As 2018 draws to a close, it’s about time we reflect on what has been an outstanding and certainly eventful year for Carnoustie Golf Links; from the Beast of the East reeking havoc on the course early in the year to the opening of Links House and The Rookery to hosting the pinnacle of the golf calendar – The 147th Open.
In this blog, we’ve picked out a collection of the highlights and the best images from the last 12 months.
January
We were delighted to receive Environmental Golf Course of the Year at the 2018 Golf Environment Awards
The sun rises on a crisp morning (Credit: Craig Boath)
A beautiful sun rise as the temperatures drop (Credit: Craig Boath)
‘Spectatcles’ were the last two of 73 bunkers to be rebuilt ahead of The 147th Open (Credit: Craig Boath)
February
A white blanket covered all three courses in the morning…
…but things were back to normal by the afternoon
Another cold morning, frost-covered course and stunning sun rise (Credit: Craig Boath)
The ‘Spectacles’ looked a little different once the Beast from the East arrived (Credit: Craig Boath)
March
Rolling the greens at sun rise (Credit: Craig Boath)
The new skyline at Carnousite – our new buliding Links House alongisde the hotel
Blue skies with the new golfing season on the horizon
The sun sets on the 18th green of the Burnside Course
April
Ailsa Summers and Kris Nicol were the winners of the inaugural Carnoustie Challenge
Our new venture, The Rookery Bar and Restaurant, within Links House opened
Our stunning new facility Links House opened – featuring Pro Shop and state-of-the-art simulators
Construction began on the grandstands for The 147th Open, beginning at the 18th hole
May
The Open Spectacular arrived ahead of the Championship
Padraig Harrington returned to the site of his 2007 Open Championship victory
The iconic yellow leaderboard in position at the 18th green
A different take on an image of the 1st tee as the grandstands are erected
June
We held oour first ever disabled golf session in our Indoor Performance Centre
The 128th Open Champion, Paul Lawrie, surprised Burnside Primary pupils during their Open Championship tour
Our Old Tom Morris penguin arrived as part of Maggie’s Penguin Parade
Pupils from Burnside Primary got the chance to meet Darren Clarke and see the Claret Jug
July
Some of our Carnoustie Craws were joined by Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy for the official opening of Links House (Credit: foremostgolfphotography.com)
Francesco Molinari capped an incredible week by becoming the first Italian to lift the Claret Jug (Credit: foremostgolfphotography.com)
A record 172,000 spectators came through the gates during the week of The 147th Open (Credit: foremostgolfphotography.com)
Our Senior Assistant PGA Pro, Keir McNicoll played as the marker on both Saturday and Sunday of the Championship
August
The 18th grandstand – the first to be erected and last to be taken down
Dramatic skyline above the Links
A fine summer day for golf
The sun sets over the Buddon Links Course
September
Scott Mann (left) won the Craw’s Nest Tassie for a 3rd time, while Pat Smith (right) lifted the Maulesbank Trophy
Two hole-in-ones on the same day and same course in the first round of the Tassie
In September 2018, our first even Ladies Get into Golf coaching sessions took place in our Indoor Performance Centre
A group of Danish visitors contested their own Ryder Cup over the Championship Burnside and Buddon Links Courses
October
Course record holder Tommy Fleetwood returned for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (Credit: foremostgolfphotography.com)
High Grant was among the celebrities who entertaained the crowd at the Dunhill Links (C(redit: foremostgolfphotography.com)
Another fantastic Dunhill Links came to an end
After 30 years fo working at the Links, Nan Hay from our reservations team retired
November
The Championship Course won Best Course over £100 at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards
Our Chairman, Pat Sawers, received the Special Recognition Award at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards
Head Chef at The Rookery, Chris Hazelton, was inducted into the Master Chefs of Great Britain
Links Superintendent Sandy Reid left the Links after 21 years, taking up a new post at St Andrews Links
December
Nick Edmund played the 4th hole of the Championship Course as part of his ‘Turnberry to Dornoch’ campaign for Golbal Golf 4 Cancer
Joshua Marsahll became a hit when his mum posted a photo of his Open-inspired room so we treated Josh to a copy of Molinari’s Claret Jug winning scorecards
Things got all festive at Links House. Both outside…
…and in
It’s safe to say that 2018 has been an incredible year at Carnoustie Golf Links. We look forward to what’s to come in 2019.