Panmure

The Dundee Advertiser published on 24th November 1897 had reported that “the ground was surveyed, Tom Morris was engaged to go over it, and as his opinion was favourable” but it appears some financial problem with two of the land owners delayed the project by a couple of years.

In the end, the course was built by the same contractor – R. Duff of Edinburgh – who constructed the St Andrews New and Muirfield courses, both of which were Old Tom Morris layouts.

This Open Qualifying course, a few miles south from Carnoustie on the road to Dundee, lies inland from the Monifieth Links, but Panmure has all the characteristics of a championship links.

There have been changes, and the course has been lengthened from its original design, many of the changes coming from suggestions of James Braid in 1922.

Ben Hogan spent two weeks on the links prior to the Open at Carnoustie in 1953, getting used to the terrain, tight lies and the 1.62 inch ball. It is even reported he cut the 17th green to his specification, and returned the cleaned mower to the head greenkeeper! He won the Open by four shots, creating a course record with 68 in the final round!

There is a gentle beginning before Panmure opens up beyond the pine forest. Hillocks and heather present the same challenge as the more traditional sand dunes. The 6th played at an angle is only 387 yards, but the second shot to the raised green poses a stern test.

The real quality of the course is in the next few holes – so often the case in links golf – either side of the turn. The 7th is the longest par four at 418 yards, the 8th threads between hills and the 10th a long dogleg right, before a change of direction at 11. 12 and 13 are not long, but penalty awaits a wayward shot.

The longest hole, par five 535 yards 14th, precedes a long par three, 234 yards, and then three par fours, long but fairly straight, takes you home.