Best golf hole (17)

1 THE OLD COURSE

461yds, Par 4, Road

The only hole out of all of my selections that needs no further explanation – simply the most famous hole in world golf.

2 TURNBERRY AILSA

487yds, Par 5, Lang Whang

This is another pick which holds a special memory for me. Playing the Ailsa course on the occasion of my 50th birthday, with the sun shining from a clear blue sky and not a breath of wind: absolute heaven. After two decent hits, I holed a putt from the front apron for an eagle – and then managed to par the 18th. Golfing memories don't come much better than this.

3 SKIBO CASTLE

267yds, Par 4

Regular readers may have become bored with my love of short par 4s. The penultimate at Skibo is riddled with bunkers– but you only need to carry your drive 228yd to clear the one nearest the green. Do I enjoy the challenge of these holes? YES! Will I ever learn to play safe and take an easy par? Well … where's the fun in that?

4 NEWTONMORE

194 yds, Par 3, Ballytrim

On the list of ultimate card-wreckers, this must feature near the top. The frustrating thing is that the golfer has the easy option of baling out to the right- hand side and chipping for either a three or a four – but the temptation is always to go for the flag. However, the deep dip, short and left, gathers and punishes a significant number of the tee shots struck here.

5 FAIRMONT (Torrance)

444yds, Par 4

Played along the cliff-top, with out-of-bounds just over the wall down the right-hand length of the hole, this is a white-knuckle drive when the wind is off the left. Even from the safety of the fairway, the second shot needs to carry the rocky inlet and large bunker. On the plus side, the green presents a massive target; on the down-side, three putts here are all-to-common.

6 THE CASTLE, St Andrews

206 yds, Par 3

I've not yet had the opportunity of playing the St Andrews Links Trust's newest course, but I am led to believe it is an absolute belter! The 17th is played from an elevated tee across a rocky chasm and is a slicer's nightmare.