New figures reveal scale of Carnoustie Links investment during first year in private hands

The private operators of Carnoustie Golf Links invested £12m in the first year of a landmark deal which aims to bring The Open Championship back to Angus.

New figures have revealed the scale of spending by Carnoustie Golf Heritage and Hospitality Group. Investment stretched beyond the legendary Championship links to town venues CGHH has bought since taking over the Angus Council-owned assets.

The first year performance included 130,000 rounds of golf played on the three town courses.

Local authority officials say the first full year of operations has gone “extremely well.” The focus is now on targets to put Carnoustie “in the best place possible” for The Open’s return to Angus for the first time since 2018.

The Old Course in St Andrews will host the 155th Open next July. Royal Lytham and St Annes is confirmed as the venue for 2028.

Open Championship venues are only released by the R&A a couple of years in advance. But there has been close communication with the governing body around what must be in place for the event’s comeback.

Angus Council assistant chief executive Ian Lorimer will deliver the first-year progress report to councillors next week.

It reveals there were 2,876 season ticket holders at Carnoustie in the first year of the new arrangements. Of those, 1,450 were holders of the three-course ticket which gives access to the Championship, Burnside and Buddon courses. An annual adult 7-day season ticket cost £815 last year.

Under an agreement set up to ensure access rights for local golfers, 3,100 is the maximum number of season tickets available for the three courses.

The total number of rounds played across the three 18-hole layouts was 130,488. Just over 90,000 were by season ticket holders.

The Championship course hosted 47,993 rounds. Of those, 22,211 were visitors, paying up to £360 a round.

An annual review of the courses revealed the Championship layout as being in “stunning condition”.

The report adds: “Course conditioning on the Burnside and Buddon courses (was) assessed to be in keeping with the high standards synonymous with Carnoustie.

“Substantial investment of more than £12m has now been made or is planned in the near future by CGHH,” adds Mr Lorimer.

On the courses, it included irrigation systems on the Buddon and Burnside and green keeping equipment.

It also incorporated refurbishment works at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa and the acquisition and refurbishment of Simpson’s golf shop and two town hospitality venues, Maxi’s and Chillies.

CGHH recently revealed the first look at a planned heritage centre in Simpson’s on Links Parade, the world’s second oldest golf shop.

In June, The Courier exclusively revealed CGHH plans to add a 25-bedroom extension to the 100-bed hotel.

It brought confirmation of the operator’s intention to expand Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa rather than demolishing it and building a new hotel.

“Based on the discussions with representatives of Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee and CGHH the first full year under the new operating arrangements has gone extremely well,” says Mr Lorimer.

“(There were) no significant issues encountered and strong partnership working among all parties to the legal agreements evident.”

Mr Lorimer also sets out future plans for CGHH to hit key markers in the operating agreement.

“Although the legal agreements for Phase 1 had a maximum lifespan of eight years to 2033 the sub-contract agreement includes five specific and defined milestones for CGHH to bring forward their long-term investment plans,” he states.

“The milestones were intended to ensure Phase 2 progresses within a legally enforceable timeline.

“It is that phase which is anticipated to achieve the Council’s objective of securing the return of The Open to Carnoustie.

“The focus of those milestones was mostly related to investment in the Carnoustie Golf Hotel.

“CGHH now propose a broader range of investments to the hotel, golf courses and other local facilities.

“Those broader investment plans go further than originally planned.

“(Those) are considered likely to strengthen Carnoustie’s case with the R&A to again host the Open Championship.”

Mr Lorimer wants to see the CGHH deal widened and the values increased to “better reflect CGHH’s emerging investment plans”.

“Revisions to the milestones will not alter the overall timescale for delivery of Phase 2 proposals only the steps within it,” he adds.

The second phase aims to secure a long-term agreement for Carnoustie.

The exact length of that is yet to be decided but would be a multi-decade arrangement possibly extending to 100 years or more.

This article appeared in the Courier on 18 September 2026