There is nothing wrong with it to me. I love the course. It does not create a warm feeling due to its toughness. You can get beatup on every hole. It is a must play for me when in the area.

Buck,

Carnoustie was the last course our group played on my first trip to Scotland(Aug. 03').  In my view there wasn't anything wrong with the course, I thought it was an excellent test of golf.  The only things I could think of that people would crtitcize would be that although it's a great links course, it is situated on a pretty bland piece of property. Also, it isn't close to the water, and it does not have the linksy feel and views that many of the other great Scottish courses do.

Another point of interest is that while still being firm, the course was fairly "green" compared to all the other places we had played.  I spoke to the Head Professional at Carnoustie  and he stated that they did have a newer irrigation system , but unlike other courses in Scotland...they actually turn theirs ON.  He said that given the soil and turf at Carnoustie, that with the amount of play they get, with a dry summer like they had in 2003, the place would be dust by the end of the summer.

The only problem I had with Carnoustie was that even after having to stay at the Carnoustie Hotel, paying a fairly high green fee, and checking our HDCP cards, we still had to play the "regular" tees.  I can assure you that no matter how difficult everyone says Carnoustie is, it was a helluva lot easier from 6300 yds compared to what we would have liked to play at 7000 yds +.  That was the one item I found odd on my entire trip, I couldn't really understand the Scot's mentality for only allowing groups to play the shorter tees.  It would seem to me that if a course goes through the trouble to check players HDCP's then they should allow players to play certain tees based on some figure.  A few courses that we played actually did this, they checked our cards and said play wherever you like, while others checked for reasons unbeknownst to me.  Oh well....I suppose I'm being just an "ugly American".

Jamie,

I played as a single on my few rounds in St. Andrews.  I teed off #1 from the "regular" tees then moved to the tips for the rest of the round.  This was on the New course and Jubilee course.   Carnoustie was played as a threesome, entirely from the regular tees.

I'm a big fan of Carnoustie, probably from the "experience".  Here was a solid test of golf and my best memories are the stories told from the caddies.  We talk a lot about how the experience influences our opinions of a golf course (ie. Shadow Creek).  In this case the experience had nothing to do with luxuries (GPS, emerald green grass, bag boys, clubhouse, etc).  The old Carnoustie clubhouse was ugly.  My memory was making 4 on #16 (245 yard Par 3) and the caddie pulling me aside and telling me that Tom Watson never parred this hole either.  It's my "career bogey"... if there is such a thing.

Carnoustie is somewhat of a tease.  A rather pedestrian landscape from the first tee that quickly descends into wonderful dell.  Now this is more like it.  The anticipation escalates dramatically at the second - beautiful dunes, a clever green and above all else we're headed right out to sea.  Wow, that was one of the most beautiful holes we've ever played.  Alas, we're quickly rebuffed by turning inland at the 3rd.  

Our hearts soar again as we approach the massive 4th/14th green and even better we're headed back to the sea at the 5th to a wonderful green that seems to climb right up the dunes!  We're not too disappointed this time to turn away from the sea, as we've long read of the legendary Hogan's Ally at the 6th and every yard of this three-shotter is delightful, finishing in a beautifully bunkered green tucked in a corner among the gorse.  

A little air leaks out of the sails on 7 through 11, though these are solid holes and the leak is almost imperceptable.  We're buoyed by the cool sunken green at 12 and have our breath taken away by the sheer beauty of the one-shot 13th - our only regret being unable to play to all of the wonderful pin positions offered by the hour-glass green.  

What a treat to see a ball disappear over the Spectacles at 14, notwithstanding the fact that it's our third shot.  That 3-wood will come in handy into a stiff breeze on three of the next four holes, which prove to be nothing short of brutal and a lesson in the value of a solid-bogey and the respect demanded by a true championship golf course.  The options from the 17th tee are so overwhelming that we just swing hard and hope.   We quickly realize the quality of Lawrie's playoff performance should dwarf the foolishness of the Frenchman.  

The course demands that you play well.  In 30 degree weather, strong winds and sleet and hail, I did not.  I could not wipe the smile off my face that day.  I'm smiling now.  I love Carnoustie.

Mike

I've never been to Carnoustie and have seen only glimpses. I know Hogan won his only British there and that Van de Velde collpased on 18 but that's about it. What US course would you compare Carnoustie to?

Possibly Carnoustie is a little to straightforward?  

After all, it doesn't have the apparent mystery and subleties of The Old Course to decipher.  I don't mean that it hasn't a few tricks up it's sleeve, but it's definitely not The Times crossword of golf courses.

I loved it, even after starting 7,6,6.  It just has too many fantastic holes to ignore.  Much more than The Old Course.  

Another vote for Carnoustie being a wonderful course that gets undersold. So many different directions of holes. Forrest Richardson's book on routing illustrates this point perfectly.

Not many more enjoyable days, or complimentary rounds in the one day, than 18 at Carnoustie, and then a second 18 down the road at Panmure. What a cool little course. I played it on a late afternoon in wonderful light, by myself, and I think the loop cost me 15 quid !?!

Matthew