Best golf hole (13th)

Published on Tuesday 15 July 2008 20:07

GOLF enthusiast Paul MacMichael has played on courses all across Scotland. Throughout the spring and summer, he is offering a comprehensive review of his favourite holes in the country. Paul returns to the fantasy back nine this week and gives us his recommended 13th holes – presumably lucky for some and unlucky for others. Any agreement or disagreement on Paul's selections is warmly welcomed.

OLD PRESTWICK, 460yds, Par 4, Sea Headrig I have included this hole simply because of the extreme nature of the putting green. You have to see it to believe it, but it is great fun to play.

GLENEAGLES (KING'S COURSE), 448yds, Par 4, Braid's Brawest A long and testing par 4, which is usually played downwind. The golfer needs to negotiate the rolling fairway and well-positioned bunkers in order to get home in two. A dropped shot here is no disgrace.

DOWNFIELD, 480yds, Par 5, Devil's Elbow A demanding, sharp left-to-right dog-leg hole. Bunkers on the inside of the dog-leg tempt the golfer to aim to the left – leaving a long shot for anyone trying to get home in two. Add a burn in front of the green and bunkers waiting on either side, and you get some idea of the challenge that awaits.

NORTH BERWICK (WEST LINKS COURSE), 365 yds, Par 4, Pit The West Links at North Berwick offers a fine example of a championship test of golf that is also great fun to play. Stone dykes are a feature of several courses in East Lothian and here you will be faced with playing your second shot over a wall. A few modern-day architects are beginning to mimic some of these "character" holes – a trend that I am very happy to see.

ROYAL TARLAIR, 152 yds, Par 3, Clivet This much-photographed hole requires an all-or-nothing tee shot. From the elevated tee, the target looks very small – sitting on a rocky promontory with no bale-out option. There is often a stiff breeze doing its best to whip your ball off towards the sea.