I appreciate (and to some degree understand) your views but must disagree. I count myself among those under the "spell" of Carnoustie and sometimes find it difficult to explain the appeal.First, as with Prestwick and Royal Liverpool, there is something charming about Carnoustie's lack of even an attempt to be attractive. The firing range (if it is still there) was perfect! Gunfire, not the surf, should be the background music here.Second, the course's bunkering is a work of art. The bunkers look so good you almost want to be in a few greenside ones to enjoy them. The fairway bunkering in particular is outstanding, giving the player on almost every tee a clear message of what he needs to do (or would like to do). Third, the course is hard as hell, but in an honest way. If you play well, you score well; if you play poorly, you score poorly. When playing well, there are few courses I would rather tackle than Carnoustie -- a good round there is immensely satisfying.It is also interesting that almost everyone I know who has played there has come back talking of a "career" round (but still just barely breaking 80); there is something there that stirs the player's blood (and adrenalin).Fourth, Ben Hogan. It shouldn't be a factor . . . but who cannot get caught up with the mystique of Hogan's triumph there in 1953?