GOLF fanatic Paul nears the end of his fantasy round by choosing his five favourite 16th holes around Scotland. Does anyone have any major issues with his choices, dominated this week by the courses at Dalmahoy?
DALMAHOY (WEST) 116yd Par 3 Braw 'n' Sma So many holes seem to demand that golfer can launch the ball huge distances. I am a sucker for examples like the 16th on Dalmahoy's West course where all that is required is an accurate wee dink with a wedg
e or a 9-iron (OK, maybe an 8-iron). Oh, did I mention the burn hard against the front of the green?
DALMAHOY (EAST) 556yd Par 5 Braid's Brawest There are several across the country which carry the name "Braid's Brawest" and they tend to be cracking golf holes. This one demands two good hits to set up the opportunity of finding the elevated green in three but, once there, a two-putt is not always a formality.
NORTH BERWICK (WEST LINKS) 381yd Par 4 Gate Once you've negotiated the burn, check out the pin position (or "hole location" as the folk on the Golf Channel insist on calling it).
The green is narrow, elevated and bisected by a deep gully. The course guide suggests that you need accuracy or luck!
CARNOUSTIE 245 yd Par 3 Barry Burn Some Recommends readers must be wondering why on earth I have chosen some holes. In cases such as this one, it's simply the challenge! For all my visits to Carnoustie, I've never yet hit this green off the tee – but there's a first time for everything.
BRAEHEAD 270yd Par 4 Burn From Carnoustie's "Barry Burn" to Braehead's "Burn" – how self-indulgent is that? At my home course, on the odd occasion when one "has a score going", the sensible option here is to lay up short of the burn.
Unfortunately, a number of years ago the then secretary was stupid enough to tighten up the landing area with some tree planting. That same stupid ex-secretary has been regretting it ever since. (Yes, guilty as charged!)
The full article contains 352 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
