Carnoustie (Championship)

Carnoustie Golf Links boasts three fantastic courses, all of which are rated in the top 50 Links courses in the UK and Ireland (Golf Digest June 2011).In 2012 the Championship Course was ranked at No. 1 on the Rolex Top 1000 courses in the world. The Championship Course has also hosted eight Open Championships, one Ladies Open and one Seniors Open, making it one of the very few to have done so in the UK. It is one of the three courses used for the annual Dunhill Links, the others being Kingsbarns and the Old Course in St Andrews. This incredible course is generally regarded as the toughest of the Open venues but is also perhaps the fairest too. The closing stretch of holes, in particular, are a real challenge and any golfer finishing the final four holes with no more than a bogey should be suitably content with their play.

The Burnside is often overshadowed by its illustrious neighbour but it oozes character and from the back tees is a splendid test of golf. It was here in 1953 where the great Ben Hogan shot 70 to help him qualify for the Open Championship which he subsequently won. Many of the short holes would compare with any Championship Course anywhere with the 5th and 14th, in particular, providing dramatic challenges for the player who strives to gain his par 3. The finish is also strong with the 17th proving to be one of the hardest par 4’s that can be found anywhere in golf and many a score has been ruined by the out of bounds fence at the 18th.

Opened in 1979, The Buddon is the newest of the three courses and was designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas. The course has seen many improvements in recent years including the most recent $1m investment in two new holes bringing the course up to a very testing par 68.

Other Golf Courses in Scotland

West Kilbride Golf Club

Machrihanish (Championship)

Brora

The Montgomery (Kinross)

Kings

Castle Stuart

Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Links