Carnoustie Golf Hotel

Widely regarded as the toughest course on the Open Championship rota, Carnoustie is held in the highest regard with good reason. Carnoustie has hosted 8 Open Championships and 1 Women’s Open Championship.

The layout of the Carnoustie Championship Course is tough from the get-go and requires precise driving and top ball striking. It’s easy to see why the best ball-strikers do well round here; Francesco Molinari, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and Ben Hogan are all previous champions here. The iconic holes include the 6^th “Hogans Alley” which is a birdie opportunity if you get the right tee-shot away. This is the final birdie chance for many holes as Carnoustie really shows its championship credentials.

The final few holes on Carnoustie Championship Course are what everyone remembers from the iconic Open Championships; 16 is a long par 3 in which a par feels like a birdie, this is followed by a tricky approach shot at 17. This culminates in the fantastic 18^th hole, where the Barry Burn features for every shot. This hole has seen some amazing moments over the years, with Jean Van De Velde’s meltdown in 1999 or the Sergio Garcia/Padraig Harrington playoff in 2007.

This course is a must play for every avid golfer!

The Carnoustie Burnside Links is a fantastic course that has previously been used for Open Qualifying; it’s actually where Ben Hogan qualified before he claimed the Claret Jug on the Championship course in 1953.

A fantastic course which potentially lulls you into a false sense of security with its 6000 yard length. However, the tight fairways, brilliant bunkering and nasty rough demands respect and puts a major importance on accuracy. The best feature on this course is the variety of par 3’s and the use of the natural landscape. The 5^th hole is only 158 yards but it encompasses tough bunkering and the infamous Barry burn. A par is a great score here despite the fact you’re hitting a short iron into the green.

The resemblance to the Championship course is clear to see on the homeward stretch where the difficulty level increases as does the potential to wreck the scorecard. The Burnside’s famous 17^th hole is a monster 473 yard par 4 which rivals the 18^th on the Championship course.

It may not get the reputation of the Championship course but the Burnside is one course you simply must play!

The Carnoustie Buddon Links course is the little brother to the Championship Course but in it’s own right, a very good course. It is always presented in immaculate condition and provides a fun and enjoyable challenge to all golfers. The Carnoustie Buddon links has been stretched in length over the years so don’t expect it to be a pushover – especially with the typical east coast breeze.

The newest of all the 3 Carnoustie courses, the Buddon was created by Peter Alliss and David Thomas but has been modified throughout the years. Certain holes still have the pedigree that wouldn’t go unnoticed if they were on the Championship course. The major challenge round the course is to avoid going right – the 5^th hole is a prime example with the entire hole being out of bounds if you veer right. The 18^th tee is simply stunning, fantastic views across the course and back to the links clubhouse.

A unique feature of the Buddon course is that each hole is dedicated to the British Military and one of the major actions in which we have fought. A nice and touching memorial.