Carnoustie (Championship)
Number 6. Played summer 2013. Traditional links designed by Old Tom Morris & James Braid.
There are few courses in the world that will make you feel as nervous on the first tee as you do when you tee up on the Championship course at Carnoustie. The world famous Open venue enjoys a reputation for being a tough golf course made even tougher by whatever the great Scottish weather decides to throw at you. It doesn't get the infamous Carnasty description for nothing. However, once you get over the first tee nervous and settle in you will find a challenging but beguiling course.
This year I have had the opportunity to play the course on 2 occasions. On my debut I remarked that I had never felt so beaten up by a golf course in my life. The wind was up, the pins were in tough positions and I left feeling physically drained. However, on the 2nd round it was much easier. I had a better understanding of the routing and was less overawed. In fact I actually enjoyed my 2nd round and felt I had a great appreciation of the quality of the course. I had also had the luxury of playing Irvine (Bogside) since and, frankly, any other course seems like childsplay after that experience!
The course was in excellent condition, helped no doubt by our excellent summer in 2013. The fairways were good and the rough was tough but fair. However the highlight are the greens; these are spectacular, quick & true- you will not find truer greens anywhere in the world in my opinion.
There are some wonderful holes on the course, including the wonderful Hogan's Alley. However, it is the closing 3 holes that are the real standouts. These 3 tough holes are a fitting end to one of the world's great links courses and I defy anyone to finish on the historic 18th green and not want to go straight back out and play it all over again.
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