Brief Encounters
Classic short holes have a challenge and
beauty of their own. There is the farfetched hope of a hole in one.
One badly placed tee shot later you’re left counting the cost. A
good par 3 can get you into a lot of trouble, yet facing up to the
challenge can be exhilarating. You won’t be surprised to know that
Scotland has many memorable short holes.
The legendary Postage Stamp at Royal Troon got its name after
the great Willie Park described the green as ‘a pitching surface
skimmed down to the size of a postage stamp’. The shortest hole on
the Open rota, Royal Troon’s 8th is also one of the most feared.
German amateur Hermann Tissies racked up 15 shots at the Postage
Stamp in the 1950 Open. The isolation of the heavily guarded green
(bunkers on both sides) makes this stunning golf hole an
intimidating prospect.
Created in 1869, North Berwick’s Redan is one of
the most copied golf holes in the world today. The sloping 15th
green is set diagonally to the tee with bunkers flanking either
side. Redan is a nerve wracking 192 yards.
Another superb Scottish par 3 is the 8th hole on
the Balgownie Links at Royal
Aberdeen. With no less than nine bunkers protecting
the green, the only safe route on this daunting signature hole is
straight down the middle, which, of course, is easier said than
done. Depending on the strength of the wind you could be teeing off
with anything from a 3 iron to a pitching wedge.
Cullen on the Moray Firth is
home to one of Scotland’s most stupendous par 3s. The only clue as
to the whereabouts of the 13th green is the upwards facing arrow on
the Boar Crag, an 80 foot red rock blocking your path. Once the
stark reality of the task has hit home, it’s time to knuckle down
and give it a go. Good luck with that.
Further along the coast, the signature 12th at
Hopeman is a glorious
golfing spectacle, with a dramatic drop of 100 feet from the tee to
the green by the shore. The location cannot be bettered and playing
Prieshach is always an exhilarating experience. Open champion Paul
Lawrie has described Hopeman’s gem as ‘one of the best par 3s I
have ever played’.
Other exceptional par 3s include the 4th at
Cruden Bay where the
North Sea is revealed in breathtaking fashion as you arrive on the
elevated tee, and the 17th at Kirriemuir, called Braid’s Gem,
the lovely green flanked by tall mature trees and guarded by
bunkers (naturally).
Choose your club and experience some of
Scotland’s epic short holes.
