Over the centuries since golf was first played here, Carnoustie has always been an innovator and leader in the game of golf. Known for doing things ‘The Carnoustie Way’, the town and its people have significantly influenced the modern game that we know today.
Carnoustie sons played key roles in the formation of the PGA of Australia in 1911 and the PGA of America in 1916.
‘When Scottish golf professionals immigrated to the United States at the dawn of the 20th century, it marked the birth of American golf… Carnoustie Golf Club members George Fotheringham chaired our first PGA Annual Meeting and James Hepburn chaired our Organizing Committee… James Maiden became one of our first Vice Presidents… We recognize the extraordinary connection that Carnoustie Golf Club played in our Association’s growth.’ – Paul K Levy, 40th President of the PGA of America
'St Andrews is the Home of Golf but Carnoustie is the home of Australian and American professional golf.' – Legendary American golf writer, Herb Warren Wind
At the start of the 20th century around 300 of Carnoustie’s sons emigrated to Australia, South Africa and Canada but mainly to the USA to develop Scotland’s historic game into a truly world sport. They are remembered as The Carnoustie 300.
They taught the Carnoustie swing, – a template for the modern golf swing – to avid learners; they taught and coached; they played (and won); they advised on the design and manufacture of golf clubs in their new countries; they designed golf courses; they caddied; and they administered.
They were true ambassadors for their sport and their home country.
Carnoustie natives went on to establish the Professional Golfers Associations of Australia and the USA.
Between 1898 and 1930, it is said that over 150 professional club posts in North America were held by Carnoustie expatriates.
Carnoustie men have won the Open Championships of Britain, USA, Canada, South Africa and Australia.
Many of these golfing missionaries have long since been forgotten but some became leading figures in the history of the game.
One is Stewart Maiden who was a renowned teacher of the game. His most famous client was the great Bobby Jones, the amateur who achieved a unique Grand Slam by winning both the Amateur and Open Championships in Britain and America during 1930. He said later, “the best luck I ever had was when Stewart Maiden came from Carnoustie to be the pro at the East Lake Club”.
Carnoustie’s most famous players of the era were the Smith brothers – Willie, Alex and Macdonald. Between them they competed in the US Open over 50 times between 1898 and 1937, winning 3 times, finished tied or as runner up 7 times and earned 22 top 5 finishes.
Willie and Alex won three US Opens between them. They are the only siblings in the history of the sport to have won a Major. In 1899 Willie became the first winner of America’s national title when he emerged victorious at Baltimore Golf Club. His winning margin was 11 strokes, a margin not surpassed until Tiger Woods won by 15 shots at Pebble Beach in 2000.
The first indication that the game was being played on these links can be found in the Parish Records of 1560 when the game of ‘gowff’ was mentioned. The game has played an important part in the town’s life ever since.
By 1842, the Carnoustie Golf Club had been formed, making it the oldest artisan club in the world.
Around that time, the Carnoustie course consisted of 10 holes, laid out by Allan Robertson, the greatest golfer of his time and the man generally acknowledged to be the first golf professional. Later, in 1867, Tom Morris Senior extended the course to 18 holes but it was not until 1926, when the great James Braid was brought in to oversee sweeping changes, that the course became ready to receive the Open Championship.
Carnoustie welcomes visitors from across the globe who seek to test their game on ‘Golf’s Greatest Test’.