What is the toughest par-3 you’ve ever played?

Have you played the par-3 fifth hole at the unpretentious yet stunning Anstruther Golf Club course in the Kingdom of Fife is a decent test, playing 245-yards off the white tees.

It’s the No. 1 index hole on this nine-hole course laid-out along the Firth of Forth shoreline to the east of St. Andrews.

So, what makes this par-3, and known as ‘The Rockies’, one of the toughest par-3s in British golf.

The Rockies – Anstruther’s famed par-3 fifth hole with May’s Rock and the Firth of Forth in the background (Image – GolfByTourMiss)  

Just dont’ take my word as the sign on the 5th tee says it all. (Image – GolfByTourMiss.com)

“The Rockies” – The arrow points to the location of the green (Image – GolfByTourMiss)

‘The Rockies’ in the foreground showing the tee-off area and  how difficult-looking it is to find the green in regulation at the famed par-3 fifth hole at the Anstruther GC.  The village of Anstruther in the background.

Surely, there are other par-3s in the UK that must be tougher than “The Rockies?”.  How about the ‘Postage Stamp’, the more-famed par-3 at Royal Troon, and the shortest hole in Open golf at just 123 yards, and host venue later this year for the 2024 152nd Open Championship?

What about ‘Barry Burn’ and the par-3 16th at Carnoustie?  Jack Nicklaus labelled the 16th as “the hardest par 3 in golf”, a hole playing to 249-yards, and among the most fearsome four finishing holes in golf, three bunkers guard the right of the 16th green and if any confirmation of just how tricky it is were needed, the great Tom Watson failed on each of his five attempts to make par en route to a first Claret Jug in 1975, and after defeating Aussie Jack Newton in the last 18-hole play-off at golf’s oldest major.

Then there’s ‘Calamity’, the par-3 16th at Royal Portrush, and where The Open returns next year – 2025.

The uphill, 210-yard challenge is one of the famed golf holes on the Open rota with a yawning chasm on the right between tee and green that must be cleared to stand any chance of making par – although a 75ft-deep ravine on the right with dense rough is also to be avoided.  As well, strong winds whipping in off the Atlantic make an already tricky par 3 all the tougher and while it’s visually stunning, there will be more than one player left cursing the name ‘Calamity’ come July.

No, ‘The Rockies’ at the increasingly ‘must play’ Anstruther course is tougher than all three.

From the well elevated tee you’re staring at a fairway well below that’s about as wide as a single-lane roadway.  You have the out-of-bounds waters of the Firth of Forth all the way down the left side while the right is guarded by a steep bank covered with ‘you’re sure to lose a ball’ dense gorse bush.

From the white tees, the green at “The Rockies” is pretty much unseen.

The view off the forward tee showing just how narrow the landing area is if you are short at ‘The Rockies’ – Image GolfByTourMiss.com

Another view off the forward tees from where you can just make out the green hidden, in part, by the slope down the right side of the his No. 1 ranked hole at Anstruther GC

Looking down on the 5th green from the side of the 4th fairway.  Image GolfByTourMiss

The Rockies 5th hole green showing also it’s proximity to the shoreline of the Firth of Forth

That’s just the immediate picture off the tee as the green, and one of the smallest you’ve probably ever played, is near unsightable, protected by a grassy knoll while much of the green is also hidden by the slope.

I’ve played Anstruther on a number of occasions when I was living in the village and before moving on to nearby Crail, and found there’s probably three ways you can play ‘The Rockies”.

The more adventurous amongst us will not mess around and just go for the green while this 15-handicapper on a few occasions, and if the fairway was clear, would hit a tee shot well to the right clearing the slope and endeavouring to land the ball on the adjoining fourth fairway that’s high above and overlooking the 5th hole.  This course of action will hopefully leave a chip shot down to the 5th green some 50-feet below.

The conservative option is to try and get the tee shot as close as possible to the leftside of the green, leaving yourself a chip to the green and hopefully a very rewarding par.

DP World Tour star Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnson played the course some years back and I asked what did he score at the fifth and all he could do at the Rockies was post a bogey ‘4’.

No, as the club’s website points out, the best way of playing the par-3 fifth hole, known as ‘The Rockies’ is to treat it as a par-4.

If you’re planning a New Year visit to the ‘Kingdom’ and you have a few hours free why not include Anstruther on your visit, as I know you won’t be disappointed.

Footnote ….

In a bit of good ole chest-beating, I once recorded a hole-in-one at Anstruther’s third hole while representing Crail in a club match against the Anstruther members but unfortunately I was playing the par-3 seventh hole at the time, a hole that shares the green with the third.

The seventh tee is located in the far corner of the Anstruther course and with the green perched high on the upper level of the course, and as I explained in indicating options in playing the fifth hole.

So, after hitting a pretty decent tee shot off the seventh, one that was seemingly all over the flag, I walked up the steep slope but couldn’t see my golf ball anywhere but then in checking the third hole here was my Callaway golf ball in the bottom of the cup.

Now it begs a rules question as what is the correct procedure in playing your next shot?