Panmure Golf Club is situated just two miles to the west of the Championship course at Carnoustie. One of the oldest golf clubs in the world dating back to 1845 it started life a little further down the coast in Monifieth as a nine-hole course, was extended to ten holes by 1851 but reverted to nine by 1871 as the layout was not to the liking of the members. It was finally extended to 18 holes by 1880, and due to several clubs being playing from this Monifieth site, in 1899 the club moved to its existing site in Barry. James Braid made the last significant changes to the course in 1922, adding length and relocating the 14th green, and since then, the course has more or less remained as was.
The stature of Panmure is seen in the number of tournaments it has hosted down the years. It has been an Open Championship qualifying venue in seven different years, and a Senior Open final qualifying venue in 2010 and 2016, as well as a Ladies British Open qualifying venue in 2011. It co-hosted the Amateur Championships in 1992 and 2015 as well as many other leading amateur tournaments. Of particular note, and not amongst the accolades above, would be the visit of a legendary golfer from the USA. The 1953 (British) Open Championship was held at nearby Carnoustie and was the only Open that Ben Hogan participated in. The practice ground at Carnoustie was particularly bust and so Hogan and his caddie, Cecil Timms, decamped to the nearby links at Panmure for two weeks solid practice. Hogan needed not only the peace and quiet, but also the time to get used to playing with the smaller British golf ball. Hogan, tied for the lead going into the final round shot a 68 and won by four strokes. The green-side pot bunker at the 6th hole, Hogan’s favorite on the links, was renamed “Hogan’s Bunker” and remains so to this day after the great man.
The opening and closing holes at Panmure, the land latterly acquired by the club back in the late-1880’s, affords the golfer a soft start and finish to the round, but that cannot be said of the whole of Panmure. Holes four through fifteen provide a severe links test with all the characteristics of a Braid course in abundance. Panmure is in many ways defined by its par three holes. The 234yard 15th hole is a particularly tough test even in favorable conditions, and that rounds off a stretch of four holes from the 11th that are the core of that test. The links at Panmure is always in fabulous condition and is just one of those courses that you would happily play every day if it were available to you.
A round at Panmure can only be deemed complete once you have wandered through the corridors of its fabulous, welcoming clubhouse. The elegant wood-paneled walls and large comfortable armchairs are designed to entice any golfer to rest awhile and recount the round just had or challenge ahead. This is eighteen holes not to be overlooked when in this area and is, in our opinion, a must-play on any golf vacation in Scotland.
