Make an argument for a more underappreciated Scottish par three

[Scott Warren]

Gentlemen (& occasional lady),

I present the 6th (formerly 9th) at Renaissance Club:

148 yards the back, 137 yards one tee box forward.

Green running front to back and also left to right.

Regardless of wind it's a challenge to flight the ball just right, with consideration for the wind, green firmness, green slope... the perfect opportunity to visualise a shot and then (the hard part) execute it.

Playing towards the Firth of Forth is a hell of a backdrop.

And just look at the texture that rough adds to the hole, and the solitary off-centre tree. Artistic in the extreme.

Come at me! Name a better, more under-appreciated one-shotter played under St Andrew's Cross.

[Ryan Coles]

I'd put forward the 9th at Brora.

Feels like you've reached the end of the world before turning for home.

Perhaps Renaissance Club is under appreciated because access is an issue for most golfers. 

[Greg Taylor]

I played what was the 9th at the Renaissance a month back, course was still technically "closed" and fizzed a four iron to the back of green in a 40mph wind... it's a heck of a hole and starts a run back up and over the hill.

[Scott Warren]

I'd put forward the 9th at Brora.

Feels like you've reached the end of the world before turning for home.

Perhaps Renaissance Club is under appreciated because access is an issue for most golfers. 

9 at Brora is Audrey Hepburn pretty, but it's probably the weakest par three on the course.

[Ryan Coles]

Does that make Renaissance Club a Nun?

Give me Audrey any day.

[Steve Salmen]

I think the 13th at Dornoch, regarded as the least interesting par 3 on the course, is quite under appreciated.

The green is large and runs from back left to front right.  At least, the bunkers on the left make you think that.  The green is fairly large but if you miss, 3 becomes a very good score.

A man I knew at the club recently died.  He told me the story of how, in a monthly medal, he played 13 and 14 (445 yd par 4) in 1-3.  He showed his card to a friend who looked it over and said, "I see you made a one at thirteen, but how the hell did you make three at Foxy?"

[Scott Warren]

Steve,

Sorry for your friend's passing.

I had heard that anecdote from Rich but didn't know the owner of the 1-3 at 13 & 14. It's a hell of an achievement.

[David_Tepper]

Any of the par-3's at Golspie.

[Terry Thornton]

Any of the par-3's at Golspie.

David,

Is it the first of the par 3's that plays directly away from the coast?, really liked that one.

I sort of remember one at Fraserburgh that I particularly like. The recall is a bit hazy, played it on arrival from Adelaide via stops in Singapore, Munich, Manchester and Aberdeen - v. long day.
Anyway - green had large mounds either side of the approach and a shot hit long could land on the rear rising ground and feed back on to the green

[Brent Hutto]

How do you like the 4th at Pitlochry?

View From The Tee


Just over midway through the half-mile-long, continuous climb from the clubhouse to the 6th tee is the mostly crosshill fourth hole, a Par 3 of 146 yards from the visitor tees (168 from the medals). Prevailing wind is right to left and with the fall-off on the left side obviously starting ones tee shot upwind of the green is paramount. Well I guess a right-hander's strong fade could hold the ball up in the breeze but as a lefty I will attest that trying to work a draw into that green simply results in being well long once the ball stops bouncing and rolling.

The hole is well protected with bunkers but they have quite shallow lips and the sand is firm and course. So they do provide a safe haven, keeping the ball from bounding down the hill long and/or left. Playing soft on a day with little wind I'd think this a pretty easy 150-170 yard hole but I'm pretty sure there aren't many "soft with little wind" days up on that mountainside in Perthshire.

The real pleasure of the hole comes when taking a look back down toward the clubhouse and the village of Moulin below, you can also check out anyone hitting their tee shots on the thrilling downhill 9th hole. Pitlochry is very compactly laid out and the 4th tee, 9th tee, 5th green and 3rd green are all within a small area.

From Behind The Green



Bonus View Looking Back While Headed To The 5th Tee

[Ally Mcintosh]

Any of the par-3's at Golspie.

I would second this nomination.

All five of them offered something unusual and surprising.

[David_Tepper]

"Is it the first of the par 3's that plays directly away from the coast?, really liked that one."

Terry T. -

Sounds like you are describing the par-3 6th hole (135-145 yards) at Golspie, where the water is directly behind the tee box.

The first par-3 on the course is the second hole. The tee is directly behind the 1st green, alongside Little Ferry Road. The hole plays 160 downhill to a green that slopes front to back.

DT

[Steve Salmen]

Scott,

The name of the man who achieved this incredible feat was Jim Cunningham.  He was a good player.  We were not close but played once and had several beers together.  He was a really nice man and well liked.

[Terry Thornton]

David,

yes the 6th it is

[Thomas Dai]

Any of the par-3's at Golspie.

I would second this nomination.
All five of them offered something unusual and surprising.

Agree with David and Ally. I would also nominate the 7th on the St Olaf course at Cruden Bay.
atb

[Bill_McBride]

16th on the Balcomie Course at Crail.  

Spion Kop!

[Frank Pont]

Gentlemen (& occasional lady),

I present the 6th (formerly 9th) at Renaissance Club:

148 yards the back, 137 yards one tee box forward.

Green running front to back and also left to right.

Regardless of wind it's a challenge to flight the ball just right, with consideration for the wind, green firmness, green slope... the perfect opportunity to visualise a shot and then (the hard part) execute it.

Playing towards the Firth of Forth is a hell of a backdrop.

And just look at the texture that rough adds to the hole, and the solitary off-centre tree. Artistic in the extreme.

Come at me! Name a better, more under-appreciated one-shotter played under St Andrew's Cross.

I recognise that picture 

[Rich Goodale]

I think the 13th at Dornoch, regarded as the least interesting par 3 on the course, is quite under appreciated.

The green is large and runs from back left to front right.  At least, the bunkers on the left make you think that.  The green is fairly large but if you miss, 3 becomes a very good score.

A man I knew at the club recently died.  He told me the story of how, in a monthly medal, he played 13 and 14 (445 yd par 4) in 1-3.  He showed his card to a friend who looked it over and said, "I see you made a one at thirteen, but how the hell did you make three at Foxy?"

Steve (and Scott)

That anecdote re: Jim's feat at 13-14 was included in my Dornoch book of 2005, but I was mistaken in my recollection of the conversation between myself, Jim and Alan Grant.  Both Jim and Alan soon reminded me after publication of the book that in fact Jim's score on 13-14 that day was 1-4 rather than 1-3.  The beauty of Alan's riposte was how it damned Jim's hole-in-one with faint praise by (rightly) elevating the achievement of a par at Foxy as being far superior to an ace on 13.

Jim was one of the most interesting and finest people I have ever known, and he was far more than just a good golfer.  He was a multiple c;lub champion of Tain (his home club) and at least once at Dornoch (can't remember, and don't have access to any sources here in my Motel 6 room in Rapid City, South Dakota....), but that was not all.  He spent the earlier years of his life traveling the globe as a petroleum engineer, and in that process became a member of clubs in England, South Africa, Australia and only god knows where else, but I clearly remember him claiming to have been champion of clubs in each of those nations mentioned above.  He was still shooting in the 70's off the medal tees at Dornoch in his 70's and very few people can do or have done that.  He was several times a finalist in the Carnegie Shield.  He was a very fine golfer, for a very long time.

Any time being spent in Jim's company was quality time, as you know, Steve.  All of us who knew him have mourned his loss and will never forget him.  He was THE "best of golf," at least to me.

Rich

[Ed Brzezowski]

16th on the Balcomie Course at Crail.  

Spion Kop!

Fully agree on this choice, also never hear a lot of love for 9 at the New Course. One of my favorite par threes.

[Bill_McBride]

16th on the Balcomie Course at Crail.  

Spion Kop!

Fully agree on this choice, also never hear a lot of love for 9 at the New Course. One of my favorite par threes.

+1, probably the best par 3 of the St Andrews courses.   Into the wind over the broken ground it's a proper bugger. 

[Mark Chaplin]

Scott in a country where access is rarely an issue there is little love for ultra private courses. The only ultra private the golfing public know is Loch Lomond as it was on the telly. I guess RC has had a little more GCA play than LL, Queenwood or The Wisley.

[Mark Pearce]

I appreciate the 13th at Crail Balcomie more every time I play it.  At 213 yards uphill to an undulating green it's a ball breaker, but a fun one at that.

[Scott Warren]

I recognise that picture 

Yeah, sorry Frank - I meant to include "pic from Frank Pont's twitter" when I started the thread but I'd had the best part of a bottle of Shiraz and four beers and just plain forgot!

[Ian Andrew]

15th at Nairn

The hole is a downhill par three of around 200 yards with the ocean clearly visible as a panorama from the high tee. The bunkers all appear to be directly in front of the green, yet the prominent front bunker turned out to be well short with a hidden sunken fairway in behind. This was just like the fairway at the 17th at Merion and it made me wonder if Hugh Wilson had possibly seen this before building Merion. The fairway then rises up into a magnificent false front which leads into a very wild green. The bulk of the green is a high front and right plateau, but what makes this one very memorable is the wildest back swale and pin position I have seen in a while. This all adds up to one excellent golf hole. The only question I would have is could you bounce in your approach in

[Scott Warren]

Ian,

Really cool-looking hole. Thanks for sharing it.