Our panel have played the best Scotland courses ahead of compiling the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list – but which hole gave our panellists a fright?
Every course has that one hole that is known to be the toughest hole on the layout, and it could become the best hole of the day if you come away with a par, or even birdie! But what makes a hole hard?
There are a number of factors, including whether there is water in play, an abundance of bunkers, trees or heater lining the fairways. And of course, if it is the finishing hole with the clubhouse behind the green, that just adds to the difficulty as well, doesn’t it?
Depending on conditions, some holes may play tough one day with the wind into, but then easy the next, if the breeze switches. But length also does not necessarily extrapolate to toughness. There is a noticeable strategic element to links golf in particular, where bunkers and sight lines can in themselves make a hole treacherous and challenging to earn a par.
What do our panellists think? A number of holes would be in your minds, and we are sure that they have been noticed by our panellists. Would you agree with what our panel has to say?
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What is the hardest hole in Scotland, according to our panel?
David Fox: The 17th at Western Gailes is a brutal par 4. Narrow fairway against the wind, burn guarding the green, and bunkers cheering at any errant approach.
Jim Marshall: 6th @ Loch Lomond. A monster with thick rough on the left, the Loch on the right and a bunker to catch you up the middle.
Craig Redston: 2nd at Kilspindie into a 40mph wind par 5 played like a par 10.
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Oliver Baker: 18th Trump Aberdeen into a headwind.
Peter Rudd: Hole 11, Troon – a truly difficult hole, especially if played from the back tee. Very narrow with trouble lurking all the way to the green.
Hugh Masson: Duff House Royal 16th. A 237-yard par 3 with water all down the right, three greenside bunkers and trees blocking the left bailout. Absolutely impossible!
Charles Abraham: The par 3 5th at Anstruther – and it’s not even close.
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Paul Watson: Hole 17, The Road Hole, The Old Course. Very hard tee shot followed by a long second to a narrow green at a difficult angle with a nightmarish bunker.
David Elliott: 4th at Royal Aberdeen. Long, narrow, uphill, penal and into the mizzle when I played it.
Ian Woods: 6th Cruden Bay. Long hole, sneaky burn, tricky green, tiny green.
Michael Atkinson: The par 5 18th hole of the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, which requires consistent and precise ball striking to the very end, with severe bunkering around the final green.
Lewis Marr: Par 5, 3rd at Dundonald.
Chris Griffiths: 11th at Dunbar. Long and visibly intimidating.
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A pair of venues – one new and one old – also received multiple plaudits for having tough holes…
Ed Battye: Most of them at Ardfin.
Neil White: The 15th at Ardfin – I smashed what I thought was a corking drive, but didn’t make the 200-yard carry and lost my ball.
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Andi White: Ardfin hole 13 over the derelict barn.
Chris Myatt: Royal Dornoch 14th. With the wind strength on that day, it was unreachable, and the green was defended by elevation and rough.
Craig Morrison: Foxy, again.
Greg Webber: 18th at Royal Dornoch (Championship) – a long par 4 with a challenging approach shot.
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The closing stretch of holes at Carnoustie, were a firm favourite. It was known as ‘Car-Nasty’ when Paul Lawrie won the Open back in 1999, and it is still just as tough today…
Phil Bedford: Depending on wind direction, 16 or 17 at Carnoustie.
Dove Jones: 17th Carnoustie – doesn’t set up well for girls, no matter the wind.
Jim Banting: 18th at Carnoustie – OB, water, rough and a seemingly tiny cut area.
Michael Verity: 17 at Carnoustie into the wind!
Steve Watton: Carnoustie 18th.
David Walker: 18th Carnoustie 470 yards of terror, just ask Jean Van De Velde.
Stu Bennett: 18th at Carnoustie, it asks so many questions of you with both the tee shot and approach.
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Now have your say
Would you agree with our panellists? What do you think is the hardest hole in Scotland? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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