Top 50 Par 5's in Britain

[Niall C]

Like most on here I'm a sucker for lists so when I saw a UK mag with a top 50 UK par 5's list I couldn't resist buying the mag. Those that don't have the mag could I'm sure you look up the list on the internet but that would spoil the fun in having a go at guessing what hole topped the list.


Any takers ?


As an aside, Tom D once said something to the effect that Scotland didn't have much by way of great par 5's which is a comment I tend to agree with but on this list there are 5 in the top 10.


Supplementary question: I'm a huge fan of the 13th at Silloth, as are quite a few on here. Guess where it is on the list ?


Niall

[Chris Macios]

I’d guess 14 Old Course or 6 Carnoustie?

[Michael Felton]

14 at RSG is a great par 5 IMO.

[Michael Whitaker]

#2 at Royal Dornoch. 

[Mark Pearce]

5, 9 and 17 at Muirfield, 14 TOC, 13 Silloth, 6 Goswick

[Jeff Schley]

#3 at Royal Cinque Ports - short yes, however love the approach and punch bowl green. Although not widely appreciated perhaps I also enjoyed the 4th at the Sacred Nine which is a short par 5 where you can blast as it shares a fairway much like some TOC holes.

[Mark Pearce]

#3 at Royal Cinque Ports - short yes, however love the approach and punch bowl green. Although not widely appreciated perhaps I also enjoyed the 4th at the Sacred Nine which is a short par 5 where you can blast as it shares a fairway much like some TOC holes.

16 at RCP (is it a par 5 at the moment?) would also be a good shout.

[Jeff Schley]

#3 at Royal Cinque Ports - short yes, however love the approach and punch bowl green. Although not widely appreciated perhaps I also enjoyed the 4th at the Sacred Nine which is a short par 5 where you can blast as it shares a fairway much like some TOC holes.

16 at RCP (is it a par 5 at the moment?) would also be a good shout.

Yes it did change with the new fairway, always into the wind and a bear.

[Thomas Dai]

1st at Royal Jersey.
Atb

[Keith Phillips]

13 at Loch Lomond.

[James Reader]

6 at Sunningdale New and 8 at Brancaster.  Probably neither will be that high, but they’re both wonderful holes.

[Sean_A]

6 at Sunningdale New and 8 at Brancaster.  Probably neither will be that high, but they’re both wonderful holes.

+1. I would also add 8 Alwoodley.

Ciao

[Tom_Doak]

6 at Sunningdale New and 8 at Brancaster.  Probably neither will be that high, but they’re both wonderful holes.

Yes indeed.  Both diagramed in the Confidential Guide!

[Niall C]

5, 9 and 17 at Muirfield, 14 TOC, 13 Silloth, 6 Goswick

Mark


Some very good suggestions including possibly the best par 5 on the planet (IMHO opinion of course) however NONE of those holes make the list !


Apparently the 17th at Muirfield nearly made it in but not quite good enough.


Niall

[Tom_Doak]

As an aside, Tom D once said something to the effect that Scotland didn't have much by way of great par 5's which is a comment I tend to agree with but on this list there are 5 in the top 10.

I was just going to second a lot of Mark's recommendations, but then I read your reply and had to delete that response!


If 14 at The Old Course and 17 at Murifield and 6 at Carnoustie are not in the list, then I've got to question the source.

[Niall C]

6 at Sunningdale New and 8 at Brancaster.  Probably neither will be that high, but they’re both wonderful holes.

Yes indeed.  Both diagramed in the Confidential Guide!

These holes come in at 8th and 26th respectively.


Niall

[Niall C]

Tom


As per my previous response to Mark, none of the Muirfield holes make the list although the 17th is top of the "nearly" list.


You will be relieved to know however that both the 14th TOC and the 6th Carnoustie make the top ten. As to how and who compiled the list, it doesn't say but Pat Ruddy, Tom MacKenzie, Gary Johnston and David McLay-Kidd give their views on what makes a great par 5 and also give their own personal top 5.


I think what makes this list interesting is that as far as I know no-one has done one before for par 5's so you don't just get the usual herd mentality. Secondly, in my view, a par 5 that is really good for different level of players isn't that common so it's interesting to read someone else's take on what makes a really good par 5. And judging by some of the choices I'm not sure I entirely agree with them !


Niall

[Niall C]

in reverse order;


50 – 17^th Goswick Links, Northumberland
49 – 17^th Forest of Arden, Warwickshire
48 – 18^th Collingtree Park, Northants
47 – 9^th The Grove, Herts
46 – 7^th Liphook, Hants
45 – 15^th Foxhills (Longcross), Surrey
44 – 13^th The London Club (International), Kent
43 – 3^rd The Belfry (Brabazon), Warks
42 – 17^th The Berkshire (Red)
41 – 4^th Wallasey, Merseyside

[Niall C]

40 – 3^rd Prestwick, Ayrshire
39 – 16^th Royal Cinque Ports, Kent
38 – 16^th Gleneagles (PGA Centenary), Perthshire
37 – 17^th The Oxfordshire
36 – 18^th K Club, Co. Kildare
35 – 14^th The Roxburghe, Borders
34 – 5^th Spey Valley, Highland
33 – 13^th Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire
32 – 12^th St Mellion, Cornwall
31 – 1^st Doonbeg, Co. Clare

[Jeff Johnston]

Given media exposure and general ratings love for Birkdale, I’m guessing their 17th makes top 10

[Niall C]

Given media exposure and general ratings love for Birkdale, I’m guessing their 17th makes top 10

Jeff


In at no.16. I'll post 30 down to 11 and let folks try and work out what is in the top 10.


Niall

[Niall C]

30 – 16^th Walton Heath (Old), Surrey
29 – 1^st Sunningdale (Old), Berkshire
28 – 14^th Connemara, Co. Galway
27 – 9^th Royal Dornoch, Sutherland
26 – 8^th Royal West Norfolk
25 – 11^th Hillside, Lancashire
24 – 12^th Machrihanish, Argyll
23 – 4^th Trevose, Cornwall
22 – 14^th Royal St George’s, Kent
21 – 14^th Ballyliffin (Old), Co. Donegal

[Ian Galbraith]

17th at Goswick is not even the 2nd best par 5 on the course !

[Niall C]

20 – 4^th Lahinch, Co. Clare
19 – 8^th Formby, Lancashire
18 – 18^th Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin), Lincs
17 – 3^rd Gullane (No.1), East Lothian
16 – 17^th Royal Birkdale, Lancashire
15 – 15^th The Island, Co. Dublin
14 – 18^th Gleneagles (King’s), Perthshire
13 – 7^th Royal Portrush, Co. Antrim
12 – 16^th Ballybunion (Old), Co. Kerry
11 – 16^th St Enodoc, Cornwall

[Niall C]

I should add no one has guessed the no. 1.


Niall