Top 50 Par 5's in Britain

[Jeff Johnston]

Good to see The Island 15th in there.


Another shy Niall - Waterville 11th

[James Reader]

16 at Hoylake, 10 Turnberry, 12 Kingsbarns?

[James Reader]

16 at Hoylake, 10 Turnberry, 12 Kingsbarns?

And 2 at Royal Aberdeen?

[Mark Pearce]

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

This is so true.  It is, by a very substantial distance, the third best of three.

[Thomas Dai]

Many of the holes mentioned herein are on links courses, which is fine.
However, a hole that is wonderful challenging, even brutal when played into the prevailing wind can be relatively tame when played downwind.
Just saying.
Atb

[Tony_Muldoon]

Are they being a bit perverse and going with The Road Hole as No 1?




I'd also thrown in the 13th at Seacroft as a great hole. 
A player of my ability has no business going for it in 2, but the green just winks at you....

[Jeff Schley]

Many of the holes mentioned herein are on links courses, which is fine.
However, a hole that is wonderful challenging, even brutal when played into the prevailing wind can be relatively tame when played downwind.
Just saying.
Atb

Thomas can't you say that about just about any par 3/4/5 though?

[Robin_Hiseman]

Gairloch #8. Outstanding par 5.

[Michael Whitaker]

Are Lahinch and Ballybunion now in the UK???


So, this is obviously a GB&I list?

[Michael Whitaker]

With #16 at St Enodoc so highly rated I suspect visuals are an important factor in these rankings... therefore, I’ll bet Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart are represented.

[Thomas Dai]

Many of the holes mentioned herein are on links courses, which is fine.
However, a hole that is wonderful challenging, even brutal when played into the prevailing wind can be relatively tame when played downwind.
Just saying.
Atb

Thomas can't you say that about just about any par 3/4/5 though?

Yes Jeff. Some more than others though. Sift out those most effected and the best should remain?
Atb

[Mark Pearce]

A par 5.5 into the wind may be a 4.5 downwind.  The best of these (the Muirfield ones, Silloth and Goswick 6 certainly) are challenging and entertaining to play into the wind, downwind and in still conditions.  Just in different ways.  In fact, I wonder if it isn't easier for a par 5 to achieve this than a shorter hole?

[Niall C]

Many of the holes mentioned herein are on links courses, which is fine.
However, a hole that is wonderful challenging, even brutal when played into the prevailing wind can be relatively tame when played downwind.
Just saying.
Atb

Thomas can't you say that about just about any par 3/4/5 though?

Yes Jeff. Some more than others though. Sift out those most effected and the best should remain?
Atb

David


Yes, they may be but that is where the design shines if they can be fun, challenging and interesting no matter whether they play "easy" or "hard" depending on the wind. Greatness, if you want to call it that, isn't a measure of difficulty in scoring relative to par.


To my mind, that's why the 13th at Silloth is so good.


Niall

[Niall C]

Are Lahinch and Ballybunion now in the UK???


So, this is obviously a GB&I list?

Correct, my mistake, although in mitigation they mention Top 50 in Britain on the cover and then make clear it is GB&I in the article.


Niall

[Niall C]

16 at Hoylake, 10 Turnberry, 12 Kingsbarns?

And 2 at Royal Aberdeen?

James


You got 2 of the top ten. Not saying which but just think advertising revenue and it might give you a clue 


Niall

[Niall C]

Good to see The Island 15th in there.


Another shy Niall - Waterville 11th

sorry Jeff, didn't make it.


Niall

[Niall C]

OK, here's the final ten minus the no. 1 which no one has guessed. I'll give you a clue, it's in Ireland.


10 – 18^th Celtic Manor (Twenty Ten), Newport
9 – 6^th Carnoustie, Angus
8 – 6^th Sunningdale (New), Berks
7 – 7^th Woburn (Marquess), Beds
6 – 18^th Balmedie (aka Trump International), Aberdeenshire
5 – 18^th Royal County Down
4 – 14^th St Andrews (Old), Fife
3 – 12^th Kingsbarns, Fife
2 – 10^th Turnberry (Ailsa), Ayrshire

[Ally Mcintosh]

OK, here's the final ten minus the no. 1 which no one has guessed. I'll give you a clue, it's in Ireland.


10 – 18^th Celtic Manor (Twenty Ten), Newport
9 – 6^th Carnoustie, Angus
8 – 6^th Sunningdale (New), Berks
7 – 7^th Woburn (Marquess), Beds
6 – 18^th Balmedie (aka Trump International), Aberdeenshire
5 – 18^th Royal County Down
4 – 14^th St Andrews (Old), Fife
3 – 12^th Kingsbarns, Fife
2 – 10^th Turnberry (Ailsa), Ayrshire

The four best par-5’s in Ireland (the ones that make my 18) are:


15 The Island
8 Donegal / Murvagh
15 Westport
5 Strandhill

[Thomas Dai]

Many of the holes mentioned herein are on links courses, which is fine.
However, a hole that is wonderful challenging, even brutal when played into the prevailing wind can be relatively tame when played downwind.
Just saying.
Atb

Thomas can't you say that about just about any par 3/4/5 though?

Yes Jeff. Some more than others though. Sift out those most effected and the best should remain?
Atb

David
Yes, they may be but that is where the design shines if they can be fun, challenging and interesting no matter whether they play "easy" or "hard" depending on the wind. Greatness, if you want to call it that, isn't a measure of difficulty in scoring relative to par.
To my mind, that's why the 13th at Silloth is so good.
Niall

I don't disagree, merely suggesting that how a hole plays in opposing/different wind directions, and not necessarily in relation to par, ought to be a factor to be considered. And as suggested elsewhere downwind isn't always easier.
Some others from GB that I don't believe have been mentioned to add to the mix -
6th at Cruden Bay
10th at Saunton West
9th and 13th at RND/Westward Ho!
11th at Pyle & Kenfig.
13th at Burnham & Berrow
4th at Trevose
atb

[Niall C]

Ally


The 15th at the Island, is no.15 appropriately enough. None of the others you mention make the list (as far as I've noticed).


Of the 11 on the "nearly" list, 6 are in Ireland and you'll no doubt be pleased to know 5th Carne gets a mention. The others on the nearly list;


17th Muirfield
8th Rosapenna (Sandy Hills)
4th Concra Wood
11th Waterville
18th Castle Stuart (yes, seriously)
5th Crail (Balcomie)
14th Panmure
12th Forest of Arden
14th Enniscrone
3rd County Louth


Niall

[Tom_Doak]

I am very puzzled that they listed the 18th at Woodhall Spa, and not the 9th, which is a fine example of the true three-shot hole.

[Jeff Johnston]

OK, here's the final ten minus the no. 1 which no one has guessed. I'll give you a clue, it's in Ireland.


10 – 18^th Celtic Manor (Twenty Ten), Newport
9 – 6^th Carnoustie, Angus
8 – 6^th Sunningdale (New), Berks
7 – 7^th Woburn (Marquess), Beds
6 – 18^th Balmedie (aka Trump International), Aberdeenshire
5 – 18^th Royal County Down
4 – 14^th St Andrews (Old), Fife
3 – 12^th Kingsbarns, Fife
2 – 10^th Turnberry (Ailsa), Ayrshire

Following the clue Niall, and on the basis that no club seems to have more than one in the list, by process of elimination I’ll have a final left-field guess at Portstewart 4th

[Mark Pearce]

5th Crail (Balcomie)

Err, the 5th at the Balcomie's a par 4.  A bastard of a par 4.  A hole where if you offer me 5 on the tee I'm biting your hand off and rushing to the 6th tee.  But a par 4.

[Niall C]

Mark


I've just checked the magazine again and you are correct, another mistake of mine, the article is entitled "The Top 50 Bastard Par 4's in GB&I"  . Actually, I might just start a thread on that topic....


Jeff,


Full marks for perseverance...but, no.


Tom


Never played there so can't comment, but this whole list does make you think what makes a good/great par 5. Well maybe not you, as I'm sure you've already given the matter plenty of thought, but certainly a lot of us.


Niall

[Niall C]

OK folks, time to unveil the very best par 5 in GB&I, and it is............




12th Old Head, County Cork


Obvious really when you think about it  .

Niall