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Played by NCG: Panmure

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Charming, traditional and fabulous

Panmure

Reason for a Panmure Golf Club review

We were guests of the Carnoustie Links Trust, on a two-day excursion playing Panmure Golf Club and the championship course at Carnoustie for the Media Cup 2016.

Where is it?

Panmure, founded in 1845, is about two miles outside of Carnoustie. Also close to Monifieth, it is found in Barry.

What to expect?

If you could draw a picture of what links golf is you wouldn’t be far away with a sketch of Panmure.

Swirling and gusting winds protect and surround rolling dunes. Blind tee shots abound and lead to undulating greens that are hard to hold and even harder on which to putt.

Panmure

Firm surfaces means the ball travels a long way but this brings its own dangers with the kind of rough that likes to wrap around club heads and send balls off at funny angles lurking just off the fairway.

My best bit?

Having been sheltered around Yorkshire courses for most of my golfing career, I’m somewhat embarrassed to say this was my links debut.

Maybe I was inspired but the surroundings but I produced arguably my best golf of the season so far, splitting fairways and finding greens in regulation.

Not too many times have I enjoyed a better feeling than seeing the ball soaring high into such a wonderful backdrop.

What to look out for

The 6th is the signature hole. Hogan, named after the legendary American champion Ben, was said to be his favourite in Scotland. The Wee Ice Mon practised for two weeks at Panmure ahead of his successful tilt at the Open in 1953 – the only time he played in the championship.

Panmure

He was very taken with the course as he learned to play off the tight lies and suggested adding a bunker on the right hand side of the green. It has enthralled ever since.

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The clubhouse is a replica of the Calcutta Golf Club building – a result of the association between Panmure and the Calcutta Jute Trade. It remains as it looked a century ago, with only the entrance area having been altered.

Panmure

When I go back

I could quite happily play this course for the rest of my days.

[course view=”list” id=26205]

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About the author

Steve Carroll
Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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