Carnoustie is another of those quaint Scottish seaside towns where golf was played long before a community evolved
Historical records prove that "duntin' the gutty" had begun on the links by 1527. Believe it or not, it was almost the nineteenth century before a long sleep on the Carnoustie links (forced on an exhausted joiner who was making his way home to Barry after a long day's work in Arbroath) kick-started the growth of the town.
Centuries later, Carnoustie is widely acknowledged as the hardest links in the world. Six Open Golf Championships have been staged at Carnoustie and the seventh will be held there in July 2007. Although there have been countless moments of golfing drama in every one, the near-pantomime at the 18th hole in Jean Van de Velde's final round in 1999 will never be forgotten. Carnoustie's finishing stretch is recognised as the stiffest in the British Open rota; there is no point within any of the six closing holes at which a golfer can allow himself the slightest feeling of complacency.
In July 2007, the greatest golfers in the world will return to Carnoustie in the hope that they might (for once) put a dent in its reputation as a "Tiger" golf course which takes no prisoners.
Scotland's leading publisher of golf course photography, Donald Ford, spent many years as a youngster on holiday in Carnoustie. His parents retired there and he and his wife are now themselves resident in Carnoustie. He has suffered as much embarrassment over the golf courses as anyone else. He is well qualified, therefore, to tell The Carnoustie Story.
Liberally laced with his wonderful photographs of Carnoustie's Championship, Burnside and Buddon courses, The Carnoustie Story is a book which lovers of Scottish links, and this unique golfing location in particular, will cherish.
You can now view a preview of "The Carnoustie Story" at www.the-carnoustie-story.com.
To be published in hardback in May 2006, the book will be printed as a limited edition of 3000 copies - each numbered and signed by the author.
