris Myatt: St Enodoc – A contender for the best par 5 in England. A long straight crumpled fairway that plays between two dunes to a green hidden from view.
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Now have your say
Would you agree with our panellists? What do you think is the best opening hole in England? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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