Royal Troon - Postage Stamp
The Postage Stamp at Royal Troon, host of the 2016 Open Championship, is one of Scotland's iconic par 3s.
David Cannon/Getty Images
Kingsbarns Golf Links - No. 15
In Fife, the 15th hole at Kingsbarns plays over shoreline.
David Cannon/Getty Images
Prestwick Golf Club - Old Course - hole 5
Golfers walk up the path to the fifth green, a par 3 completely hidden by dunes, on the Old Course at Prestwick Golf Club in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Royal Dornoch Golf Club - hole 6
The sixth hole at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, named "Whinny Brae," has a small, well defended green.
Courtesy of Royal Dornoch G.C.
North Berwick Golf Club's West Links - hole 15
The famous "Redan" green on the 15th at North Berwick Golf Club's West Links features a front-right to back-left slope and is blind from the tee.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Trump Turnberry - No. 6
The par-3 6th hole at the Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry has always been a stout, 231-yard shot. A new tee box brings it even closer to the sea.
David Cannon/Getty Images
Old Course in St. Andrews - No. 11
There are only two par 3s on the Old Course in St. Andrews. The 11th, named "High (in)", features deep bunkering.
David Cannon/Getty Images
Gullane No. 1 at Gullane Golf Club - Hole 4
Gullane No. 1's fourth hole is a short, tricky par 3 named "Island" for its small, crowned green.
Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Cruden Bay Golf Club - hole 4
Cruden Bay's signature par-3 fourth hole (shown here from tee to green) marks the point where the golf course turns to the sea.
Courtesy of Cruden Bay G.C.
Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club - hole 5
The par-3 fifth hole at the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club in Scotland overlooks the water and is the first of two back-to-back par 3s.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Western Gailes Golf Club - 15th
Keeping it out of seven greenside bunkers is the challenge on the par-3 15th hole at Western Gailes Golf Club.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Muirfield - hole 4
Hitting the fourth green at Muirfield is always a chore, especially when the par 3 plays downwind.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Castle Stuart Golf Links - hole 8
The par-3 eighth hole at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Scotland accepts running shots to a massive green.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Fraserburgh Golf Club - Corbie Hill Course - 7th
Three cavernous bunkers gobble up approach shots to the 165-yard seventh hole on the Corbie Hill links at Fraserburgh Golf Club.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Dundonald Links golf course - hole 11
Three treacherous bunkers and a marsh front the 11th green at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Nairn golf course - 14th
Into the wind, the par-3 14th hole at Nairn Golf Club can be a beast at more than 200 yards long.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Tain Golf Club - hole 16
Tain Golf Club's 16th hole is a cool par 3.
Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
Dunbar Golf Club - Hole 3
Dunbar Golf Club's par-3 third hole, "Jackson's Pennies," heads straight downhill towards the sea.
Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Ailsa Course at Turnberry - No. 11
Moving the par-3 11th tee closer to the sea was one of a handful of improvements made to the Ailsa Course at Turnberry under Donald Trump's new ownership.
David Cannon/Getty Images
The Castle Course in St. Andrews - No. 17
Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Fairmont St. Andrews - Torrance golf course - 16th
The 16th hole on the Torrance Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews is a long par 3 that is well protected by pot bunkers.
Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
Trump International Scotland - No. 3
North of Aberdeen, Trump International Scotland's par-3 3rd hole is one of the best on the course.
Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
22 Images
There may be no par 3 more famous in the world of golf than the "Postage Stamp" at Royal Troon, host of The Open in 2016. At just 123 yards, it's an example of not needing length to challenge the world's best players, particularly when it's windy on this stretch of coastline. It's every bit as feared as the 7th at Pebble Beach and 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
Many of Scotland's most iconic par 3s are a result of small greens surrounded by cavernous pot bunkers, while others are more dramatic thanks to settings on the coastline. Architects like Old Tom Morris and James Braid are largely responsible for the blueprint of Scotland's finest one-shotters at such century-old links like Prestwick, Royal Dornoch and St. Andrews. There are some newer par 3s that are worth the visit too, like at Kingsbarns, Castle Stuart, and the new par 3s at revamped Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry.
Whether they are small and devilish like the Postage Stamp or brawny like the Castle Course's 17th hole, they make for some of the most memorable holes you can play anywhere.
Be sure to tell us your favorite par 3s in Scotland in the comments below, or tweet us @golfadvisor.
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The Postage Stamp at Royal Troon, host of the 2016 Open Championship, is one of Scotland's iconic par 3s. David Cannon/Getty Images
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In Fife, the 15th hole at Kingsbarns plays over shoreline. David Cannon/Getty Images
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Golfers walk up the path to the fifth green, a par 3 completely hidden by dunes, on the Old Course at Prestwick Golf Club in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The sixth hole at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, named "Whinny Brae," has a small, well defended green. Courtesy of Royal Dornoch G.C.
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The famous "Redan" green on the 15th at North Berwick Golf Club's West Links features a front-right to back-left slope and is blind from the tee. Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
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The par-3 6th hole at the Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry has always been a stout, 231-yard shot. A new tee box brings it even closer to the sea. David Cannon/Getty Images
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There are only two par 3s on the Old Course in St. Andrews. The 11th, named "High (in)", features deep bunkering. David Cannon/Getty Images
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Gullane No. 1's fourth hole is a short, tricky par 3 named "Island" for its small, crowned green. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
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Cruden Bay's signature par-3 fourth hole (shown here from tee to green) marks the point where the golf course turns to the sea. Courtesy of Cruden Bay G.C.
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The par-3 fifth hole at the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club in Scotland overlooks the water and is the first of two back-to-back par 3s. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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Keeping it out of seven greenside bunkers is the challenge on the par-3 15th hole at Western Gailes Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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Hitting the fourth green at Muirfield is always a chore, especially when the par 3 plays downwind. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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The par-3 eighth hole at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Scotland accepts running shots to a massive green. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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Three cavernous bunkers gobble up approach shots to the 165-yard seventh hole on the Corbie Hill links at Fraserburgh Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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Three treacherous bunkers and a marsh front the 11th green at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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Into the wind, the par-3 14th hole at Nairn Golf Club can be a beast at more than 200 yards long. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
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Tain Golf Club's 16th hole is a cool par 3. Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
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Dunbar Golf Club's par-3 third hole, "Jackson's Pennies," heads straight downhill towards the sea. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
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Moving the par-3 11th tee closer to the sea was one of a handful of improvements made to the Ailsa Course at Turnberry under Donald Trump's new ownership. David Cannon/Getty Images
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Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
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The 16th hole on the Torrance Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews is a long par 3 that is well protected by pot bunkers. Brandon Tucker/Golf Advisor
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North of Aberdeen, Trump International Scotland's par-3 3rd hole is one of the best on the course. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
