Carnoustie Country in Destination Golf

Sometimes you get lucky. Trips to Scotland are a bonus of monumental proportions for an Irish golf writer and visiting Carnoustie Country was particularly special as things ramp up ahead of the Open Championship, this July.

When we visited in April, the stands were already going up and golfers off the 1st tee were rattling their drives into the notorious Barry Burn, on the left of the fairway, or into the stands on the right, behind the 16th green (seen on the left in the photo below). It's nothing like as generous as the 1st hole at St Andrew's but those butterflies in your stomach as you prepare to make your first swing are just as busy.

To read about the area, the beautiful courses on offer (many you won't know) and some of the best gin and whiskey you'll ever taste, take a look at this month's edition of Destination Golf. Click on the link and the
Carnoustie Country piece is on page 30.

The 18th green at Carnoustie, shot from the third floor of
the Carnoustie Links Hotel.

I was there for four days and it was the most enjoyable trip I've ever been on - helped hugely by the company. The golf courses were a revelation, especially Montrose, where they have just renamed their premier course the 1562 Course, in honour of its age.

Yep, golf has been played here for over 450 years.

Named 'Table' this is the par three 3rd at Montrose.

There's also a fantastic tournament that amateurs can play in that visits four of the region's top courses (Carnoustie, Montrose, Monifieth and Panmure).

There's plenty more in the mag - it's 88 pages and includes articles on Italy's Veneto region as well as Rioja country. Take a look, take your time, enjoy.