Ralph’s Golf Drone Pictures

Carnoustie Hole-by-Hole - Hole 6: “Hogan’s Alley”

Now we’re getting to the serious stuff…

The par-5 6th at Carnoustie, Hogan’s Alley, is surely one of the most famous par 5s in golf

Its name comes from one of the greatest players the game has ever seen

When Ben Hogan arrived at Carnoustie for the 1953 Open, most of the field took one look at the out of bounds running all the way down the left and sensibly opted for the much wider fairway to the right

He saw it differently

Hogan aimed towards the out-of-bounds fence and faded his drive into the tiny strip of fairway between the bunkers and the OB

The reward was the perfect angle from which to attack the par 5 in two

The risk was being a few yards away from reloading

Ballsy

Hogan went on to win the Claret Jug in what would remarkably be his one and only appearance in The Open and his exploits on the 6th became so legendary that the hole would eventually take his name

Fast forward 65 years to the 2018 Open and I spent a few hours sitting in the grandstand beside this tee before eventually giving in to the lure of the b**r tent

I was fascinated to see how the modern professionals would tackle Hogan’s Alley.

The answer?

They didn’t

I can’t remember seeing a single player take on Hogan’s route. Everyone headed out towards the safety of the right-hand side, seemingly with absolutely no interest in flirting with that out-of-bounds fence

Standing there watching the best players in the modern game repeatedly turn down the shot really put into perspective just how brave Hogan’s strategy had been 65 years earlier

And then there’s my favourite Hogan’s Alley story of all…

Legend has it that during the 1953 Open, when the final two rounds were both played on the Friday, Hogan’s ball-striking was so ridiculously precise that his afternoon tee shot finished in the divot he had made there that morning

Did that actually happen?

Or has nearly three-quarters of a century of Carnoustie folklore added a little artistic licence?

True story or urban legend? I’ll let you decide…

Either way, there aren’t many golf holes in the world so closely associated with one single shot, one strategy and one player

Hole 6 complete. Twelve to go…

Carnoustie Hole-by-Hole - Hole 5: “Brae”

Onto the 5th, another medium-length par 4, but one that finishes at my favourite green on the entire Championship Course

First, though, you have to get there

Jockie’s Burn makes yet another appearance, cutting across the fairway around 270 yards from the tee, while a collection of fairway bunkers litter the landing area and make you think carefully about how aggressive you want to be

But for me, the green is what makes this hole

It shares some similarities with the 2nd. It’s another enormous green from front to back and gradually gets narrower the further towards the back you go

There is one very important difference, though and that is the back section rises noticeably above the front of the green, with the putting surface falling away on either side

When the flag is perched up there, the 5th becomes an absolute brute

I genuinely think a back pin makes this hole a good shot harder than when the flag is down the front. Miss your approach slightly either side and suddenly what looked like a fairly straightforward mid-length par 4 becomes anything but

I remember playing Club Championship qualifying one night with the pin up the back. My ball was on the lower level in regulation. 6 shots later, I’d walked off with an 8 after putting into a bunker. I’ve had a lot of low points on the greens over the years but that might be the lowest.

When the wind is helping, the really big hitters can have a crack at driving the green, but that shot isn’t without consequences. I’ve also watched some of those same big hitters send it out of bounds towards the 6th or smash it in the bushes left of the green

Which brings us neatly back to… Tiger Woods

The first golf shot I ever remember seeing Tiger hit in person came right here during the 2007 Open

I was standing directly behind him when he pulled out a 2-iron and hit one of those famous, head-high Tiger stingers

And I can still remember it.

It sounded like a rocket going off.

The divot was beautifully square, unlike the triangular monstrosities I normally leave behind and the ball came off like it had been fired down a piece of string

I’d watched Tiger hit that shot countless times on television but seeing it from directly behind him was something else entirely

Quite frankly, the shot belonged on Pornhub. It was that good

Hole 5 complete. Thirteen to go…

Carnoustie Hole-by-Hole - Hole 4: “Hillocks”

Time for a confession…

The 4th is probably my least favourite hole on the Championship Course

From the regular members’ tees, it’s a fairly ho-hum, medium-length par 4. Jockie’s Burn continues its journey down the left-hand side, but there’s plenty of room out to the right

Realistically, you need to do something pretty stupid to bring the burn into play

Naturally, I have (multiple times)

The approach is played to a huge double green shared with the 14th - and that brings us, once again, to a certain Mr Tiger Woods

During the final round of the 2018 Open, Tiger was right in the hunt when his approach to the 14th sailed long and finished all the way over on the 4th green

He was left with a shot of around 40 yards back across the enormous putting surface

Most people would reach for the putter but Tiger reached for a wedge and pitched it from on the green

It’s a tactic that probably didn’t win him many friends in the Carnoustie greenkeepers’ sheds, but Tiger being Tiger, he got up and down for birdie and kept his ultimately fruitless charge for another Claret Jug alive

As for the 4th itself, while I find it fairly average from the regular members’ tees, move back to the Open Championship - or our “Hogan” - tee and suddenly it becomes a much more interesting hole

It doesn’t add a huge amount of length. Instead, it’s the subtle change in angle that transforms it

Suddenly the fairway bunkers you barely think about from the normal tee become much more relevant, while Jockie’s Burn feels that little bit more threatening down the left

It’s a great example of how moving a tee by a relatively small amount can completely change the way a hole looks and plays

Still, after a fairly demanding opening three holes, the 4th does at least offer the members a bit of a breather

And at Carnoustie, you should probably take those whenever you can get them…

Hole 4 complete. Fourteen to go…

Carnoustie Hole-by-Hole - Hole 3: “Jockie’s Burn”

The 3rd is the shortest par 4 on the Championship Course - but what it lacks in length, it more than makes up for elsewhere

For me, this is probably the hole that has changed more than any other during my time playing Carnoustie

When I first played it, there were fairway bunkers running down the left-hand side. Then came a big, flat bunker on the right. That was eventually filled in and, after a few different iterations over the years, we arrived at the hole we see today

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is Jockie’s Burn

It snakes its way down the left-hand side before cutting across the front of the green, ensuring that even on a par 4 measuring only a little over 300 yards, there’s plenty of trouble waiting

And that’s what I love about the 3rd - there are a remarkable number of ways to play such a short hole.

Lay up short
Play down the left
Play out to the right
Take on the fairway bunkers

Or if you have the firepower, you can just have a go at the green…

During the 2018 Open, I was sitting in the grandstand behind the 3rd green when the unmistakable silhouette of Jon Rahm appeared on the tee

Then came the sound of a driver being hit

A few seconds later, his ball landed safely on the green

It was one of those moments that really puts into perspective just how differently the best players in the world can play this golf course. Incredibly impressive!

Unfortunately, none of those strategic options appear to work particularly well for me

Statistically, the 3rd is the hardest hole for me on the entire front nine - which seems slightly ridiculous considering it’s also the shortest par 4!

But I suppose that sums up Carnoustie rather nicely…

Length isn’t always what makes a hole difficult

Hole 3 complete. Fifteen to go…

Carnoustie Hole-by-Hole - Hole 2: “Gulley”

We move onto one of my favourite holes on the entire Championship Course - and one that I think is often forgotten about simply because it comes so early in the round

“Gulley” is a brilliant par 4 where finding the fairway is only half the battle

One of its most distinctive features is the green. At around 60 yards from front to back, it’s absolutely enormous - but crucially, it also gets narrower the further back you go.

That means the pin position can completely change the hole. In my opinion, a back pin makes the 2nd play a good half a shot harder than when the flag is sitting towards the front

Then there’s Braid’s Bunker, sitting in the middle of the fairway

Named after the great James Braid, it would once have been a genuine hazard from the tee. Sadly, modern technology has largely taken it out of play, with today’s players simply flying it - a little reminder of just how much the game has changed

And remember when I said Tiger Woods wouldn’t be getting his last mention on this tour? Well, we didn’t have to wait very long…

The first time I ever saw Tiger in person was right here on the 2nd hole during the Sunday practice round before the 2007 Open

I remember seeing about half a dozen security guards appear, all wearing matching yellow polo shirts

And then, moments later, the great man himself appeared

For someone who had grown up watching Tiger dominate the game, seeing him in the flesh for the first time - on my home course - is something I’ll never forget

Hole 2 complete. Sixteen to go…

Carnoustie Hole-by-Hole - Hole 1: “Cup”

Welcome to Carnoustie Golf Links

Our hole-by-hole tour of the Championship Course starts with “Cup”, a sneaky good opening par 4 that can get your round off with a bang - in either direction!

The 1st has probably the most undulating fairway on the course, with the left-hand side sitting noticeably higher than the right. The ideal tee shot favours that higher left side, giving you a much better view and angle down into the green for your second shot

There is, however, one fairly significant reason you might not fancy going left… out of bounds!

Famously, during the 2007 Open Championship, Tiger Woods pulled a 4-iron beyond the white stakes here. Proof that even the very best aren’t immune to Carnoustie’s opening-hole nerves!

And as you’ll discover over the next 17 holes, that certainly won’t be the last time Tiger gets a mention on this tour… 🐅

The beautiful green sits down amongst the hollows of the dunes, with a hidden bunker front-right waiting to catch any approach that leaks that way

The green itself is typical Carnoustie - relatively flat, subtle in places and, when conditions are good, rolling beautifully pure

Personally, I’m always delighted to walk off the 1st with a 4

Although the number of times I’ve stood on that tee, looked at the out of bounds down the left, pooped my pants and bailed miles right is frankly frightening!

Hole 1 complete. Seventeen to go…

A closer look at the spectacular Stonehaven Golf Club

Perched high on the cliffs overlooking the North Sea, I’m not sure there’s a more dramatic setting for golf anywhere in Scotland

With views like these, it’s easy to see why Stonehaven has earned the nickname “Scotland’s Pebble Beach”

Have you played here?

Hole by hole tour of Carnoustie Golf Links from the sky anyone? Like the post if you would like to see that

Early mornings and late evenings at Monifieth Golf Links

5 miles west of Carnoustie, the course where links golf all started for Tom Watson

They’ve made a lot of improvements to the course over the last few years and is 100% worth a visit to play

A round at both Monifieth courses, Panmure and the 3 at Carnoustie is an absolutely fantastic few days golf