Destination Golf Scotland 2021
Carnoustie
Widely regarded as the toughest course on the Open rota , Carnoustie is also one of the toughest courses anywhere . Certainly the closing three holes have delivered the most dramatic finishes in Open history ( Paul Lawrie , 1999 , and Padraig Harrington , 2007 ), but the entire links presents the sort of challenge to strike fear and awe into a golfer ’ s heart . Bunkering is deep and positioned to be penal – just look at the par five 6th ( Hogan ’ s Alley ) – but underneath that cruel veil lies an utterly brilliant and fair golf course . Intriguingly , the only blind shot is your approach to the short 1st , where the green is tucked low in a ring of dunes . Other than that you know what is required as you play over low , tangled dunes to greens constantly on show . It certainly helps but you have to be patient for 18 holes as one misstep will prove costly especially on the revered and feared final four . James Braid updated Old Tom Morris ’ s design in the 1920s , and the course has been mostly untouched since then . Beware holes 17 and 18 , where you must cross the famous Barry ’ s Burn five times . ( There are two sister courses here , too : Burnside and Buddon .) www . carnoustiegolflinks . com
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