The very name of Carnoustie will send a shiver down many golfers's backs. It is one of the most difficult and challenging links golf courses in Scotland. And it is home to the Open Championship once again in 2007.
Like St Andrews, the Carnoustie area has many wonderful golf links courses all within striking distance of their more famous neighbour and for those looking for a traditional links golfing break, there is no better location to be in.
"Carnoustie Country" is east of Dundee which is about an hour away from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Start your golfing journey with a Monifieth Golf Links. This is a traditional golf links course used for qualifying for the 1999 Open Championship.
From here travel to Panmure Golf Course (Barry) which was founded in 1845 and is right by Carnoustie on the A930. This is a traditional links course of great character set next to Carnoustie so it often gets overlooked. The 6th is a classic in Scottish golf. A 387-yard, Par 4, there is little room for mistakes here.
Next stop is Montrose Golf Links. Travel up the A92 through Arbroath and up to Montrose. There are two courses here to whet your appetite. Montrose Medal Course is the 5th oldest golf course in the world and is a golfing experience in the fine Scottish golfing tradition. Rolling links, big bunkers, tight drives and fairways lined with gorse.
Return south to finally play Carnoustie Championship course. As with St Andrews, it is a public course but bookings are essential well in advance. Carnoustie Links Trust now offers an online booking service to help make your planning easier. What can we say about the golf course that has not already been written about and pictures beamed across the world of Jean Van der Velde up to his knees in the Burn running in front of the 18th green? It is a classic links golf course designed by James Braid and will test your golfing prowess to the full.
