Montrose (1562 Course)

The 1562 Course is the fifth oldest golf course in the world, and it is a layout that keeps that history alive to this day.  

 

The course has remained relatively unchanged since then, with Harry Colt and Martin Hawtree making slight changes, the latter to combat erosion. 

 

The 1562 Course has played host to Final Qualifying for the Open Championship at times during its history, usually when Carnoustie plays host to the tournament.  

 

  

Visit the Montrose (1562 Course) website here.  

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The championship layout at Montrose is named the 1562 Course as that is the year that golf dates back to on these parts. 

 

It is the fifth oldest golf course in the world, with the original Montrose Golf Club being established at the beginning of the 19th Century. 

 

The great Harry Colt would then design the Broomfield Course, which was opened in the 1900s, before coming back to make changes to the 1562 Course a few years later.  

 

Martin Hawtree, one of the great golf course designers of his generation, realigned parts of the 1562 in the 2000s because of coastal erosion. 

The 1562 Course at Montrose is golf in its original, most basic form - and it is all the better for it. The length, shape and difficulty of the holes are determined less by the architect than the demands of the land. It is easy to imagine what it was like here centuries ago before the grass was cut, and greens and tees defined because that is all that has changed. You almost think it would have been impossible to arrive at any other routing. Today, the Par 71 layout plays just shy of 6,600 yards from the tips, but the wind will obviously be a huge factor in proceedings. 

 

The opening two holes on the course are both par 4s of less than 400 yards, but that only tells half the story. The 1st takes you down to the coastline, with the 2nd bringing the North Sea into play down its right side. When you stand on the 3rd tee - its title 'Table' tells all - what you are looking at is the original version of a design replicated on thousands of courses all over the world since. The tee is on one high point, the green across a valley on the next 135 yards away. The rest is up to the wind. Genius then, and genius now. It might be fractionally easier to find the green with the more stable and penetrating modern ball, but the challenge is unchanged since the day it was designed.  

 

The 4th is only 360 yards, while the 5th could be seen as drivable for the longest of hitters. It is a par 4 of well under 300 yards, played uphill around a bunker that guards the front left of the green. 6 is the only par 5 on the front nine and plays parallel to the beach. Anything wildly right off the tee will see you taking another ball out of your bag. However, at just 510 yards from the tips, this is another hole that offers up an opportunity. After the short 7th, you make the turn inland for the 8th, but that sea breeze will still catch you out. The front nine ends with the hardest hole on the 1562 Course. The 9th is a 440-yard par 4 with out of bounds lining the right side and gorse down the left. Anything away from the fairway and you’re in trouble. 

 

10 and 11 continue the tough run around the turn on the 1562. The 11th is the longest par 4 on the card at 445 yards from the tips. Two greenside bunkers and a deceptive green just add to the challenge at the end of this hole. The 12th is only 150 yards (one of two par 3s on the back side), while 13 is only 320 yards, and another that might be seen as drivable for the longest of hitters.  

 

The closing stretch on the 1562 begins with the tough 14th, which has gorse lining both sides of the fairway. 15 is the longest hole on the course, pushing 550 yards from the tips. You may opt to go for it in two, but only a perfect shot will avoid the bunkers and find the putting surface. The tough run continues with the 230-yard par 3 16th. Even if you find the green, a two-putt is not necessarily a guarantee... Take a par and run to the 17th tee. There, you’ll find a strong par 4 with out of bounds lining its right side. The closing hole on the 1562 Course is slightly easier, but there are plenty of sand traps to avoid, both on the drive and with your approach. 

Where is Montrose (1562 Course) located?  
Montrose Golf Links is located on the eastern coastline of Scotland, north of Dundee. The course runs along the coast, with views out to the North Sea from pretty much every part of Montrose Golf Links. The venue sits just off the A92, which runs from Dunfermline.  

 

Montrose sits on the train line that runs between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, stopping at Perth and Dundee on route. Trains run regularly in both directions, and the station is just over a mile by road from the golf club. The nearest major airport to Montrose Golf Links is Aberdeen – the third busiest airport in the country. For those looking for a wider range of destinations, Edinburgh Airport is just under 100 miles to the south. 

What golf facilities does Montrose (1562 Course) offer?  
As well as having two courses, Montrose Golf Links is also home a great practice area. There is a driving range and a short game area, allowing golfers to fine tune their games before taking to either the 1562 or Broomfield Courses.  

What are the green fees at Montrose (1562 Course)?  
The price of a green fee at Montrose (1562 Course) changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Montrose (1562 Course) visit their website here. 

 

  

Visit the Montrose (1562 Course) website here. 

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.