There are few golf courses as feared and revered in the world of professional golf in the way that Carnoustie is. Hosting multiple Open Championships, this is a course of the highest pedigree and one of the world’s ultimate golfing experiences.
With major investment in recent years, there’s more to Carnoustie than ever before, this European Tour and major championship venue is just a short drive from Dundee and about an hour and a half from Edinburgh airport. The Carnoustie Hotel is ideally situated adjacent to the first tee on the Championship Course, and directly behind the 18th green, affording magnificent views across the links towards the Angus coastline.
The course oozes history with no less than 8 Open Championships played on its fairways and can be a monster from the back tees. Certain landmarks around the course remind you of the historic events that have taken place here, Hogan's Alley on the superb par-5 6th hole, Nicklaus' bunker on the par-4 9th and Miller's bunker on the right of the 18th fairway.
Course Information
Par
72 (71 for the Open)
Designed by
Allan Robertson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid
Opened for play
1850
Previously hosted
7 Open Championships
Tees
White
6,948 yards
SSS 75
Yellow
6,595 yards
SSS 74
Red
6,144 yards
SSS 72
Burnside Course
The second of the 3 courses at Carnoustie Golf Links is the Burnside Course, it is often overshadowed by its Championship neighbour but still manages its fair share of historical moments. Ben Hogan posting 70 to qualifying for the 1953 Open which he went on to win is one of the most famous.
The course is full of character and will challenge golfers of all abilities. One of the toughest holes on the course is the 14th, a par 3 of nearly 230 yards from the back tees, it will have some reaching for their driver if the wind is against.
Course Information
Par
68
Designed by
James Braid
Opened for play
1934
Tees
Yellow
6,028 yards
SSS 70
Red
5,400 yards
SSS 72
Buddon Course
The Buddon is the third course at Carnoustie Links and is also the newest having been originally designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas in 1979.
The course is built on former Ministry of Defence land and after a recent $1 million refurbishment, is now a tougher challenge for golfer's of all abilities.
Course Information
Par
68
Designed by
Peter Aliss and Dave Thomas
Opened for play
1981
Tees
White
5,921 yards
SSS 69
Blue
5,652 yards
SSS 68
Red
5,035 yards
SSS 69
Accommodation at Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa
One of the most charming things about Carnoustie is that it is owned by the local council and some local golf clubs. However, in the build-up to the 1999 Open Championship a new hotel was built beside the 1st tee and 18th green. This 4-star hotel is a great place to situate yourself for this most incredible golf pilgrimage and has become an integral part of the image of the course.
Many of the rooms at the four-star hotel look out onto the course and watching the sun go down over the celebrated land is a truly magical experience. The hotel has a nice restaurant that also overlooks the course and does a wonderful breakfast. In fact, you can finish-up your bacon roll and be on the first tee in less than fifty steps!
Food & Drink
Eat in the formal Calder's Bistro for a fusion of Mediterranean and Scottish cuisine and relax with a drink in Calder's Bar with a terrace overlooking the 1st and 18th holes of the Championship course at Carnoustie.
Leisure Facilities
First class leisure facilities, including a large swimming pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and gym for those looking to keep their fitness up whilst visiting, or those looking to relax after golf. If you wish to take your stress levels down another notch then you should book yourself into the spa for a treatment, you might need it after a tough round on the Championship course!
Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa Reviews
Overall rating:8.8 / 10
Hotel reviews
8.88.8 / 10
Bar / Restaurant
8.4 / 10
Facilities
9.6 / 10
Location
9.6 / 10
Room comfort
8.8 / 10
Staff
9.2 / 10
Value for money
8.6 / 10
10 / 10
Fantastic resort
8 / 10
Does what it says on the tin. Nice staff, clean room, solid food and a decent spa.
10 / 10
Faultless
Very clean
Staff very friendly
10 / 10
Fantastic trip and definitely will return
10 / 10
Great hotel and fabulous view of the 18th green. The staff were brilliant and lovely to be recognised by Pauline at breakfast from when I last stayed
8 / 10
Excellent stay, much improved from last year with the works now completed. The Calder Bar is an excellent spot for post round drinks and food. Staff were on the whole very helpful and friendly and the quality of breakfast was very good.
10 / 10
Great facilities and also room was comfortable and great for onsite facitities.
10 / 10
very well located for golf. Very comfortable. Nice pool. Choose rooms with golf view.
Breakfast average.
8 / 10
Very good nice food and good service
6 / 10
Hotel was ok, could do with a lick of paint outside, needs better practice area
10 / 10
Excellent attention from staff and facilities and food were good. Contributed well to an extremely enjoyable golf trip
8 / 10
Nice hotel but looking tired and needs updating. Super staff
8 / 10
Very convenient for the courses. Food very good and staff very friendly and helpful. Worth knowing that it is essential to book a time for all meals including breakfast
8 / 10
Staff excellent
Rooms a bit dated but clean
No air con
Food average
Ran out of our favoured beverage early in week
Did not attempt to replenish
6 / 10
Tired and old and in need of refurbishment.
6 / 10
10 / 10
Hotel staff went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed
10 / 10
6 / 10
The hotel is situated right on the golf courses and is perfectly located for playing at Carnoustie. The staff are top notch, very friendly and accommodating. The main areas of the hotel are nice, the rooms are looking a bit tired and maybe need a refurbishment
10 / 10
We turned the corner to view the hotel and it looked like an old run down whitewashed farm house. On entering the hotel couldn’t have been more wrong. Inside great decor. Staff friendly. room nicely furnished. Very comfortable. Would have no complaints about going back. Sat next to a very famous golfer in the restaurant.
6 / 10
Overall our party enjoyed the experience but the hotel furnishings are well passed their best with the chairs stained and the padding bursting out on the chair arms. The food was very good especially in the Rookery restaurant. We can recommend the fish & chips, excellent. The bathroom in my room was poorly designed with the shower screen opening outwards away from the bath therefore restricting movement around the washbasin. The bed was somewhat cramped, in future I would select a twin bedroom. One of the days our room had not been cleaned but on complaining the manager gave us complementary drinks at the bar.
8 / 10
10 / 10
It was truly an incredible experience thank you so much for making it possible to play and visit this incredible place
10 / 10
Nice friendly hotel with very welcoming staff.
10 / 10
Hotel superb,staff were excellent polite and very efficient,prices for meals and beer very reasonable and food was very good
8 / 10
Hotel is of a good standard. Not top class but decent.
8 / 10
Nice hotel with stunning views of the course and seaside.
10 / 10
10 / 10
Considering the ridiculous rules in Scotland, the hotel and staff did their best
8 / 10
10 / 10
The ideal location for playing Carnoustie
10 / 10
8 / 10
We really enjoyed staying at the Carnoustie hotel, so close to this historic course, waking up almost on the first tee with a view over where all the greats have started in the Open championship.
8 / 10
10 / 10
Perfect, would have been nice to buy a few mementos but everything very expensive. Paid £30 for a hat and disappointing to see it in shop across the road for half the price.
8 / 10
A good standard "international " style hotel. Lacked character which you would think would be there considering its spot on the landscape.
8 / 10
Great Hotel and friendly staff. Perfect for a golfing holiday
10 / 10
Good location clean, smart & comfortable next to the 1st tee
10 / 10
The hotel and staff were excellent, our room was very comfortable and the staff were very accommodating
8 / 10
10 / 10
4 / 10
A huge disappointment
Waiting almost 20 minutes for drinks in the bar of hotel
Young staff struggling to smile
Didn’t feel welcome at all
And won’t be going back
10 / 10
8 / 10
Nice hotel with helpful staff, would recommend.
10 / 10
We ate in the hotel and the food was excellent and the price was comparable to any restaurant
10 / 10
Superb location for the golf
10 / 10
I used yourgolftravel.com for our annual golf trip, selecting a bed
and breakfast package at the Golf Hotel Carnoustie with 2 rounds, one each on
the Burnside and the Buddon golf courses.
The courses are both part of the Carnoustie golf links, with the famous
Championship course making up the trio of courses. Despite being the
lesser known courses to the Championship, all three are on the same links and
run alongside each other. Both of the courses are beautifully prepared, both
were challenging and rewarding and the conditioning is in line with the
Championship Course.
The hotel is in a superb setting for golf fans too. The rooms had 2
double beds, were spacious and clean. The food was good too but we also
took advantage of the local restaurants in the village which provided plenty of
choice of good quality food at very good prices.
This was our 13th trip away and only the 1st time we used yourgolftravel. I’d
score the whole experience 10/10 and this was the best trip we have been
on.
Don’t be put off visiting Carnoustie and not playing the Championship
course as the Buddon and Burnside are top courses at a fraction of the price.
Carnoustie Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa Frequently Asked Questions