Carnoustie Country by IAGTO

Carnoustie Country

A feature from the IAGTO Directory 2013

Carnoustie Country

Carnoustie Country Welcome to a natural, historic golfing paradise Carnoustie Country, on Scotland’s east coast, is a golfers’ paradise. With 30 golf courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Country’s jewel in the crown - the Open venue, Carnoustie Championship - there’s no shortage of fabulous places to play or friendly clubhouses to relax in at the end of the day. Over the years, the very best golfers in the world have competed on Carnoustie Country’s courses, among them Henry Cotton, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Paul Lawrie, Padraig Harrington and top British women’s golfer, and Carnoustie Country Ambassador, Catriona Matthew. “I’ve wonderful memories of the games I’ve played on Carnoustie Country courses,” says Catriona, who was one of the top competitors in the Ricoh Women’s British Open when it was held in Carnoustie for the first time in 2011. “For those who want a true challenge, Carnoustie Championship is famous for its ability to test and hone golfing skills.” Many visiting golfers describe their first experience of Carnoustie Championship as a “dream come true” but it’s only one of many memorable links courses in the area. The Open qualifying courses of Montrose Medal, Panmure and Monifieth Medal cling to the dramatic coastline of the county of Angus, while across the impressive Tay Estuary lies another Open qualifier, Scotscraig. Further inland, there’s an abundance of glorious parkland courses, such as the immaculate Blairgowrie Rosemount, the beautifully tree-lined Downfield in Dundee and the picturesque heathland courses of Alyth and Kirriemuir, which are overlooked by majestic mountains. If that’s not enough, Carnoustie Country is also within easy travelling distance of the golf courses at St Andrews, Gleneagles and Donald Trump’s newly-opened course on the Aberdeenshire coast, Trump International Golf Links. In fact, we reckon Carnoustie Country marks the halfway point!

Beautiful scenery is plentiful 42

Carnoustie Country

Carnoustie Country’s location is one of the reasons it’s becoming an increasingly-popular destination for short golfing breaks and golfing holidays. Dundee has its own airport with direct flights from London City, Birmingham and Belfast. Located in the heart of Carnoustie Country, it is only 20 minutes from Carnoustie Championship itself. And at little over an hour’s drive from Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports, with flights from most UK airports, Europe and the USA, Carnoustie Country is easily accessible to golfers from all over the world. In addition, the area is well served by the national road and rail networks. Getting here is easy - it’s persuading golfers that it’s time to go home that can be the problem! There’s a fabulous choice of accommodation in Carnoustie Country, with somewhere to suit all budgets, from four-star hotels to top-class B&Bs, and from self-catering lodges to budget bunkhouses. But no matter where golfers stay, they can be sure of one thing - a warm welcome. Widely known as “the Cradle of Golf”, Carnoustie Country’s golfing heritage stretches back to the very earliest days of the game. This is where golf clubs were first swung, where many of the rules of the game were devised and where many of the first golf tournaments were held.

Glamis Castle

Celebrations have been taking place throughout 2012 to mark 450 years of golf on Montrose Links, where Montrose Medal is the fiftholdest golf course in the world, while Carnoustie Ladies Golf Club is the oldest functioning ladies golf club in the world. In fact, in recognition of our golfing heritage, the World Hickory Open Championship was held at Monifieth and Carnoustie Burnside in October 2012 and attracted golfers from across the globe.

Many of our historic courses were designed by golf’s legendary architects, chief among them being Old Tom Morris and James Braid. However, there are also a number of newer courses designed by some of today’s top golf course designers, such as Drumoig, Glenisla and Strathmore Rannaleroch. As well as being a wonderful environment for golf, there’s a host of other activities and experiences awaiting visitors to Carnoustie Country. Restaurants, pubs and bistros serving delicious, fresh Angus produce, excellent fishing, a wide range of shops, vast expanses of hill-walking country, mountain bike trails, bustling marinas, busy harbours, historic castles, abbeys and mansions, award-winning museums, historic towns, quaint villages, miles of sandy beaches - and a fascinating history that’s still evident today. The Bronze-Age Picts left behind their standing stones, intricately-carved monuments which are scattered across Angus. Arbroath Abbey, site of the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath, dominates the town’s skyline. Glamis Castle, as mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, is one of Scotland’s top visitor attractions. RRS Discovery, the ship that carried Captain Scott on his first expedition to the South Pole, is berthed in Dundee.

Arbroath Abbey

The City of Dundee is home to several courses, including Camperdown, Downfield and Ballumbie - and can boast a lot more besides. There’s a bustling city centre with excellent shopping, visitor attractions and entertainment, including theatres, cinemas and nightclubs. In addition, the city is currently undergoing an exciting transformation which will reunite Dundee with the River Tay and will include the V&A Museum, Scotland’s International Design Centre. 43

Carnoustie Country

Deil’s Head, Arbroath Cliffs

Carnoustie Country’s scenery is another of its secret weapons. The beaches, cliffs, mountains, forests and rivers of Angus provide the stunning background to many Carnoustie Country courses - and are also a fabulous environment for getting away from it all or trying out a new activity. How about gorge walking, mountain biking, canoeing or horse riding? On a golfing break in Carnoustie Country, there’s no shortage of things to do or places to go when not on the golf course! Great golf, breathtaking views and, of course, a good time are all part of the package!

Carnoustie Country golf courses The 30 links, inland and parkland golf courses within a 40-minute drive of Carnoustie Championship can test the skills of even low-handicap players to the limit but are also perfect for golfers who take a more relaxed approach to their game, making Carnoustie Country the perfect location for a golfing break. And, no matter where golfers play - or what their handicap is - they all agree on one point… Golf in Carnoustie Country is golf in its natural, historic environment. Often referred to as “the toughest links course in the world”, with its legendary bunkers and testing final three holes, as well as its immaculately-maintained fairways and greens and a new golf centre with excellent visitor facilities, Carnoustie Championship is one of the world’s must-play golf courses. Established in 1889, Blairgowrie Rosemount is one of Scotland’s finest inland golf courses. With luxurious green fairways set amidst pine, birch and heather, the course hugs the natural landscape, providing a satisfying, enjoyable golfing challenge for golfers of all abilities.

The 18th green at Blairgowrie Rosemount

Monifieth Medal is a testing combination of parkland and links, with gently-undulating ground flanked on many holes by rows of pine trees and deep bunkers - leaving golfers wanting to return again and again.

Carnoustie Championship 13th

Carnoustie Country A93 A957

A90 A92

A93

Edzell

 14

 6

A924

A827

   1

Blairgowrie

A923

A984

A822

Coupar Angus A923

A9 A85



A90

ay of T

M90

Newport on-tay

A930

Arbroath

Carnoustie Monifieth

Rail Tourist Information

A914

A91

St Andrews

Cupar A915

A912

A917

A91 A92

Falkland

A914

Kinross

Inverness

A916

Aberdeen

A915

A912 A823

27 10 22 11 21

Tayport

Auchtermuchty

A92

Newburgh

A913

A823

A92

A914

A9 A913

A933

A90

A928

th Fir

Perth

A932

A94

DUNDEE

Scone

Forfar

A928

A822

A926

A9 A94



Montrose

A934

          

A923

A93

A933

Kirriemuir

Alyth

A826

A935

 

A937

Brechin



A93

A90

Carnoustie Country Dundee Glasgow

A911

A915

A91

Edinburgh

Belfast

A955

A823

Manchester

A92 Birmingham

A905

A907

A909

A921 Cardiff

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Alyth Arbroath Ballumbie Castle Blairgowrie Lansdowne Blairgowrie Rosemount Brechin Caird Park Camperdown Carnoustie Buddon Carnoustie Burnside Carnoustie Championship Downfield Drumoig Edzell Forfar

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

London

Glenisla Kingennie Kirriemuir Letham Grange Old Course Letham Grange Glens Course Monifieth Ashludie Monifieth Medal Montrose Broomfield Montrose Medal Murrayshall Murrayshall Lynedoch Panmure Piperdam Scotscraig Strathmore Rannaleroch 45

Carnoustie Country

Scotscraig The 12th at Panmure

With tight fairways and compact, undulating greens, Panmure is much admired by golfers from home and overseas. In fact, the legendary Ben Hogan included the 6th at Panmure in a list of his top 18 holes! Scotscraig in Tayport, like Monifieth and Panmure, is an Open qualifier course but that’s not its only claim to fame. It’s also the 13th-oldest golf club in the world. Although close to the sea, an abundance of trees line many of the fairways and, with more than a touch of the heathland about it, Scotscraig can provide a challenge to even the most experienced golfers.

With its panoramic views of Cairngorms National Park, Edzell is one of the most scenic golf courses in Scotland. It is renowned for its well-maintained fairways and greens – and for being a straightforward, highly-enjoyable course. Kirriemuir, with avenues of woods, gorse and broom surrounding lush, undulating fairways with impeccable greens, is further proof that there’s much more to Carnoustie Country than links golf. Situated on the edge of the Grampian Mountains, this James Braid-designed course is a perfect example of heathland/parkland golf. The generous fairways and rolling greens of Strathmore Rannaleroch ensure this course is popular with golfers of all levels of skill and expertise. And, as the course overlooks the beautiful Vale of Strathmore, there’s the added bonus of a fabulous backdrop.

Camperdown Golf Club

These are only a few of the fabulous Carnoustie Country courses. To discover more, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com

The Montrose Medal course

Catriona Matthew, Carnoustie Country Brand Ambassador Catriona Matthew, Carnoustie Country Brand Ambassador

Follow in the Footsteps Follow in the Footsteps of of Cha Cha mpions mpions 30 30 courses courses within within a a 40 minute drive of 40 minute drive of Carnoustie Carnoustie Championship. Championship. • Tournaments to suit ALL, played over • Tournaments to suitlinks ALL,and played over a variety of famous astunning variety of famous linkswith and views inland courses stunning inland courses with views over the Angus Glens over the Angus Glens • Live the dream with the Carnoustie • Country Live the dream the Carnoustie Dream with Ticket – play on four Country Dream Ticket – play on four of the world’s classic links courses, of the world’s classic links courses, Montrose, Monifieth, Panmure and Montrose, Monifieth, Panmure and Carnoustie Championship Carnoustie Championship

Inverness Inverness Aberdeen

Carnoustie Aberdeen Country CarnoustieDundee Country Dundee

Glasgow Glasgow

Edinburgh Edinburgh

• Your ideal destination for your next • Your ideal destination your next golfing break… we canforarrange golfing break… we can arrange and flights, transfers, accommodation flights, transfers, accommodation and tee times tee times • Plenty to see and do… sample the • wonderful Plenty to see andproduce, do… sample the local visit castles wonderful local produce, visit castles and distilleries, great shopping and distilleries, great shopping

www.carnoustiecountry.com www.carnoustiecountry.com

Carnoustie Country

Carnoustie Country golf resorts Carnoustie Golf Hotel Although not strictly speaking a golf resort, as the hotel is a separate entity from the three courses on Carnoustie Links, Carnoustie Golf Hotel is a fabulous base for a golfing holiday. Located right on the edge of Carnoustie Championship, with views stretching up the fairway and the first tee only a few steps away, this four-star hotel is in the ideal location for many golfers. Carnoustie Burnside, Carnoustie Buddon and Panmure are within walking distance, while the links courses at Monifeith, Arbroath and Montrose are only a short drive - or train journey - away.

Carnoustie Golf Hotel Spa

Murrayshall House Hotel & Golf Courses Situated in 350 acres of beautiful park and woodland populated by deer, hare and wild birds, luxurious Murrayshall House Hotel offers stunning views across the Tay valley, excellent accommodation, fine dining and great golf! As well as its own 18-hole golf courses - Murrayshall and Lynedoch - this hotel is only 40 minutes from St Andrews, Gleneagles and Carnoustie.

Murrayshall House Hotel restaurant

Piperdam Golf & Leisure Resort Located on the edge of a loch in the heart of the Sidlaw Hills, Piperdam Golf and Leisure Resort offers a range of high-quality self-catering lodges - as well as a first class restaurant, excellent leisure facilities including a swimming pool, fitness suite and a range of outdoor activities, such as fishing, quad biking, target shooting and, of course, golf.

Piperdam has an 18-hole and a nine-hole golf course, as well as a driving range, short-game practice area and putting green, PGA tuition and a pro shop. Golfers can also take advantage of Piperdamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf-inclusive deal, where a one-off payment entitles residents to unlimited golf during their stay.

Carnoustie Championship course from the hotel

Carnoustie Country

Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort The luxury, four-star self-catering lodges at Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort are ideal for a golfing holiday in Carnoustie Country and a range of play-and-stay golfing packages are available As well as Kingennie’s nine-hole golf course, driving range and 18-hole putting green, there are another 29 courses within easy driving distance and Carnoustie Championship is just 10 minutes along the road. Forbes of Kingennie also offers world-class fishing, a waterside restaurant – and instant access to the beautiful Angus countryside. In 2014, the Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort will feature a new addition - The Angus. This 18-hole golf course, designed by none other than Darren Clarke, is part of a £55 million development which will also include a world-class youth golf academy and a five-star hotel.

Luxury four-star lodges

“I first stayed at Kingennie during the Open at Carnoustie in 2007 and fell in love with the place,” said Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open Champion. “It’s beautiful and perfect for a championship course. “We have some beautifully-contoured land to work with and, being so close to Carnoustie, a short drive from St Andrews and on the road north towards Royal Aberdeen, The Angus will be in a magical position. I can’t wait to play it myself.” To find out more about these resorts, and other places to stay in Carnoustie Country, visit www.carnoustiecountry.com Copy supplied by Carnoustie Country

Cover Photo: Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort***** â&#x20AC;˘ www.terre-blanche.com

For more info visit www.iagto.com

1 Trafalgar House, Grenville Place, London, NW7 3SA, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 8906 3377 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8906 8181 Email: info@iagto.com Website: www.iagto.com IAGTO Ltd. is registered in England as a professional membership organisation No. 3507678. SIC 9112. VAT 710 1940 78. Directors: P Walton, C Carugati, G Greenwood.