Championship Course – Carnoustie Golf Links

On the east coast of Scotland, where the North Sea wind sets the pace of the day, the Championship Course at Carnoustie is one of the toughest and most honest tests in golf. This historic links has been shaped over the years by great names of classic golf such as Allan Robertson, Old Tom Morris and later James Braid.

It has hosted The Open eight times since 1931, most recently in 2018, as well as two Women’s Opens and two Senior Opens, and every year it is one of the three venues of the Dunhill Links, together with the Old Course and Kingsbarns. Ben Hogan won here in 1953, and since 2003 the 6th, a long par 5 usually played into the wind, has been called Hogan’s Alley. Gary Player’s eagle at the 14th in 1968 helped him to victory, and Tom Watson and Paul Lawrie also lifted the Claret Jug at Carnoustie.

The finish is legendary. The 16th is a 245-yard par 3, and the Barry Burn winds around the 17th and crosses in front of the 18th green, where Jean Van de Velde saw his chances disappear in 1999. Fairways are firm, bunkers are placed with clear intent and every mistake has a price, so finishing your round here feels like passing a serious exam.