The Postage Stamp

It is the shortest hole in major championship golf, but what is it about the 8th hole at Royal Troon that makes it so incredibly dangerous? From the Championship tee it measures a mere 110 yards to the front edge of the green, so why does it strike fear into the world's top professional golfers?

For one, the hole has an extremely small putting surface - less than ten yards wide. It also plays into a prevailing wind, so with a middle pin position, you can find yourself gripping down the shaft on anything up to a six-iron. Add in some of the most treacherous bunkers imaginable, and hopefully you can begin to understand how it has earned it's reputation. Miss the green here and you can basically kiss your par goodbye.

The bunkers here make their famous cousin on The Road Hole at St Andrews look like a sand-filled divot. It is not only the depth and severity of slope, but also the difficult stances they often leave you in. From the two raised bunkers on the left, it is often tough to keep your ball on the green without it running off into those on the right. From this pair of bunkers, you require an almost vertical escape to clear the lip and find safety. Miss both green and bunkers, and you will find yourself attempting a Phil Mickleson special - only if you find your ball that is.

Of course you could simply hit the green, knock it in for a two, and wonder what all the fuss was about. But these stories tend to be few and far between.

Probably the most famous exponent of this particular hole was the late, great Gene Sarazen. In 1973, he aced this most famous of par 3's. Amazingly he was 71 at the time and it was exactly fifty years since he first played in the Open here back in 1923.

Whatever number you manage to rack up at the Postage Stamp, it is sure to be one of the defining moments of your golfing pilgrimage to Scotland.