NCG Top 100s: Scotland – What is the best opening hole?

Our panel have played the best Scottish courses ahead of compiling the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list – but which opening hole blew them away?

The opening hole is significant at any course and paramount to enjoyment. It sets the precedent for the round to come and introduces the nuances of each course.

Most courses tend to ease the golfer into the round with a shortish four or a welcoming par five to kick things off, before the conditions ramp up. Nothing is more satisfying than dispatching that first tee shot straight down the middle of the fairway to get the round underway.

But what do our panellists think? Did their score on that given hole alter their opinion or perception. A number of well-known venues received numerous nominations, but which opening hole in Scotland do our panellists believe is the best?

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What is the best opening hole in Scotland, according to our panel?

David Fox: Gullane No.1. A superb short par 4 climbing between dunes, guarded by bunkers left, right, and around the green. Endless options off the tee and a true test of strategy.

Peter Rudd: Hole 1, Gleneagles Kings Course – not the most difficult starting hole, but one of the best to look at.

Hugh Masson: The 1st at Royal Dornoch Championship.

Andi White: Elie. Blind tee shot, so the periscope is used to advise the next golfers when the coast is clear.

Greg Webber: Gleneagles Queens. A beautifully framed hole that sets you up nicely for what is to come.

Michael Atkinson: I love the first at Glen Golf Club, East Links, North Berwick. The approach shot is to a dramatically elevated green, way above you. A quirky start.

Chris Griffiths: The first at Dunbar. So many bunkers, and I found it absolutely stunning.

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But some of our panellists reverted back to other classic opening holes in Scotland, that perhaps offer up a different question to the golfer teeing off.

Michael Verity: 1st The Old Course. Nothing comes close to the feeling and experience that hole evokes. Sneaky good hole for mortals also!

Lewis Marr: The Old Course.

David Walker: Prestwick – 345 yards with a wide fairway and a generous green seems easy, but the railway on the right often causes fear.

Charles Abraham: The 1st at Prestwick – a classic golf hole.

Oliver Baker: Prestwick

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One venue in the northeast received plaudits from multiple members of our panel…

Ed Battye: Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie Links) – perfectly falls away from the tee, tight to the clubhouse, played to a brilliant green complex and glorious backdrop.

David Elliott: 1st @ Royal Aberdeen probably takes some beating. A great hole in its own right, but with all the added drama of teeing off outside of the clubhouse window.

Paul Watson: Hole 1 Royal Aberdeen. A little downhill, it appears innocuous. But far from it! A deep hollow in front of a sloping green.

Ian Woods: Royal Aberdeen. Teeing it up right in front of the clubhouse and then hitting towards the sea says, “right, let’s get down to business”.

RELATED: What is the best par 3 in Scotland? – COMING SOON
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Not often are so many of our panellists in agreement on the same subject, but in this instance, there was an clear favourite when it comes to kicking off a round of golf in Scotland…

Chris Myatt: Machrihanish is famed for its opening tee shot, which is the ultimate risk-reward. Take on as much of the beach as you dare.

Stu Bennett: Machrihanish, nothing better than this opening tee shot.

Dove Jones: Cliche, but it is Machrihanish.

Jim Marshall: #1 at Machrihanish. Maybe overrated for some, but it had my knees knocking when lining up to “try” and play over the beach.

Phil Bedford: Machrihanish

Jim Banting: 1st Machrihanish – how brave are you feeling?

Craig Morrison: A superannuated opinion for most, but a new one for me after decades of design pomposity and denial: the first at Machrihanish. 

Craig Redston: Machrihanish

Steve Watton: Machrihansih

Neil White: It would have to be Machrihanish Golf Club. How much do you dare cut over the beach?

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Now have your say

Would you agree with our panellists? What do you think is the best opening hole in Scotland? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!