The closing hole on the Old Course at St Andrews has been voted as the best golf hole in Scotland after a poll of 3,000 golfers.
It was picked in a poll undertaken by VisitScotland to discover which golf holes in Scotland exhibited #ScotSpirit – a feature of the national tourism organisation’s Spirit of Scotland campaign.
It asked golfers to vote for the best opening and closing holes, a best par three, four and five as well as a best view and a best overall hole from a selection of shortlisted holes across the country.
Tom Morris iconic final hole including the Valley of Sin at St Andrews took the award for the best hole and best closing hole while the notorious 17th hole was voted the best par four in Scotland.
The ninth hole at Cruden Bay on the Aberdeenshire coast claimed the award for best view. The course boasts stirring views across the Bay of Cruden and Slains Castle and it beat competition from the Castle Course at St Andrews, Machrihanish Dunes and Gullane Golf Club.
The category included nominations for more than 300 individual holes, testament to the wealth of stunning views across Scotland’s courses.
The Machrihanish Golf Club have the best opening hole in the world. The Battery, whose tee box already features a plaque to that effect, received over 1,000 votes as the best opening hole in Scotland.
Moray Golf Club’s closing hole overlooking the Moray Firth, came second in its category, ahead of both Carnoustie and Turnberry.
The 12th hole at neighbouring Hopeman Golf Club received more than 120 votes for the best view, despite not being shortlisted.
The Postage Stamp (8th) at Troon was voted the best par 3 in Scotland while the 12th hole at Kingsbarns Golf Club on the Fife Coast was voted the best par 5. It finished ahead of holes from Castle Stuart (18th), 2014 Ryder Cup venue Gleneagles (16th) and the recently redesigned Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry (10th).
Best Hole – Tom Morris, 18th at the Old Course, St Andrews (799 votes, 27% share)
Best Opening Hole – The Battery, 1st at Machrihanish Golf Club (1025 votes, 30% share)
Best Closing Hole – Tom Morris, 18th at the Old Course, St Andrews (825 votes, 24% share)
Best Par 3 – The Postage Stamp, 8th at Royal Troon (891 votes, 26% share)
Best Par 4 – Road, 17th at the Old Course, St Andrews (1176 votes, 36% share)
Best Par 5 – Orrdeal, 12th at Kingsbarns Golf Club (654 votes, 19% share)
Best View – 9th at Championship Course, Cruden Bay Golf Club (662 votes, 20% share)
For more information on the poll and the breadth of courses Scotland has to offer click here.
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