The Best Par 3’s In Scotland

Par 3’s – they come in all shapes and sizes. Do you have to carry the ball over water, a bunker or a ditch? Does the green slope off to the side? Are you teeing off from an elevated tee? There are so many features that can be used to make these shorter holes memorable. Here’s a list of The Best Par 3’s In Scotland.

Ayrshire – Turnberry 
The Ailsa – 11^th – “Maidens” – 175 yards – SI 18

Named after the small village of Maidens, which lies on the fringes of the course, the hole provides some of the best views and scenery in golf. With the stunning backdrop of  the Mull of Kintyre and the Isle of Arran, the hole is located in a perfect spot for a scenic par 3. It finishes a stretch of holes from the 4^th that hug the coastline of the Firth of Clyde. The most noteworthy trouble on the hole comes in the form of the gigantic sheer-faced bunker on the left.  You should aim towards the right side of the putting surface as the natural slopes will collect the ball towards the heart of the green, leaving you with a couple of putts for par.

St Andrews – Kingsbarns
15^th – “Rocky Ness” – 212 yards – SI 6

The hole gets the name, “Rocky Ness”, as the green is on a piece of land which necks out into the sea. This gives a unique experience to the golfer lucky enough to get the chance to play it. Regardless of where the pin is positioned the ball should be aimed towards the sand trap at the back left of the green. This will allow the ball to feed down the slope toward the middle of the putting surface. The tall trees on the left of the hole will more than likely block out the wind, so take note. Take plenty of club and don’t look for the sucker right side of the hole, as anything flying in this direction will almost certainly end in trouble.

The views are stunning from every angle from every hole at Kingsbarns, and after playing you will be willing to go back for more.

St Andrews – Old Course
11^th – “High”- 174 yards – SI 7

Located on the historic Old Course, this hole is not just one of the best par 3’s in Scotland, but it’s one of the greatest and most celebrated par 3’s in world golf. Even the slightest breeze makes this a very tricky hole. The “Hill” and “Strath” are the typical St Andrews style bunkers that must be avoided. With a green which slopes severely to the back means accuracy is the key to success on the 11th. Wherever the pin is positioned the trick is to hit between the two bunkers and try to score a 3 on this very demanding hole.

The 11th is often referred to as the shortest par 5 in Scotland due to the sheer difficulty to walk away with a par 3!

Inverness – Castle Stuart
17^th – “Braes” – 224 yards – SI 6

The longest par 3 on the Castle Stuart Course is certainly no walk in the park.  This tough hole is made considerably more difficult by the prevailing wind. This can grab your ball and turn it harder to the right. Harder than one might think from the tee. This difficult hole means that there’s certainly not an easy finish to the Castle Stuart Course. Most professionals would be more than happy to walk of the putting surface with a 3, however the stunning view more than make up for the tricky finish at the Castle Stuart.

Sitting on a raised beach some 40 metres above the level of the shores, the 11th hole provides some unforgettable panoramas of the Scottish coastline.

Gleneagles – King’s Course
5^th – “Het Girdle” – 178 yards – SI 16

The name “Het Girdle” means hot griddle or skillet. With the suggestion being that an imperfectly struck shot may slide off the putting surface just as oil may slide off the hot plate. The elevated plateau green is well protected. There is little margin for error in hitting your tee shot. The putting surface is long and thin with an upward slope front to back, therefore making it sensible to finish short of the pin to leave you with an up hill putt.

There’s no doubt that the sweeping views of the Ochil Hills and the peaks of Ben Vorlich and the Trossachs will provide you some great memories of this fantastic hole to take home.

The Best Par 3 In Scotland – Your View

Do you have any courses to add to our list for The Best Par 3’s In Scotland? Let us know below!