There is far too much to write about the history of Carnousite, so instead we’ll simply ask you to check the film out which is filled with a lot of the significant events from its history.
We all went into Carnoustie having not played it before. A course that is synonymous with difficulty, and the site of some of the most memorable Open Championships over time. We went in with an open mind, not expecting anything like what we experienced. The course is absolutely fantastic, and the challenge that’s in front of you is the product of several great men who have shaped the routing and layout into what we see today. A fairly gentle opener (albeit I don’t know how the pro’s were putting irons onto the first green), followed by a superb second hole which works its way up the dunescape to a long and narrow green. The excitement build as you approach the 6th hole – Hogan’s Alley – named after Paul Laurie’s Open win in 1999 for the way Hogan navigated the tough stretch of bunkers on the right, and out of bounds that borders the hole immediately to the left. Even the more sedate holes through the turn are really engaging as you traverse the burn and play in and out of the pine trees.
Where Carnoustie really comes alive though is on the back nine. It builds like a crescendo starting on the Par 3, 13th hole. From there you head for home, followed by the par 5 14th with the iconic spectacle shaped bunkers in the fairway, the 15th is a tough par 4 dogleg that, whilst not particularly long is littered with challenges. All of this gets you focussed before facing possibly the toughest three hole stretch in Scotland.
The 16th is a par 3 played over 240 yards, to an elevated green. Tom Watson failed to make par in 5 rounds when he won here in 1976.
The 17th – Island – requires a laser-like tee shot to the right portion of the island fairway, and from there you’ll need to step up and execute again with your approach to find the putting surface in regulation.
And then… the 18th hole. One of the most iconic and most demanding tee shots in golf and the graveyard of many Open dreams. The Barry Burn sweeping round to the right giving you little room to bail out from the out of bounds down the left, and a green perched perilously close to the second crossing of the burn.
The way that back nine builds to the finish is a masterpiece and with the history, and characters that have walked the links at Carnoustie, it is a firm favourite of ‘The Jar.
You can hear about our adventure to Carnoustie in Episode 079 of our podcast.
