More Than ‘The Monster’
Destinations · Carnoustie Country, Angus & Perthshire
Carnoustie is well-connected to the rest of the golfing world.
“Ask me to name my favourite golf course and I usually give the same old answer: Carnoustie Championship!”
I may be biased. This is, after all, my home turf. I was born in Dundee, lived for years in the county of Angus and learned much of my golf on the courses scattered between the River Tay and the Angus Glens.
The Championship course at Carnoustie deserves its formidable reputation. Length, wind, burns, and wickedly positioned bunkers can make it fearsome for the finest players. Yet, I’ve found that we ordinary, mid-handicap mortals can still plot our way around without being humiliated—at least not until the closing three holes.
But the Championship Course is only the headline act on the East Coast of Scotland. There’s an all-star cast waiting & eager to entertain you.
Beyond the Beast
For starters, Carnoustie’s Championship has two excellent siblings. The Burnside is a traditional links of genuine quality, while the Buddon, where I learned the game, mixes links, heathland and touches of parkland across the edge of Barry Buddon.
When I was a lad, the Buddon was at best fairly average. Now it’s been tweaked and teased into a worthy companion to Carnoustie’s Championship course.
The Carnoustie Burnside course has even more links exaggeration as its mighty Championship neighbour.
Literally next door to that dynamic trio, Panmure is forever associated with Ben Hogan, who practised there before winning the 1953 Open.
The 12th hole at Panmure Golf Club, named "Buddon Burn," is widely celebrated as one of the most visually stunning, signature, and strategically demanding holes on this superb Carnoustie neighbour.
Again, only minutes south, Monifieth offers two fine links, including the wonderfully underrated Medal Course. These are proper, unmanufactured Scottish courses: testing golf, firm turf and welcomes without unnecessary ceremony. Trust me, you’ll love every minute!
The Ashludie Course at Monifieth Golf Links is a classic, compact, and highly entertaining traditional Scottish links.
The Angus Coast
Arbroath is widely celebrated as the birthplace of Scotland due to the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 at Arbroath Abbey.
Arbroath is an engaging seaside course whose strongest holes run close to the water.
Beyond it lies Montrose, where golf has been played since 1562. Its Medal Course possesses the rugged, rumpled character that modern architects spend fortunes trying to reproduce.
Ben Crenshaw, frequently praises Montrose declaring it a "magnificent stretch of marvellously natural ground which depicts how the game was born."
This coastline offers an exceptional run of links golf, yet most international visitors know only St Andrews and Carnoustie, without taking time to explore it.
They are missing the point—and some terrific golf.
Towards the Glens
Moving inland, the landscape changes quickly. Edzell Golf Club is the standout experience where James Braid created one of his best in the foothills of the Angus Glens, while Brechin and Kirriemuir offer quieter, immensely enjoyable golf surrounded by stunning countryside.
Forfar rolls over remarkably linksy ground despite lying miles from the sea.
Forfar offers an unusual combination of links and heathland 15 miles from the nearest seaweed.
The formidable ‘Majuba’, one of Scotland’s finest and most deceptive par 3s at Edzell Golf Club, in the foothills of the Angus Glens
Kirriemuir was my family home for many years. It gave the world Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie and AC/DC’s Bon Scott—and gave me countless winter mornings wondering whether the greens would be frozen solid.
When they were, we simply drove down to the coast.
That is one of this region’s great advantages: links, heathland, parkland and Highland-edge golf all sit remarkably close together.
Then There’s Perthshire
Continue west, and the journey opens again.
Perthshire and Kinross bring wooded landscapes, lochs, Highland scenery and some of Scotland’s most characterful smaller courses. Several are nine holes, but that should never be mistaken for half an experience. These are precisely the places where the game feels most Scottish: informal, sociable and rooted in their communities.
Add Dundee, Broughty Ferry, historic towns, fishing harbours, whisky country and excellent local food, and this becomes much more than somewhere to play one famous round.
One Region, Many Golf Holidays
Carnoustie Championship may bring golfers here, but it need not define the entire visit.
You can build a journey around the great links of the Angus coast, disappear inland towards the glens, explore Perthshire’s smaller courses or combine all three. The distances are manageable, the contrasts remarkable and much of the golf still offers excellent value.
Everyone has heard of the Monster.
The real discovery is everything surrounding it.
Coming Soon
Carnoustie Country & Perthshire
The next David J. Whyte Signature Golf Guide will bring together the great links, inland discoveries, nine-hole gems, whisky country, accommodation, food and local stories that make this one of Scotland’s most varied golf regions.
Explore the Signature Guide Series →
Photography © David J. Whyte / Linksland.com
