Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Sean Dudley
/ Categories: Feature

Which are the best golf holes in Scotland?

Home to some of the most revered and beautiful golf courses in the world, Scotland isn’t lacking an iconic hole or two.

But identifying which are the best holes in the country could be a tricky task given the range of possibilities.

However, that is what VisitScotland set out to do as part of a recent survey. Gathering information from 3,000 golfers, the survey asked participants to vote for the best opening and closing holes, and a best par three, par four and par five holes.

Golfers were also asked to vote for the best view from a hole, and the best overall hole in Scotland from a selected shortlist.

‘Tom Morris’ – the famous finishing hole on the Old Course at St Andrews and home to the ‘Valley of Sin’ and Swilken Bridge – was voted the best hole and best closing hole.

The Old Course is also home to the best par four in Scotland according to the survey, with the seventeenth ‘Road’ hole receiving 36 per cent of the vote in this category.

‘The Postage Stamp’ eighth hole at Royal Troon was voted the country’s best par three hole, while ‘Orrdeal’, the twelfth hole at Kingsbarns Golf Club, was voted Scotland’s best par five hole.

Machrihanish Golf Club was voted as having the best opening hole in Scotland.

The ninth hole on Cruden Bay Golf Club’s Championship Course was voted as having the best view from a golf hole in the country.

“We’re thrilled that the golfing public have taken the time to put their support behind their favourite courses in Scotland, from local favourites to the home of golf itself, St Andrews,” said Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland. “Every club plays it part in making Scotland the essential golfing destination, so we’re proud to honour such a diverse range of our spectacular courses.”

We expect that many readers will have their own views on Scotland’s best golf holes. Please do leave your opinions and thoughts in the comment box below!

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    The iconic Tom Morris 18th at St Andrews’ Old Course

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