My Carnoustie/Old/New/Lytham Pilgrimage

[MoaningM]

This year sadly was my 40th year on this planet, with my alias name really doing me justice my wife offered me any holiday I wished (more than likely to keep me quiet).

 

So where to go, hmmmm well let's be honest as a golfer there really is only one place to go and that's the home of golf and so that's where I went a couple of weeks back, I have been to St Andrews previously back in 1995 to watch the open, but then only had the opportunity to watch and then afterwards got to play Leven links at the time but always vowed to return, to play the Open courses.

 

So after some months of planning I managed to organise a couple of rounds at Carnoustie while we were up there and Royal Lytham and St Annes on the way back home, and hoped among hopes that I could get to play the Old Course and another while up there.

 

So first up on the tuesday morning Carnoustie! Obviously famous for in main the 1999 Open and Van De Velde's collapse, and regarded as one of the toughest courses around so was in anticipaion. IT certainly did'nt let me down what a truely fantastic course, brutal and no let up from start to finish particuarly as we had some Sunday pin positions which were awesome to attempt to go at. Driving here is at the utmost premium, if you drive the ball poorly around there with so many deep cavernous bunkers (an example the Spectacles being over 10 feet deep) you could still be there playing by the time then next open comes round there. Some magnificent holes which forces you to attempt to shape the ball both ways with both tee shots and approaches, and the last 4 right up there surely with the best/toughest finishing stretches in golf.

 

Sadly I managed to bogey the last 4 (The Par 3 16th hitting a driver into the wind and just making the front bunker.)including a 5 on the last (what would van de velde have given for that) for an 82 which was'nt too bad. there's a great signature van de velde has inscribed into the wall of the burn on the 18th hole to commemorate his wonderfull collapse in 99.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While up there I had the great pleasure to meet up with Auld Grey Loon and we as a pairing entered the ballot for the Auld (sorry old) course but sadly did'nt get through so had the pleasure of playing the New course and what a fantastic course it is, for the first 6 holes or so I was in awe of seeing the old course (kid in a candy store syndrome) as the 2 literally weave between one another, but thankfully after settling down a little did manage to hit a few decent shots on the way in. Was great of Dave to meet up with me and much appreciated, and he has promised me a rematch on my home territory within the next year or two so I am expectant!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only way to play the Old course now was an early start and a sit in with the starter on the Thursday in an attempt to get on the Old course. So a 4.30 alarm clock ensued and got to the Old course by 5.45am thinking must be first surely.......7th on the list gutted, thankfully managed to get on by 10am, weather was great and actually for a change the golf was great with it to the point had a 20ft putt ont he 11th green to go 3 under for my round but sadly 3 putted. From there managed to hold it to three putt the final 3 greens which included a run in with the valley of sin *it really is steeper in the flesh) for a double bogey and ended with a 75 which was pretty heartbreaking and resulted in many tears but still a very memorable experience all in all.

 

The Old course is magnificent but almost at the same time a little bit of a let down to play, admittedly I was warned but it's still a place where if you have the opportunity to play you HAVE to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last up was the home of the Open in 2012, had been to this venue back in 1988 watching Seve conjuring magic around the course back then so had great memories. On arrival the pro allowed me to play off the members competition tees which were as close as they get to the championship tees they have there, the members only play the championship tees once or twice a year so was pretty privaleged. Again just like Carnoustie driving was at a premium with bunkers littering the course (over 200) with the 17th having 17 alone and the 18th something similar.

 

The course is very open to the elements and the wind was pretty strong with the wind behind for the first nine and playing right back into for the back 9. Actually scored far better into the wind than down wind, iron shots downwind I found almost impossible to judge as the greens were very firm, again like Carnoustie has a fantastic finish the 14th and 15th being absolutely brutal, while having a little respite on 16 before the onslaught of 17 and 18! Great course again, and whoever wins around there in July will have to have a good short game for the week.

 

 

 

 

 

[sabram]

Great trip and report. Thanks for posting

[Shemp]

Carnoustie is indeed a beast. I played well, in 30mph winds but 16, 17 and 18 killed me (double, double, double for an 8 hdcp) to shoot an 86.

[SpinMill75]

Thank you very much for your fine post. I am planning a trip next year.......so much food for thought.



cheers, spin

[MoaningM]

[quote name='Shemp' timestamp='1335652778' post='4807096']
Carnoustie is indeed a beast. I played well, in 30mph winds but 16, 17 and 18 killed me (double, double, double for an 8 hdcp) to shoot an 86.
[/quote]


Shemp, indeed a great course, best of the lot I persoanlly found, great test particuarly off the tee, what colour tees did you get to play at Carnoustie? 16 was brutal when I played straight into the wind a little off the left, I beleive Tom Watson described it as the toughest par 3 in all golf! Who am I to argue with him!

[Tallen01]

Thanks for a great report.

[Villadsen]

Thanks for sharing - great report.

[Shemp]

[quote name='MoaningM' timestamp='1335701547' post='4809202']
[quote name='Shemp' timestamp='1335652778' post='4807096']
Carnoustie is indeed a beast. I played well, in 30mph winds but 16, 17 and 18 killed me (double, double, double for an 8 hdcp) to shoot an 86.
[/quote]


Shemp, indeed a great course, best of the lot I persoanlly found, great test particuarly off the tee, what colour tees did you get to play at Carnoustie? 16 was brutal when I played straight into the wind a little off the left, I beleive Tom Watson described it as the toughest par 3 in all golf! Who am I to argue with him!
[/quote]

We played the tees in front of the Championship tees. I played a sand shot on 11 on my knees outside the bunker, holed it for birdie! 16 is the toughest par 3 I've ever played.

I enjoyed Carnoustie and would play it again, but my favorite course last year was Turnberry. On this year's trip it was a toss up between Muirfield and Royal County Down