The Angus golf courses beyond Carnoustie give you plenty of scope to add variety to a break. Panmure and Monifieth lie along the coast to the west, while Arbroath and Montrose are natural choices to the east. Inland options include Forfar, Kirriemuir, Brechin and Edzell.
You do not need to fit all of them into one visit. A better approach is to choose a direction for each day, allow space between rounds and keep at least one part of the trip flexible.
Angus golf courses along the coast
The coastal courses sit in two broad groups. Panmure and Monifieth are on the Dundee side of Carnoustie. Arbroath and Montrose are farther up the Angus coast.
This makes it straightforward to group courses without crossing the county several times in one day. It also gives you a choice between building a trip around one stretch of coast or using Carnoustie as the central point.
Panmure and Monifieth
Panmure Golf Club is at Barry, immediately west of Carnoustie. Its links setting makes it an obvious addition for golfers who want to continue the coastal character of their trip without heading far from town.
A little farther west, Monifieth Golf Links has two courses: the Medal Course and the Ashludie Course. They provide useful options for golfers arranging several rounds in the same part of Angus.
Panmure and Monifieth can be considered together when planning a western day. Whether you play both will depend on available tee times, daylight and how much golf your group wants to take on. Check the official club and links websites before fixing the order of play.
Arbroath and Montrose
Arbroath Golf Links continues the coastal theme east of Carnoustie. It is a convenient course to consider alongside time in Arbroath itself, particularly if some members of the party are not playing every round.
Montrose Golf Links has the 1562 Course and the Broomfield Course. This gives groups another place where more than one layout can be considered, although current availability should always be confirmed directly with the venue.
Arbroath and Montrose work naturally as separate days. They can also be paired in a longer day for golfers who actively want two rounds, provided suitable times are available. Avoid making the schedule too tight, especially if the trip includes a main round at Carnoustie.
Adding an inland course
A golf break in Angus does not have to consist entirely of links golf. Turning inland changes the scenery and the feel of the round, while still keeping you within the wider county.
Forfar Golf Club and Kirriemuir Golf Club are useful choices to the north-west of Carnoustie. Both offer a contrast with the exposed coastal ground. They can be considered together when planning a day in that part of Angus, though one unhurried round may suit the wider trip better than trying to fit in two.
Brechin Golf Club is another inland option. Its setting provides a change from the dunes and coastal views that shape much of a Carnoustie-based itinerary.
Farther north, Edzell Golf Club has the Old Course and the shorter West Water Course. Check the club’s own information when deciding which layout fits your plans, as course access and arrangements can change.
The inland clubs are particularly useful when the aim is variety rather than simply collecting as many links rounds as possible. One inland day between coastal rounds can make each course feel more distinct.
How to arrange the trip
Start with the round that matters most to your group. For many visitors that will be Carnoustie Golf Links. Once that date is settled, add other courses around it rather than trying to make every day equally busy.
The Angus golf courses can then be grouped into a simple pattern:
- West of Carnoustie: Panmure and Monifieth.
- East along the coast: Arbroath and Montrose.
- North and inland: Forfar, Kirriemuir, Brechin and Edzell.
- A quieter day: one round, time in the town or a visit to the coast without another fixed tee time.
For a short break, Carnoustie plus one coastal neighbour and one inland course creates a balanced programme. On a longer visit, alternate directions rather than repeatedly travelling the same road.
It is also worth considering the order of the rounds. A demanding opening day followed immediately by another full day of golf may not suit everyone. Groups with mixed interests should leave room for non-golfers, or golfers taking a day out, to explore Angus independently.
Leave room for conditions and changes
Coastal weather can alter the character of a round quickly. Wind direction, rain and ground conditions may make a familiar-looking course play very differently from one day to the next. Inland courses can feel more sheltered in places, but they should not be treated as guaranteed bad-weather alternatives.
A little flexibility helps. Avoid building an itinerary that depends on every journey and every round running without interruption. If you are travelling at a time of year with limited daylight, check the date carefully before trying to plan 36 holes.
Course information can also change. Confirm current visitor access, tee-time availability, green fees and any competition dates with each club or links operator. If club hire, trolley hire, catering or practice facilities matter to your group, ask the venue directly rather than assuming they will be available.
Choosing a base in Carnoustie
Staying in Carnoustie keeps the town’s own Golf Links nearby while leaving both the eastern and western parts of Angus accessible. It also means the main Carnoustie round can sit at the centre of the trip rather than being treated as a day visit from elsewhere.
The Station Hotel is immediately beside Carnoustie railway station, with the Golf Links, beach and town centre nearby. It has 12 en-suite bedrooms, along with a restaurant, public bar and lounge bar.
Once your playing dates are taking shape, read about golf breaks in Carnoustie and look through The Station Hotel’s room options.
