Carnoustie Burnside Links

The Burnside is often overshadowed by its illustrious neighbor but it oozes character and from the back tees is a splendid test of golf. The Burnside course has been used in the past for qualifying when the Open has been held on the Championship course.

What it lacks in it 6,028 yard length is more than made up for by the tight fairways, heather, whins, pot bunkers and, as the name suggests the Barry Burn which wanders through part of the course and features at several of the demanding par three holes.

The greens are small, contoured and hard to hold especially in dry summer conditions or when the wind is up. Many of the short holes would compare with any Championship Course anywhere with the 5th and 14th in particular providing dramatic challenges for the player who strives to gain his par 3.

The finish is also strong with the 17th proving to be one of the hardest par 4’s that can be found anywhere in golf and many a score has been ruined by the out of bounds fence at the 18th. It was here in 1953 where the great Ben Hogan shot 70 to help him qualify for the Open Championship which he subsequently won.