Although Panmure is a links course, it has some unusual features. The course is a mile or more from the sea, and many holes have beautiful trees which rarely come into play but create an unusual backdrop to the rolling links holes. The first and last three holes are fairly flat although still interesting, but the middle twelve holes are classic links holes. This is because the clubhouse had to be built near to a railway station, and the first and last three holes were needed to get to the land where the course was originally going to be built. It is also not a very long course at 6511 yards from the championship tees, but it proved to be the hardest final qualifying course for the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie. This is due to the well-known Barry rough that surrounds every fairway, making accuracy from the tee essential. Visitors should not be deceived by its length of 6,360 yards. The course occupies only 115 acres, most of which is rough, whins or trees. There are 83 bunkers, 81 of them being spread between 15 holes.
Ben Hogan spent two weeks on the links prior to the Open at Carnoustie in 1953, getting used to the terrain and tight lies and the 1.62 inch ball. It is even reported he cut the 17th green to his specification and returned the cleaned mower to the head greenkeeper! He went on to win the Open by four shots, creating a course record with a 68 in the final round.
Panmure combines the best elements of links and heath, with tight fairways, challenging carries and compact, undulating greens. Old Scots pines and sandhills forged by nature give the terrain an enduring quality in keeping with the Club’ s long history. Hallmarks such as the‘ Hogan’ hole( the sixth) and the Buddon Burn( the twelfth) combine to give you a round of golf to remember. There are many fine holes on this course with the 12th being another memorable challenge, a twisting burn guarding the green’ s approach.
As you would expect, Panmure has hosted innumerable important events including
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