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The Carnoustie Burnside Course is an 18-hole, par-68 public links course at Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland. Its origins date to 1892, when Carnoustie professional and clubmaker Robert Simpson laid out a nine-hole auxiliary course to relieve pressure on the main links. The layout reached 18 holes in 1914 and was further upgraded and formally named the Burnside Course in 1934.
The present White course measures 5,943 yards and carries a course rating of 69.5 and slope of 125. Although considerably shorter than Carnoustie's Championship Course, the Burnside uses the same coastal links ground, with heather, gorse, pot bunkers, contoured greens and the Barry Burn shaping much of the challenge. Its official hole names include Peninsula, Burn, Punchbowl, Scoup and Sinkies.
The course is an 18-hole links golf course. It plays to par 68, 5,434m (5,943 yards), course rating 69.5 and slope rating 125. Designed by Peter Alliss and Robert Simpson, the course originally opened in 1892. It is open to the public. On-site facilities include Junior Membership, Pro Shop, Driving Range, Putting Green, Chipping Area, Practice Bunker, Caddie Service, Club Hire, and 10 more.
The Burnside began as a practical response to Carnoustie's growing popularity. In 1892 Robert Simpson of Carnoustie laid out a nine-hole auxiliary course intended to reduce pressure on the main links and provide additional golf for residents and visitors. Visit Angus notes that this was an unusually early example of a major golf venue adding a second course, predating the New Course at St Andrews by two years.
The auxiliary layout did not remain static: it developed gradually and reached a full 18 holes in 1914. Two decades later it was lengthened and upgraded again, and in 1934 Carnoustie's official heritage timeline records the opening of the improved layout under the Burnside Course name.
No surviving design statement from Robert Simpson was located, and the people responsible for the 1914 and 1934 changes are not identified clearly enough in authoritative sources to assign additional architectural credit. The present course nevertheless reflects the natural links landscape around the Barry Burn. It is substantially shorter than the Championship Course but uses narrow playing corridors, gorse, heather, pot bunkers, uneven lies and small contoured greens to create difficulty.
Several holes depend directly on the burn rather than length for their strategy: it wraps around three sides of the fifth green and crosses the line of play twice on the approach to the 17th.
The course's evolution spans several distinct stages: Simpson's nine holes in 1892, expansion to 18 holes in 1914 and the major upgrade and formal Burnside naming in 1934. Its current scorecard retains an unusual mix of short and long holes, including six par threes from the White tees and only two par fives. The official card now provides White, Yellow, Green and Black configurations, together with separate women's ratings from Green and Black.
Carnoustie continues to maintain the Burnside alongside the Championship and Buddon as one of three full-length courses on the Links.
The defining event in the Burnside's competitive history came in 1953. Ben Hogan, making his only appearance in The Open Championship, was required to qualify and shot 70 on the Burnside. S.
Open and Open Championship in the same season. The Burnside was also one of all three Carnoustie courses used for the tenth anniversary World Hickory Open in 2015. The club itself singles out the fifth and 14th among its notable par threes and describes the 17th as one of the strongest par fours at Carnoustie.
The Burnside remains an 18-hole, par-68 public links course and is bookable by visiting golfers through Carnoustie's online tee-time system. The White course measures 5,943 yards at 69.5/125, with progressively shorter Yellow, Green and Black options. Unlike the Championship Course, the Burnside remains available for winter visitor golf, although fairway mats, temporary greens, shortened holes or routing changes can apply from November through March.
Golfers also have access to Carnoustie's broader facilities, including its practice areas, Performance Centre, professional instruction, golf shop, caddie and rental services, locker facilities and The Rookery restaurant.
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| Fee Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Adult - 1 April to 30 April | £99 | Single-round Burnside Course adult green fee. |
| 2026 Adult - 1 May to 31 October | £135 | Single-round Burnside Course adult green fee. |
| 2026 Junior 14-18 - All Year | £67.5 | Single-round Burnside Course junior rate for ages 14 through 18 inclusive. |
| 2026 Juvenile 13 & Under - All Year | £33 | Single-round Burnside Course juvenile rate for ages 13 and younger. |
| 2027 Adult - 29 March to 30 April | £105 | Published 2027 single-round Burnside Course adult green fee. |
| 2027 Adult - 1 May to 31 October | £144 | Published 2027 single-round Burnside Course adult green fee. |
| 2027 Junior 14-18 - All Year | £72 | Published 2027 Burnside Course junior rate for ages 14 through 18 inclusive. |
| 2027 Juvenile 13 & Under - All Year | £36 | Published 2027 Burnside Course juvenile rate for ages 13 and younger. |
Prices are indicative and subject to change. Contact the course to confirm current rates.
| Front 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 33 |
| Metres | 292 | 417 | 157 | 418 | 144 | 306 | 331 | 388 | 149 | 2602 |
| Yards | 319 | 456 | 172 | 457 | 158 | 335 | 362 | 424 | 163 | 2846 |
| Index | 18 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 8 | - |
| Back 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 68 |
| Metres | 302 | 340 | 350 | 347 | 208 | 448 | 138 | 422 | 277 | 2832 | 5434 |
| Yards | 330 | 372 | 383 | 379 | 228 | 490 | 151 | 461 | 303 | 3097 | 5943 |
| Index | 15 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 17 | - | - |
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