Scotland's Best Par 5 Golf Holes
Perhaps par 5's are ugly ducklings? They don't have the charisma of the short assignment, and certainly don't offer you the ultimate chance of holing out in one. So we felt Faraway Fairways needed to put this right and strike a blow for the par 5's. We've assembled 18 holes based on using the correct hole number on the appropriate course, for what we hope is Scotland's best par 5 golf holes. As ever some very worthy candidate clash and one needs to be omitted, and on other numbers of course we find ourselves stretching a bit - always happens with these exercises
#1 – TRUMP ABERDEEN
541 yds
#2 – ROYAL ABERDEEN
554 yds, ‘Pool’
Played through a valley of sand dunes the 2nd at Royal Aberdeen sets the mood for arguably Scotland’s finest outward 9
#3 – PRESTWICK
533 yds, ‘The Cardinal’
The third hole at Prestwick we’ve always liked. This is a relic from the 1860 Open Championship more or less as it was back then with all its quirks. It even has a somewhat sinister name. It’s actually quite a strategic hole as it changes character as you work your way long it
#4 – TRUMP ABERDEEN
515 yds – ‘Blairton Burn’
We’re probably guilty of over-rating aesthetics, but with a riparian burn running its length to the right, a phalanx of bunkers, and a green complex embedded in a dunes system, we like this one.
#5 – ST ANDREWS OLD COURSE
570 yds,
#6 – CRUDEN BAY
505 yds, Par 5, ‘Bluidy Burn’
It seems grossly unfair that Cruden Bay’s Bluidy Burn prevented Carnoustie’s ‘Hogan’s Alley’ from being selected by virtue of sharing a hole number. Hogans Alley would otherwise appear in any top-5 list of par 5’s, but in the end we went for the strategy over the history. Hogan’s Alley is mainly about a single daring shot, and one which needn’t be quite so daring today as it was in 1953
#7 – GLENEAGLES QUEENS COURSE
491 yds, ‘Westlin Wynd’
Westlin Wynd might not be the longest par 5, but on the Gleneagles Queens course it would be amongst the most aesthetic.
#8 – BRORA
501 yds
If Gleneagles has an air of regal beauty, Brora is wild untrammelled and bleak. The 8th plays towards the coast and is horribly exposed to a spiteful wind.
#9 – MUIRFIELD
558 yds
“if in doubt, pick Muirfield”, well in truth, we weren’t finding too many qualified candidates for hole number 9, but luckily the choice at ten was easy
# 10 – TURNBERRY
562 yds, Par 5, ‘Dina Fouter’
With the redesign that pushes the green nearer to the shore and tee back to the lighthouse, Turnberry’s 10th has claims to be Scotland’s finest par 5 now. A tee shot that tempts you to bite off the dog-leg but with the beach as a potential penalty, and an approach that crucifies anything that isn’t accurate if going for it in two
#11 – DOWNFIELD
498 yds, ‘Paddlers Joy’
Downfield was probably another a case that became a bit of a search to find a hole number 11 that was a par 5, but luckily number 12 left us with few deliberations.
#12 – KINGSBARNS
606 yds, Par 5, ‘Orrdeal’
If there is a par 5 in Scotland that might be capable of ‘saying hold my beer’ in the face of Turnberry’s coronation as having the best, it would be Kingsbarns’ twelfth
#13 – EYEMOUTH
607 yds, Hawk Ness
Until Spey Valley overtook it, the 13th Eyemouth enjoyed the distinction of being the longest par 5 in Scotland.
#14 – ST ANDREWS OLD COURSE
530 yds, ‘Long’ (in)
The St Andrews Old Course is more associated with its par 4’s (it only has the two par 5’s) but the fourteenth is a notorious one, and features the not so imaginatively named ‘Hell bunker’, (which is more of a trench than it ever is a bunker)
#15 – DURNESS
505 yds
Perhaps the hole we’ve nominated that deserves explanation however is the extreme northern outpost of Durness. The hole plays around an arching shoreline of a loch with wild mountains framing the background. We’ve taken a bit of liberty as it’s a nine hole course played on two loops
#16 – GLENEAGLES CENTENARY
543 yds, ‘Lochan loup’
The 16th on the Gleneagles Centenary course is a risk and reward proposition with a water hazard guarding the approach to a two tier green. It saw plenty of action in 2014 Ryder Cup. Patrick Reed missed a decisive putt from 2 feet which led to him halving a match he should have won
#17 – SPEY VALLEY
523 yds,
Spey Valley is the aesthetic choice for the 17th
#18 – CASTLE STUART
595 yds, ‘Home’
The field thins out a bit for the closing hole leaving Castle Stuart as our nomination. Overlooked by the club house with a green itself that overlooks the Moray Firth
Testimonial
From BB Canada
“I told Alun the courses I was interested in playing and he prepared a stay and play package with 14 days of outstanding golf, but also tremendous site seeing opportunities for my wife.”
From JC Illinois
“His attention to detail is amazing--I think our travel plan booklet ran to forty-eight pages, with gorgeous descriptions of cities and sights, plus maps showing where to go to catch trains, or walk from trains to hotels, sights and golf courses, etc.”
From DF Alabama
“I will cherish the memories for a long time- especially the wonderful times spent on and off the golf course with two of my brothers and brother-in-law. None of the memories and golf would have been possible or enjoyed without your tremendous planning and logistical support.”
AS from Colorado
“Alun and Faraway Fairways created possibly the most memorable golf trip we have ever experienced. EPIC is the only word that comes to mind.”
AC, From Florida/ New York, 2025
“We were hopeful to secure a 4 ball at St. Andrews while avoiding the massive expense other operators had quoted. He was very clear about the plan for achieving a tee time at the Old Course through the ballot, including detailed instruction on how it could be done, and what our odds were. He suggested mid- to late April as the best chance of success and advised that this is also the least rainy part of the year. We took his advice and trusted the process. Well, he was right on all counts!”
From SB, Minnesota
“We wholeheartedly recommend Alun and Faraway Fairways if you’re looking for a golf trip that is effortless, enjoyable, and truly unforgettable—even for a non-golfer in the mix! My husband and I will be daydreaming about this trip for years to come. 5.5 stars!”
From JB, California
“The best part was that the service was surprisingly affordable. They were thousands of dollars below other quotes that I received, in fact the prices were very similar to what I would have paid if I would have booked everything on my own.”
From JCA, Maryland
“I would and will highly recommend your company to anyone looking to plan an unforgettable golf trip. Thank You for putting together a fantastic trip for J.C. and me”
From WF Connecticut
“I think all eight of us would agree that Alun at Faraway Fairways did an absolutely wonderful job of putting this “golf vacation of a lifetime” together for us. His focus on the details was extraordinary from the choice of courses and the timing of the tee times, the amazingly beautiful accommodations along with some excellent meal selections, and the transportation options he provided to get us from place to place.”
From DR South Carolina
“You are about to tee it up in your Major. Seek wisdom, integrity and professionalism. Alun Davies and Faraway Fairways will not disappoint you. They cannot assure a calm sunny day with temperatures in the 70’s on the Old Course.”
From MM, California
“One fantastic trip you organized, and more importantly took ownership of in terms of daily communication and stewardship during our 2+ weeks in Scotland and Ireland. The logistics were spotless…100% of the transports were on time and excellent, the lodging choices spectacular and the golf was off the charts in terms of quality and arrangements made”
DH from California
“You cannot go wrong with the support Faraway Fairways offered. I did this trip solo and all last minute but I have already begun to plan the next trip which will include my best golfing buddies.”
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