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Welcome to UK-GolfGuide's page which contains feedback from site users who have played at Carnoustie Golf Links.

Whilst UK-GolfGuide.com attempts to turf out the more unhelpful or just plain daft contributions, some may slip through. If you have played the course or hold a different opinion to those of the contributors, feel free to use the Add your Comments icon to provide a broader spread of views. If you have a gripe with the club then take it up with them directly - please don't use this facility for airing grievances!.

If you have played this course and would like to add your comments then feel free to Add a Report.

Colin Greenshields (Scotland) 17/03/08

Just played the championship course on March 16th 2008 and words cannot describe how disappointed myself and my playing partners are. Nowhere on the Carnoustie website does it mention that:

a) You'll be playing off of mats.

b) The majority of the greens will be temporary.

c) The majority of the tees will be temporary.

d) The majority of the bunkers will be GUR.

e) ALL of the greens are in a terrible state.

Definitely not worth the £57.50 asking price. We had played at Scotscraig and Crail Balcomie the previous 2 days and the difference in the quality of these courses was night and day. I would suggest that the Carnoustie greenkeepers pay a visit to these courses or practically any others within a 50 mile radius to see how a course CAN be presented at this time of year. The poor condition really is inexcusable.

Needless to say, this has left a very sour taste in the mouth, mainly because none of this is obvious from the website, which is the only feasible means of securing a booking (try getting through on the phone....)

Very disgruntled

Ratings

Value for Money	1
Challenge	4
Off Course	7

'Young P' (England) 27/08/07

CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE

The final day of Scotland 2007 and what we'd all been waiting for. The scene was set with the stands virtually all still up (we'll overlook the fact that no-one was in them) – time to take this bad boy down.

As the Open had proved, the R&A had got the course set up absolutely spot on, relying on its inherent challenge to test the players and not going berserk with the rough as had happened in 1999. In fact, it may sound slightly strange but there were large areas of the course where, unless you stuck it in the gorse, you'd be unlucky to lose a ball – much of the thick stuff had been trampled down by spectators.

Yes Carnoustie isn't a picture-postcard course. But what I love about it is that there's no bs or pretentiousness. It doesn't matter what walk of life you come from, it just blocks your path and says 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough.'

Its reputation is obviously that it's nigh on impossible. But the key here is to stay out of the bunkers and also to not take on shots you don't have in your locker. If you plot your way around a score can definitely be achieved. Brain, not braun, is the critical ingredient.

We played off the yellows, which turns some easy par 5s off the whites into extremely difficult par 4s which are best approached as par 5s - namely Southward Ho (462 yds) and Spectacles (461 yds). However, the prevailing wind was with us on the back 9, which meant infamous holes like South America (10) Lucky Slap (15), Barry Burn (16) and Home (18) could be parred.

In terms of conditioning, the tees and fairways were superb. The only slight letdown was the greens which had been sanded and so weren't running at Open-level speed. Even so, their consistency was remarkable.

Comparing the relative difficulty of courses is always slightly subjective, but we fared much better here than at Gleneagles King's (with pretty much the same weather). I play off 9 and shot +11 – a memorable experience so soon after the Open. Final shout out to those who scored birdies on the day, namely the Bristol Monkey on the 5th and Young P on the 8th.

As we adjourned to the hotel to get the beers in, darkness gradually fell and the sun set on another epic golfing week.

See you out on the links again next year when, possibly, Ireland 2008 awaits…

9.8/10

'Young P'

Ratings

Value for Money	10
Challenge	10
Off Course	7

'Young P' (England) 27/08/07

BURNSIDE

I'd heard that this was a very underrated course and now I know why. Take the relatively feeble 1st and 18th holes out of the equation and the Burnside is a very good and enjoyable test of golf.

What's interesting is that, from holes 8 through to 15, the course enjoys the most undulating and dune-based terrain that exists on the entire links – far more so than on the Championship Course.

Whilst the opening holes are virtually flat, they are still challenging – the par 4 2nd is 450 yards and the par 4 4th 460 yards – and then the 5th is a lovely par 3 with the green half-encircled by the meandering burn.

Things step up a gear for the next three holes and then the 9th, with it's raised table green a la Het Girdle at Gleneagles King’s, heralds the start of the stretch that feels the 'linksiest' of any at Carnoustie, and which has a lovely flow to it.

The stand-out hole is the SI 1 par 3 14th – which weighs in at 228 yards and which is arguably harder and more penal than the (in)famous 16th on the Championship Course.

Also worthy of mention is the excellent risk-reward 473-yard par 4 17th, where the burn forces you to lay up with the driver and then has to be crossed TWICE if you're going for the green. A par here = respect.

If you're in town to play the Championship Course then this is definitely worth taking in alongside it.

As for us, we're decamping to Downfield for a spot of parkland/woodland action.

8.5/10

'Young P'

Ratings

Value for Money	10
Challenge	8
Off Course	7

'Young P' (England) 27/08/07

BUDDON LINKS

Day 2 of Scotland 2007 and a double header on Carnoustie's second and third courses. First up in the morning was the Buddon Links and after an excellent opening day at Forfar, there was a fair bit to live up to.

Unfortunately, due to the aftermath of the Open, the place was a bit of a building site in parts, with the first hole out of action and the fourth playing half its length. However, the 7th suddenly hit most of us in the face like a wet kipper – it pulls you into woodland and is a long, tight, demanding dogleg par 4 that, as the course guide says, is easily the best hole on the course - even if it doesn't feel remotely linksy. It's part of clearly the best stretch on the course with a tough par 3 at 8 and then two solid par 4s at 9 and 11 that skirt either side of a lake.

After that, with the exception of the attractive par 3 17th, there's not a massive amount to grab the attention as the course is flat, featureless and, to be honest, fairly unexciting.

We paid £130 to play all three of Carnoustie's courses during the week, which was fantastic value for money (hence the rating below). And in the context of playing all three, the Buddon certainly works as a warm-up. However, it and the Burnside aren't priced too differently – so if you were to play one round before or other than the Championship, I would definitely advise going with the Burnside every time. More on that shortly…

5.5/10

'Young P'

Ratings

Value for Money	10
Challenge	5
Off Course	7

Clay Ballentine (USA) 11/10/06

Played Carnoustie Championship for the 4th and 5th times this last mid-September, and thank goodness, my scoring finally improved.

There's good reason this monster is called the hardest course in the world and it feels it every time I play. We had fairly light winds on our 1st round of less than 25mph, but on the 2nd day the gusts were above 35mph and some holes just become unplayable except for the best professionals.

Despite the fact that it continues to beat me like a rented mule, I just love this course and always want to return to play it. The closing holes are the hardest in golf, but the staff and maintenance are always first class. Check before you go now as Sparrow, the owner of the resort, has gone into bankruptcy, but don't let that stop you from trying this beast at least 1 time.

Ratings

Value for Money	7
Challenge	10
Off Course	9

Carl Ramsden (England) 27/08/06

Wow! Golf heaven! I played all three courses on a combination ticket for just £120 which is excellent value. All three courses were in excellent condition and the Burnside is a gem that I would recommend you play if you are in town for the Championship course which will definitely live up to expectations. The people and staff at Carnoutsie are very friendly and welcoming which made for a perfect golf break second to none. Can't wait to go back and I will take the fantastic memories to my grave. Thankyou.

Ratings

Value for Money	10
Challenge	9
Off Course	10

Phil Snelman (England) 29/06/06

I played the Championship course on a bright sunny but very windy day and it did not disappoint. Going out until the 12th hole was not too tough but it all fell apart on the final 6 holes where we played mostly into the wind. We had heard that several pros viewed this course as the toughest they had played and I would agree that it's up there with some of the great courses. Make sure your long putting is on form as the greens are big and quite often putting off the approaches to the green is the best way to get the ball close. Finally, my caddie Derek was a real star giving me all the correct lines and putting breaks. I strongly recommend you get a caddie if you play this course.

Ratings

Value for Money	8
Challenge	10
Off Course	9

Mick Simpson (England) 12/07/05

Played all 3 courses for £98 over 1st weekend in July. Only difference in all 3 was difficulty as they are all in immaculate condition. I was the organiser of a party of 16 and we were welcomed with open arms all over town as well as on the links (recommend the Corner Hotel). Only mistake was playing hardest course last after two heavy sessions, you should really be at your best when challenging something this difficult. Hope to return next year and wouldn't be too bothered if we just played the Burnside and Buddon as they were both excellent tests.

Ratings

Value for Money	10
Challenge	8
Off Course	5

James Macintyre (Scotland) 11/05/05

Played the Burnside course after heavy rain and was plesently suprised in how good the course played.

The burn that runs threw the course was in full spait and took away several of my balls.

It may not be the championship course but I was not disapointed as it was a very good chalange and a test for any golfer.

Ratings

Value for Money	8
Challenge	9
Off Course	10

Rhys Gwynllyw (England) 14/05/04

I have to disagree with part of the previous comments - Carnoustie is not a "very poor and ugly area". Maybe this person approached Carnoustie on the coast road which may give an misleading impression of the town itself. I stayed in Carnoustie town centre for a

week, playing the Championship and Burnside at Carnoustie and the Old and New at St.Andrews. It

was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Just like the town, the officials at the golf links are very friendly and welcoming. We played the Championship course off the white tees (6900 yds). This was a nice surprise as the green tees had been in operation the previous day. The starter made a good job of calming us down and none of our three-ball had "duffers"! The Championship course exceeded expectations and those expectations were very high indeed. Unlike the Old Course at St.Andrews, the Carnoustie Championship is mostly a "what you see is what you get" course; the majority of the dangers are there to be seen and is more often than not a frightening sight. Shot a 90 which is some way over my handicap but I'll settle for that on this course. Can't wait to return there for my next golfing holiday.

Rupert Paul (Scotland) 28/04/04

Played April 2004, for £70. Driving in to Carnoustie Town is a depressing sight, it is a very poor and ugly area. However once you get on the course all this is forgotten, it is a wonderful place to play golf. I played in overcast weather and with a moderate wind, yet still shot a nett +10, it is tough. It is still a great course to play, you must go there not expecting to shot your handicap though. Very friendly staff and a very pleasant experience in general. The finishing holes are well thought out and fun to play.

Played off the Yellow Tees and the course still measures 6700yds, Par 70, so very long in places. It is nearly same length as it was for Open, you can see where they teed off from, only big difference is with 18th.

I pared the 18th, so no Jean Van de Velde for me!

Its good value at £70.

John Buckner (USA) 23/09/03

Great track, but we had to play from the Green Tees so we really didnt have the full monty with this one. Green tees were the up front tees and they rotate daily. the finishing holes 14-18 are tremendous...in fact, 10 and 12 are great too. we played the entire rota plus prestwick and except for the tips at Troon, this place was in a class by itself. tips at troon were great, but i think I would put this place ahead of them all from the tips for the ultimate hack attack for a day. we played early august and the WX was purrfect

CB (UK) 08/07/03

Played the Burnside course in the morning, this wasnt too bad at all and if not alongside the championship course would stand out as a must play. The layout is interesting and the condition was very nice.

The PM we had a go at the championship course and it was all I expected. The rough wasnt too bad but fairway bukers galore and a strong wind made it very tough. The greens were very good and although the tees werent right back bogeys were the order of the day. Fantastic layout and worth ever penny of the green fee. The toughest closing stretch of holes I've seen anywhere.

Rod Clemmons (US) 30/07/02

Played the course July 2002. Bring your 'A' game to Carnoustie. I'm a 13 and shot a 98 with the help of a very patient caddy. There are more bunkers on the first five holes than on my entire home course. Even so, this is a true links adventure not to be missed. Booking staff and starters were very helpful. Lounge in the hotel is ok for an after the round drink, but the staff there could care less. A pub in the village might be a better bet.

Dave Scott (UK) 22/02/02

Played the Championship course last July (2001). It was a daunting prospect after seeing how the pro's coped during the Open. Thankfully the rough was not so punishing and we played pretty well. A tricky course but hugely enjoyable. I've just entered their Country Classic event from 6th - 10th May 2002. It is over 5 courses and for only £150 it must be the deal of the year!! Just contact the club or ring 0800 975 5955 for details

Drew Anderson (Scotland) 17/07/01

Everyone goes to Carnoustie to play the 'beast' but do not overlook The Burnside Course. It may be shorter than its neighbour but when its windy it still provides a good test of golf on an immaculate course. For £25.00 I believe it to be better value than the championship course.

Jeffrey Matchette (Scotland) 30/06/00

I admit it. I was a bit psyched out over the prospect of playing Mighty Carnoustie. Especially after it had humbled the likes of Van de Velde, Leonard, et al in last year's Open. The nerves were evident on my first tee shot. In fact, I never did quite get it together that day, but it was one of the finest days I've ever had playing golf. I was amazed at the layout of the course... tee shots had to carry 200 yds. onto a tight landing area on some holes while traps like "Spectacles" awaited your second shots. The Burn came into play on a large number of holes, making a low pitch and run shot out of the question. My caddie, Derrick, was great company. The clubhouse is first rate and has some excellent photos of past Open champions. This was the toughest course I've played, but it showed me you don't always have to score well to have a blast.

Scott Matchette () 26/06/00

We got exactly what we came for - extreme golfing torture. Wind was up, greens were down. The fairways and aprons are cut so low that it is impossible to discern where the green stops and starts. I pounded driver the whole front nine and found myself wedging out of 4 fairway traps. There are also tons of traps (and burns) fronting greens. You can't run it up. THe fairways are too tight to hit anything high. What can you do? Everyone needs to go to Carnoustie to answer this for himself. Toughest course I've ever been on - I'd go back in a hearbeat.

R Reimer () 11/04/00

Played 36 at Carnoustie on a beautiful day in April this spring and was truly excited. After the Van de Welde fiasco, I could not wait to get to the final 5 holes. Carnoustie is a great course. I did not feel the brunt of the wind but only a mild breeze and even still found the course tough. Fairways are narrow and tight. Most greens are semi blind shots. Local knowledge is most important and definitely avoid the bunkers. With the Ben Hogan history and Van de Welde story, there is plenty to dream about as you play your round. I played the course from the MacDonald Smith tees and at only 6500 and a par of 70, hit a lot of 3,4 and 5 irons after good drives. I could just imagine this course with a tough wind. I was a little disappointed that the hay around the 16th, 17th and 18th greens and fairways is gone however, its absence does not make these holes any easier. Took a little sand out of the Spectacles. Give this course a go, you'll really enjoy it.

John Metzger () 18/07/99

A bear of a golf course. Started out in light breezes and sunny. By end of round, 30 mph winds, temperature had dropped 20 degrees, and cloudy. Great experience, though, with 3 buddies from U.S. Caddy was Bill Philbin...fine genteleman.

penny quinn () 23/05/99

Played Carnoustie in May of 1998. As a 20 handicapper with a slice, it was difficult! My caddie, Paul was quite patient, but when I sliced one into the gourse, he would just say "oh, Penny lass!"....and find my ball for another try at it! What a great experience...even with a 111.

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Hello - A Client Of Mine Golfed At Your Course This Past Year And I Would Like To Present Him With A Sleeve Of Your Golf Balls With Your Logo Imprinted On The Balls. Could You Please Fax Or E-mail Me Information On How I May Obtain These Items - Price, Shipping, Etc. My Fax Number Is 212-837-7956. E-mail Is Whawnee @ Msn.com. Thank You Shawn Cahill - Usa

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Just A Note To Let You Know That Carnoustie Is In Angus Not Fife And Being A Championship Course Also Warrants A Pointer On The Map

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Fair and challenging course for low handicappers - I'm glad I tried it once! However, this is an ugly, brutish course that wore out my three wood! The course was in decent shape and the greens were excellent. Play it & develop your own opinion but I won't go back - there are too many beautiful courses in Scotland to waste time fighting

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My wife and I played the course in October '96 and were very fortunate to have nearly perfect weather...sunny and calm, almost unheard of for this time of the year. We hired a couple of caddies (Lindsay & Davie) which in itself was a new experience, but they definitely were an asset. It is a tricky course which could have played really tough if the winds had been blowing. Many Scots had told me it was the toughest course in Scotland. The old starters buildind was due for demolition a couple of days after we left, to make way for a new Club House and Hotel which is to be built for the Open in a couple of years. The staff were very friendly but I'd say that the town lacks the ambience of St. Andrews. Mike Rasmussen, Vancouver Canada

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I Played Carnoustie Twice During The Month Of October ('95). The Wind Was Very Strong Strong Both Days. Of The Many Courses We Played During The Two Weeks We Toured (we Played Every Day But One) Carnoustie Was The Most Difficult. Length Makes This Course Very Difficult And You Must Have Length To Play It Well. Caddies Are Essential And Will Certainly Save You At Least Four Or Five Strokes, Making Your Round Much More Enjoyable. Ask For Adrean And/or John. If I Remember Correctly The Standard Fee For The Caddy At Carnoustie Was o20 Plus Minimum ol5 Tip. I Strongly Recommend The Caddies For This Track. There Is A Lot Of History To Be Enjoyed At Carnoustie. Jbaxter@infi.net

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Absolutely Fantastic Experience! I Showed Up At 11:30am On A Saturday In October With No Advance Booking And Was Out Within 30 Minutes. It Was Not Terribly Windy, So It Didn't Play As Difficult As I've Heard It Can Be. Still, From The "yellow" Tees (they Were Named After Someone -- James Wright, Maybe?), It's A Bear Of A Course. With A Par Of 70 And A Length Of 6700 Yds (several Of The Par 5s Are Reduced To Much More Difficult Par 4s From These Tees), It's One Of The Most Difficult Courses I've Played. I Stepped Into The Public Clubhouse Only Briefly - It Looked Pretty Bare And Grim. I Was Invited Into The Caledonia Golf Club Across The Street By The Gentlemen I Played With, And That Was Quite Nice.

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Site Of Ben Hogan's Triumph In The 1953 Open. Fantastic Course, Somewhat Diabolical, And A Real Challenge. Have A Caddy Or A Course Map Or You Won't Know What You're Doing Your First Time Around! James Hoskins Hoskins.2@osu.edu

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Played The Course In September With 2 Other Ex-pat Scots 1 Englishman, And 4 Canadians. The Course Was My Favourite Of Our Tour Although Probably The Most Difficult. We Were Lucky Enough To Be Able To Talk To Two Members As We Waited To Play The 16th ["take The Biggest Club In Your Bag!"] And Enjoyed A Pint Afterwards. There Were No Easy Holes ,all Are Memorable, And All Are Fair. Thanks! James Currie, Calgary, Canada. Jcurrie@agt.n