Carnwath

Willie Auchterlonie set out the original fairways at Carnwath in 1907 and this initial 9-hole layout was doubled in size some fifteen years later. In the early 1960s, when the club acquired additional land on the south side of the property, GM Clark, who was a club champion around that time, redesigned the course.

The club logo includes a figure of Carnwath motte, built by the Somerville family in the 12th century. It’s a substantial mound, around thirty feet high, which was probably built to defend an old ford of the Carnwath Burn. It’s an imposing feature that’s hard to miss as it occupies a prominent position immediately behind the first green.

A round at Carnwath begins in rather unconventional style, with par threes played at the first two holes. It may sound a little strange but this arrangement works quite well, with holes merely accommodating the land that’s available around the clubhouse. In fact, most of the course (holes 3 to 15) is set out on the other side of the A70.

Even then, space is tight in places on that side of the road, where the 8th fairways crosses both the 7th (near the green) and the 12th (close to the tee). Holes 9 and 11 also cross over but there’s never any real danger from stray shots. Nevertheless, it pays to have your wits about you when playing the six holes between the 7th and 12!

Toughest hole on the front nine is probably “Lang Whang,” the long par four 8th, which doglegs uphill and left, leaving a blind approach to a plateau green. On the inward half, there’s a lovely sequence of holes between the 13th and 15th, with “Burnhouse” at the short par four 14th the best chance of picking up a birdie.