The Carnoustie Championship

The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 1

“CUP”

A reasonably gentle introduction to Carnoustie Championship golf course. The drive is played to a wide fairway with slopes which tend to take the ball to the right hand side, and should pose no real problems although the burn meandering in front of the first tee can intimidate the nervous golfer.

The second shot is one of the few blind shots to be played at Carnoustie and it is important to judge the distance correctly.

CADDIE’S TIP

“Ideally left centre of fairway off the tee which will allow you to see the whole of the green.”

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Yards Par

401 4

389 4

364 4

Yards Par

401 4

406 4

364 4

Yards Par

401 4

389 4

364 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 2

“Gulley”

A long and straight drive is required to avoid the bunkers which will catch even the slightly miss-hit shot. Once the fairway has been found the second shot is straightforward, but with a green measuring 60 yards from front to back the choice of the right club is crucial.

CADDIE’S TIP

“Play to the middle of the green with your approach shot as most of the trouble is at the front of this green.”

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Yards Par

435 4

407 4

382 4

Yards Par

435 4

463 4

382 4

Yards Par

435 4

407 4

382 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 3

“Jockie’s Burn”

A short but very deceptive par 4, this hole does not place too many pressures upon the drive although the fairway bunkers will catch anything pulled slightly left. Jockie’s Burn, after which the hole is named, sits immediately in front of the green and awaits any approach shot that is under-hit.

CADDIE’S TIP

“Be aware of water hazard at front of green. Pay particular attention to the pin placement on this hole.”

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Yards Par

401 4

381 4

391 4

Yards Par

401 4

351 4

391 4

Yards Par

401 4

381 4

391 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 4

“Hillocks”

The hole dog legs slightly to the right and players must be cautious not to hook the ball as a ditch awaits just over the back of the fairway bunker.

The green, the only double green on the golf course, is well protected by bunkers and the approach should be long if anything.

Caddies Tip

“All trouble visible from tee, but do remember this is a double green. Play to the white flag on the front nine.”

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Yards Par

375 4

364 4

358 4

Yards Par

375 4

412 4

358 4

Yards Par

375 4

364 4

358 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 5

“Brae”

A hole which dog legs to the right and which has a two tiered green. If the pin is placed on the top tier it can add as much as four clubs to the approach shot. Longer hitters must be careful not to run out of fairway as a narrow ditch stretches the entire width of the fairway at around 280 yards.

“Caddie’s Tip”

“Do not be too aggressive from the tee as a drainage ditch awaits too long a drive.”

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Yards Par

387 4

369 4

350 4

Yards Par

387 4

415 4

350 4

Yards Par

387 4

369 4

350 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 6

“Hogan’s Alley”

The sixth hole on the Championship Course was officially renamed on Wednesday 24th September 2003 as Hogan’s Alley by our 1999 Open Champion, Paul Lawrie. To commemorate Ben Hogan’s feat in 1953, today’s professionals were invited to take part in a longest drive competition using a 1953 driver and old 1.62 golf balls. The winner was Arjun Atwal with a drive of 251 yards. Other notable entries were Paul Lawrie 245 yards, Adam Scott 231 yards, Vijay Singh 219 yards, Colin Montgomerie 203 yards and Sam Torrance 200 yards.

Named after the immortal Ben Hogan who won the Open Championship in 1953, this hole is where Carnoustie starts to turn up the heat. Normally played into the prevailing wind this hole can be a severe par 5. Bunkers and out of bounds await the miss-cued drive and although the best line is up Hogan’s Alley between the bunkers and the out of bounds fence, it requires a brave player to drive to that narrow piece of fairway. The second shot is no less perilous with a ditch angling across the fairway and the out of bounds continuing to be a threat.

The approach is reasonably straightforward to an undulating green, particular care must be taken if the pin is located on the back right portion of the green. A player should always be content with a five on this hole as it can be the ruin of many a scorecard.

Caddie’s Tip

“Hogan’s alley for the brave, but not for the faint hearted, who should favour the right of the centre bunkers on this very difficult par five. Care must also be taken with your second shot as once again Jockey’s burn bites deeply into the right side of the fairway.”

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Yards Par

520 5

500 5

485 5

Yards Par

520 5

578 5

485 5

Yards Par

520 5

500 5

485 5
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 7

“Plantation”

Again the out of bounds threatens on the left hand side and the fairway bunkers are cleverly placed to catch the drive pushed only slightly to the right. Care must be taken not to over hit the second shot and run through the green where a difficult up and down awaits.

Caddie’s Tip

“A long drive on this narrow hole will be rewarded with a much simpler approach shot.”

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Yards Par

394 4

373 4

350 4

Yards Par

394 4

410 4

350 4

Yards Par

394 4

373 4

350 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 8

“Short”

Carnoustie’s first par 3 and well worth the wait. On par with the great par 3′s in world golf with out of bounds left and bunkers surrounding an elevated green. Normally played into a cross wind it requires a good swing and no little courage to find the heart of this green.

Caddie’s Tip

“Take plenty of club as there is less trouble beyond the green.”

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Yards Par

167 3

157 3

133 3

Yards Par

167 3

183 3

133 3

Yards Par

167 3

157 3

133 3
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 9

“Railway”

The drive is paramount on this hole with out of bounds left, a ditch on the right and numerous fairway bunkers. Finding the fairway always comes as a welcome relief to any player but then a long difficult approach to a well-protected green awaits.

Caddie’s Tip

“A long drive on this narrow hole will be rewarded with a much simpler approach shot.”

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Yards Par

413 4

416 4

402 4

Yards Par

413 4

478 4

402 4

Yards Par

413 4

416 4

402 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 10

“South America”

The start of the back nine and perhaps the most challenging nine holes in golf await the player who stands on this tee.

In order to reach the green in two a long and straight drive is required with particular care required to avoid three bunkers on the right hand side. Once the player has found the fairway, a decision is then required as to whether the Barry Burn which runs some 40 yards in front of the green can be carried with a secondshot or not. Unless the player is confident of his ability to fly the ball all the way onto the putting surface, it is often best to lay up and accept a 5, which is never a bad score on this hole.

Caddie’s Tip

“Avoiding the three right hand bunkers is essential if you hope to reach this green in regulation.”

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Yards Par

446 4

417 4

332 4

Yards Par

446 4

466 4

332 4

Yards Par

446 4

417 4

332 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 11

“John Philp”

The decision must be made on the tee as to whether to take on the fairway bunkers with the driver and try to guide the ball through a narrow neck of fairway or to lay up and thereby leave a longer shot into the green. The green is well bunkered and slopes quite significantly from back to front which can make putting tricky.

Caddie’s Tip

“Hitting the fairway with a reasonable length of drive on the slight dogleg assures only a mid to short iron approach to the green.”

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Yards Par

362 4

351 4

330 4

Yards Par

362 4

383 4

330 4

Yards Par

362 4

351 4

330 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 12

“Southward Ho”

Played as a par 5 from the back tees and a par 4 from the other tees, this hole again challenges the player with an intimidating drive, whins and gorse must be carried and there are ditches on both the right and left hand sides. Two massive fairway bunkers on the right hand side eat into the heart of the fairway and will catch any shot that cuts slightly to the right. The approach must be played between two sets of bunkers positioned on the right and left hand side about 30 yards short of the green and it is often wise to lay up and rely upon a pitch and a putt.

Caddie’s Tip

“This hole should be treated as a three shot par five regardless of the tee in use on the day you play.”

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Yards Par

479 5

407 4

395 4

Yards Par

479 5

499 4

395 4

Yards Par

479 5

407 4

395 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 13

“Whins”

A deceptively difficult short hole, particularly if it is played down wind when it becomes extremely difficult to stop the ball from running through the green. Bunkers surround the green and will catch anything which is not straight. Once in the bunker the high lips will test any players ability to get up and down.

Caddie’s Tip

“Heavily bunkered par three at which if you play for the middle of the green and find it you should not be too far away.”

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Yards Par

161 3

141 3

118 3

Yards Par

161 3

176 3

118 3

Yards Par

161 3

141 3

118 3
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 14

“Spectacles”

Gary Player struck the finest shot of his life here in 1968 to make an eagle 3 which enabled him to go on to win the Open Championship. The drive is tough enough with out of bounds left and bunkers well in play. However the hole is made by the second shot, where the player must decide whether he is going to carry the massive Spectacle bunkers or not. If a player goes for the green and lands in the Spectacles he can expect to be there for some time as these bunkers are huge and intimidating. Further bunkers closer to the green provide further protection and any player making four can feel justifiably proud of that score.

Caddie’s Tip

“Another hole where getting on the green in three is not a disappointment. An accurate drive is paramount and remember this is the second part of our only double green, you play to the red flag on this nine.”

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Yards Par

476 5

459 4

440 4

Yards Par

476 5

514 5

440 4

Yards Par

476 5

459 4

440 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 15

“Lucky Slap”

As hard a par 4 as can be found anywhere in golf, this hole requires a long and accurate drive and then a powerful approach to the very well protected green. Into the wind the majority of golfers will not be able to get home in two and if a lay up is required it must be kept well away from the bunkers some 25 yards short of the green as getting out of these in one stroke is extremely difficult.

Caddie’s Tip

“Most exacting par four on the course. What is required is a drawn drive followed by a faded approach, but for the majority playing this hole for a bogey is not a bad idea.”

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Yards Par

459 4

437 4

418 4

Yards Par

459 4

472 4

418 4

Yards Par

459 4

437 4

418 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 16

“Barry Burn”

A 245 yard par 3 often played into the wind. Tom Watson had five attempts to get a par 3 here during the 1975 Open Championship and was not successful in doing so. In 1968 Jack Nicklaus was the only player to get past the pin during the final round. This hole is really a 3.5 and a par is an outstanding achievement.

Caddie’s Tip

“Hit plenty of club on this lengthy par three. Just like number eight the majority of the trouble is at the front of the green.”

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Yards Par

245 3

235 3

212 3

Yards Par

245 3

248 3

212 3

Yards Par

245 3

235 3

212 3
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 17

“Island”

Continuing with Carnoustie’s fearsome finish, the Barry Burn winds and twists it’s way down this hole. The drive must be placed between the island part of the hole and then the player is left with a long difficult approach to a green protected by whins and bunkers.

Caddie’s Tip

“The line from the tee is the gable end of the white house, which means you are aiming for the right half of the island. Water awaits the hooked tee shot.”

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Yards Par

433 4

421 4

374 4

Yards Par

433 4

461 4

374 4

Yards Par

433 4

421 4

374 4
The Carnoustie Championship

Hole 18

“Home”

No more difficult finishing hole will be found anywhere. The burn is in play for the drive to the right and left of the hole and also short. Fairway bunkers edge in to the right hand side and it was here that Johnny Miller lost the 1975 Championship when he took two shots to get out of the bunker. The Barry Burn crosses right in front of the green and it poses a huge obstacle for the second shot. It was here that the hopes of Jean Van De Velde sunk in 1999 when Paul Lawrie went on to take the title.

Caddie’s Tip

“The clock on the Hotel is the line off the tee. Remember the Barry Burn at the front of the green and if you better a seven – reward yourself with a drink!”

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Yards Par

444 4

421 4

383 4

Yards Par

444 4

499 4

383 4

Yards Par

444 4

421 4

383 4

“CUP”

CADDIE’S TIP

The Carnoustie Championship

“Gulley”

CADDIE’S TIP

The Carnoustie Championship

“Jockie’s Burn”

CADDIE’S TIP

The Carnoustie Championship

“Hillocks”

Caddies Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Brae”

“Caddie’s Tip”

The Carnoustie Championship

“Hogan’s Alley”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Plantation”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Short”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Railway”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“South America”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“John Philp”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Southward Ho”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Whins”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Spectacles”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Lucky Slap”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Barry Burn”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Island”

Caddie’s Tip

The Carnoustie Championship

“Home”

Caddie’s Tip