Panmure Golf Club, on the Barry links near Carnoustie, has served as a final qualifying venue for The Open on seven occasions. In 1953, Ben Hogan quietly prepared here for two weeks, accompanied only by his caddy, before winning his sole Open Championship at Carnoustie – the par-4 6th hole is still named after him, complete with a pot bunker he suggested.
I played this gem of a links course while I was in Carnoustie to watch the Rory McIlroy’s and Co. during the Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2022. The day will find its way in the history books as one of the worst ever to play golf. In fact, the weather was so bad that I had the whole course on my own. And so the clubhouse and the pro shop and the car park. Everything. But even in these conditions this seven time final qualifying venue for the Open was fun. Well, kind of. Favourite hole? Clearly the par 5 14th. Birdied it!
