The woolly hats and mittens provided by FootJoy for the winners of our ‘Win a round with us at Carnoustie’ competition could well come in handy on October 27.
The forecast is for cool breezes to sweep across this famous
old Scottish championship links and help it live up to its reputation as the toughest course in Britain.
Our competition attracted nearly 300 entries from Golfmagic members desperate to pit their wits and their golf game against a course, which has just hosted many of the world’s best golfers in the Dunhill Links Championship.
It has also been the venue for many famous Open championships, including Ben Hogan’s only title in 1953, Tom Watson’s play-off triumph over Jack Newton in 1975 and Paul Lawrie extra holes victory over Justin Leonard and the beleaguered Jean Van de Velde in 1999.
Following in the footsteps this time will be Tim Ellis from Cambridgeshire, Christine Malcolm from Muckhart, Morris Forbes from Edinburgh, Alan Baker from Preston and Glaswegian David McGuire.
Competition winners venue
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Tim Ellis (42) is an architectural technician who specialises in designing petrol stations (‘Well someone has to,’ he says) and plays golf to a nine handicap at John O’Gaunt Golf Club, with his wife Christine.
"I used to work as an event manager on the Mastercard Tour and got to play with a few of the UK's up and coming pros, including Stephen Dodd, Andy Raitt and Sean Whiffen," he says.
"I'm delighted and totally surprised to have won your competition and am really looking forward to it."
For Christine Malcolm, who describes herself as a ‘frisky pensioner’, Carnoustie will be a return to her roots where she was once a member in the 1960s.
"I started playing 50 years ago and achieved a seven handicap and now it’s up to 15 at my home course at Dollar, where I’m ladies secretary."
Morris Forbes (43) is an official at the Royal Bank of Scotland’s headquarters in Edinburgh and plays to a 16 handicap at Duddingston. He revealed he’s a third of the way through his ambition to play the 540 clubs in Scotland.
"Carnoustie is my favourite among the 180 or so that I have already visited. I played my second ever round of golf there when I was in my early teens and scored 131. I hope I can better that now," he says.
Don’t hold your breath Morris! Despite the rough being trimmed and new technology in equipment much improved, the old lion can still bare its teeth.
Completing the line up are Alan Baker from Preston with an 18 handicap at Shaw Hill, who expects to be making his appearance almost direct from the night shift at a local brewery and David McGuire a student from Windyhill Golf Club.
Says David (known on the Golfmagic forum as ‘Monty Burns’) commented: "I have just returned from watching Dunhill Links tournament but was disappointed at not getting to see Carnoustie. But now I’m playing it. Brilliant!"
During our visit our winners will help us compile the ultimate feature on the course and re-live some of its history. It will add to our popular new
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