Golfers’ hole lot of love for 18th at St Andrews

IT is not just the sight of the Swilcan Bridge that leads thousands to the holy grail of golf, emulating heroes such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus – but the daunting challenge it presents.

The 18th at St Andrews Old Course has been named Best Hole and Best Closing Hole in golf in Scotland in a survey of 3,000 golfers that is sure to be the subject of intense debate in the “19th hole” around the country.

The hole is known as the Tom Morris after the locally born golfer and course designer who was instrumental in creating the first Open Championship in 1860, and struck the first shot in that event.

The neighbouring 17th – the Road – was voted the Best Par 4 in the survey by VisitScotland.

There was also success for Cruden Bay Golf Club’s ninth hole, co-designed by Morris in 1899, which won Best View with its vistas of the bay and Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire.

It saw off the Castle Course at St Andrews, Machrihanish Dunes in Argyll and Gullane in East Lothian.

Moray’s closing hole, overlooking the firth, came second, ahead of both Open venues Carnoustie and Trump Turnberry.

The 12th hole at neighbouring Hopeman Golf Club received more than 120 votes for the Best View, despite not being shortlisted.

Troon’s famed Postage Stamp – the eighth – was voted the Best Par 3, while the 12th hole at Kingsbarns, near St Andrews, was the best par five.