Ahh! Carnoustie. If I had one game of golf left in me it would be a Summers evening spent chasing pars on this wonderful test of golf. Take it from me...no visit to the East coast of Scotland would be complete without a visit to what I consider to be Scotlands finest course. If you want an "experience" play the Old course. If you want a heartbreaking rollercoaster of a game, play Carnoustie. I have played the Championship course on a number of occasions during annual trips North with friends. I have been battered by howling winds. I have been drenched (and I mean sodden) by persistent rain. I have felt the sun on my back, I have been frozen to the bone. Sometimes, all in the same round! I have experienced heartbreak, I have experienced elation. The one thing I have never experienced? Regret at taking her on. She always wins. It doesn't matter what you throw at her, just when you think you have beaten her, she will turn around and bite you.
From the opening par 4 (which is a fairly straightforward introduciton to the sleeping giant) to the 18th, you will experience every emotion you can imagine.
My favourite holes?
The second. A lovely par 4 where the premium is on an accurate drive. Go right and you are in trouble, go left and I doubt if you will find your ball. The 6th (Hogans Alley) a great par 5. The 8th. A tester of a par 3 when the wind is up (which it most probably will be). The 10th (South America) another superb par 4. The 14th named Spectacles due to the bunkering short of the green. I promise you, walk off with par on this one and you will think you just made eagle.
The 16th (Barry Burn)..one of toughest par 3's you'll ever play. Downwind you could hit a 5 iron. Into it? I hear Jack Nicklaus had to hit a 7 iron as his SECOND shot to this one year such was the strength of the wind!
Then the final two closing holes, which must rank at two of the toughest closing holes in golf. The road hole at St Andrews is tough, but the par 4 that follows it is a walk in the park in comparison.
The 17th (Island) is a fantastic par 4, and the aptly named 18th (home) can be a horror! I've never parred it, none of my friends have ever parred it. But it doesn't take any of the magic away as you stroll down that last fairway.
Carnoustie isn't the prettiest course in the world. Far from it..Blairgowrie (Rosemount) would be my pick for that particular accolade. Before the hotel was built you had to nip into town to get a pastie from the local bakers to keep you going between rounds.
So if it's that unattractive, why would I want to play my last ever game of golf here?
Go play. You'll discover what I discovered all those years ago.