The wide fairway is deceptive, as anything too far left will leave a blind second shot to a well-protected green. Equally a drive pushed right will find very thick rough and the player will be unlikely to get up in two. The approach requires a very well struck shot to a slightly raised green and a 4 here is very welcome.
Yards Par
413 4
423 4
382 4
Yards Par
423 4
413 4
382 4
Yards Par
382 4
The upper tee has the best view of the entire Links. The green is protected by two bunkers at the front, a swale at the back and ample rough elsewhere so an accurate tee shot is important.
Yards Par
151 3
171 3
113 3
Yards Par
171 3
151 3
113 3
Yards Par
113 3
Although the fairway is reasonably wide the second shot to this par 4 is a testing one with water hard up against the green on the left hand side and anything going left will result in penalty shots. A ditch runs up the right hand side of the fairway and crosses the front of the green.
Yards Par
354 4
364 4
341 4
Yards Par
364 4
354 4
341 4
Yards Par
341 4
A tricky par 3 with trees and bushes on the left hand side of the green, a solidly struck short iron should see a par 3 secured however.
Yards Par
149 3
164 3
120 3
Yards Par
164 3
149 3
120 3
Yards Par
120 3
Three cleverly positioned pot bunkers will trap the careless drive and a ditch and the out of bounds fence protect the right hand side of this hole. The left part of the green is also protected by a pot bunker so a very accurate shot is needed if the pin is behind it.
Yards Par
313 4
323 4
303 4
Yards Par
323 4
313 4
303 4
Yards Par
303 4
A very difficult drive with trees on both sides of the fairway and if your drive hugs the right hand side then the second shot will be a blind one. A very difficult par 4 which has been the ruin of many a scorecard.
Yards Par
389 4
401 4
366 4
Yards Par
401 4
389 4
366 4
Yards Par
366 4
A stunning par 3 from the back tee, a ditch running in front of the green and three bunkers will catch any mis-hit shot.
Yards Par
178 3
193 3
144 3
Yards Par
193 3
178 3
144 3
Yards Par
144 3
Another tough driving hole with trees and bushes on the left and water on the right. Once the fairway is found the second shot is straightforward. Longer hitters will have a chance of going for the green but it is a small target. Generally a lay up shot should then leave a short chip to the green.
Yards Par
485 5
517 5
448 5
Yards Par
517 5
485 5
448 5
Yards Par
448 5
Any drive cutting even slightly to the right will find the water and this puts pressure on the tee shot. The fairway is generously wide however and a good drive will leave a short pitch into a wide but shallow green.
Yards Par
348 4
358 4
331 4
Yards Par
358 4
348 4
331 4
Yards Par
331 4
Although there is a ditch on the left and a lake on the right this is still quite a generous fairway. A good tee shot should provide an easier approach to a well protected and contoured green.
Yards Par
385 4
395 4
303 4
Yards Par
395 4
385 4
303 4
Yards Par
303 4
This is the first of the newer holes added to the course. With water on the right and two large bunkers left of the fairway an accurate tee shot is required. After that there is still a lengthy shot to a large green which is guarded by another two bunkers.
Yards Par
385 4
411 4
360 4
Yards Par
411 4
385 4
360 4
Yards Par
360 4
The second of the two new holes a beautiful left to right dog-leg with one solitary fairway bunker. The view to the green is a stunning one and a short iron to the green should be all that is required.
Yards Par
361 4
398 4
309 4
Yards Par
398 4
361 4
309 4
Yards Par
309 4
This is a lovely par 3 with heather running from the tee to an elevated green and a bunker guarding the left side.
Yards Par
150 3
170 3
140 3
Yards Par
170 3
150 3
140 3
Yards Par
140 3
A tough par 4 with heather on the left and out of bounds on the right, a long second shot awaits to a narrow green and 4 is a very good result.
Yards Par
389 4
399 4
334 4
Yards Par
399 4
389 4
334 4
Yards Par
334 4
An interesting par 3 with water on the right and trees on the left. The long green is well guarded with bunkers and swales.
Yards Par
155 3
165 3
145 3
Yards Par
165 3
155 3
145 3
Yards Par
145 3
The second par 5 on the Buddon Links can be reached with two well struck shots for the long hitter. There are however several bunkers, heather and wispy rough ready to catch any stray shots.
Yards Par
483 5
493 5
396 4
Yards Par
493 5
483 5
396 4
Yards Par
396 4
A lovely “linksy” par 3 with no bunkers but rough and contour surrounding the green. Finish this hole then proceed to the 18th tee over the board walk and take in the stunning views.
Yards Par
149 3
159 3
137 3
Yards Par
159 3
149 3
137 3
Yards Par
137 3
The last hole is a dog leg left to right with a small green and two deep bunkers left and right.
Yards Par
400 4
417 4
363 4
Yards Par
417 4
400 4
363 4
Yards Par
363 4
The newest of the three courses at Carnoustie, originally designed by Peter Alliss and the late Dave Thomas on land that was formerly part of the ladies’ course and Ministry of Defence land, hence the reason why the holes are named after battles. The course was opened for play in 1981. Since then many changes have taken place including the most recent investment in two new holes in 2014 bringing the course up to a very testing par 68.
