Carnoustie Golf Links, Historic golf links in Angus, Scotland
Carnoustie Golf Links is a complex of three courses on the east coast of Scotland in Angus, set on flat dunelands beside the North Sea. The Championship layout runs through narrow corridors of gorse and rough grass, interrupted by deep pot bunkers and the Barry Burn, a winding stream that crosses play several times.
The course was laid out in 1850 by Allan Robertson and later reworked by Old Tom Morris, who adapted the routing to the natural shoreline. It has hosted the Open Championship eight times since 1931, most recently in 2018.
Residents often refer to it as "Car-NOOS-tie" and treat the links as part of their daily routine by the sea. On windy days, walkers and dogs cross near the fairways while players struggle through conditions that locals have considered a true test for generations.
The three courses vary in length and difficulty, with the Championship layout being the most demanding and offering extra challenges in strong winds. Practice facilities and an indoor center are available, and visitors should bring warm, windproof clothing as weather can shift quickly.
The 18th hole became world famous in 1999 when Jean Van de Velde, leading by three shots, hit into the Barry Burn and lost in a playoff. The image of him standing barefoot in the water, weighing his next shot, remains one of golf's most memorable moments.
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