Carnoustie Championship Review
Course review · St Andrews · 2 rounds played
Played & written by Marcus Santana
By Marcus Santana · Published May 3, 2026
8.9/ 10
The short version
Carnoustie does not care about you. It is the hardest course I have played in Britain and the finish is genuinely intimidating even at 15 handicap.
How it played
Length plus wind plus revetted bunkers. I lost three balls in one round and never once thought the course was unfair — it just kept asking harder questions.
How it looks
Grim, grey and beautiful in a hard way. The Barry Burn snakes across the closing holes like it was designed to ruin days.
What won me over
- the closing three holes are the best in Scotland
- proper championship test, no gimmicks
- less crowded than St Andrews
Good to know before you buy
- brutal for high handicaps in wind
- the town itself is charmless
My verdict
8.9/10. Bring your best striking week.
Marcus Santana
Founder & Lead Tester, Homie Golf
Every product on this site is played, walked or worn before it gets a score. No paid placements, no press-release numbers.
Course reviewed
Carnoustie Championship
More reviews
9.3TaylorMade TP5x Review
Golf Ball · 12 rounds, 4 courses, one very tired sleeve
By Marcus Santana
This Week's Course Setup: A True Test of Precision, Not Just Power
The subtle nuances of this week's PGA Tour venue will expose who has the all-around game and who's just riding a hot putter.
By Marcus Santana
Putting and Short-Game Trends on the PGA Tour: A Deep Dive
From belly putters to chipping yips, I'm breaking down what's working (and what isn't) on the greens this season.
By Marcus Santana