Burnside Course – Carnoustie Golf Links

At Carnoustie, where history weighs heavily and the wind sets the rhythm, the Burnside Course offers a different reading of the same famous ground. It sits between the Championship Course and the shorter Buddon, but it has a strong character of its own. It was on the Burnside in 1953 that Ben Hogan shot 70 to qualify for The Open, which he went on to win next door.

This is a par 68 of just under 6,000 yards where the game is played close to the ground. Fairways are not long but they are strategic, and greens protected by deep bunkers and natural slopes ask for precision more than power. The Barry Burn comes into play on several holes: the 5th is a par 3 surrounded by the burn on three sides, and the 17th, Sinkies, is one of the hardest par 4s you will find, with a second shot that crosses the burn twice. The 11th has a severely sloping green, and out of bounds along the right of the 18th has ruined many good cards.

With the North Sea wind adding a decision to every shot, the Burnside is ideal to complete a day at Carnoustie, or for golfers who want a serious links test without the full severity of the Championship.