The Carnoustie Story
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.
Published in May 2006 the original print run of 3000 books sold out. A reprint of 750 copies is now in stock and available for private or corporate orders.
Place your order now - using the links on this page - to reserve your copy!
Coming soon... the Carnoustie DVD!
The Carnoustie DVD brings "The Carnoustie Story" to life in a spellbinding and emotional one-and-a-half-hour film. The origins of golf and the birth of the town, the background of the creation of the golf courses and their development from the sixteenth century onwards feature in black and white photographs with background commentary. Film footage from the Open Championships at Carnoustie in 1931, 1937, 1953, 1968, 1975 and 1999 reveal all the drama for which Carnoustie has become renowned.
Stunning camera shots from all around the links, shoreline and this modest little Angus town itself, together with Donald Ford’s wonderful still photography which lit up the book, are uniquely captured in this long-overdue film about the ascendancy of a seaside golf course to the level of "the world's hardest links".
Interviews with key people involved - particularly in the twenty-odd year period when the course fell from grace, then was resurrected through the determination and persistence of the local golfing community - are all key elements of the story and are recounted with pride and passion.
The production comes as a three-part set:- a) the Carnoustie DVD is the 90 minute film of the whole enchanting story – from the very first "green shoots" on the links right up to the present day; b) Carnoustie Golf Links professional Colin Sinclair is filmed as he attempts to repeat the legendary skills of Ben Hogan from the 1953 Open at the long 6th. Then he takes the viewer to the 14th tee, describing in detail, shot by shot, how best to attempt to cope with the closing stretch of "the hardest finish in Open Golf"; c) a CD of the musical tracks written specially for the film of "The Carnoustie Story".
Beautifully edited and directed by Simon Golding, now recognised as one of the United Kingdom's most up-and-coming sporting film directors, the Carnoustie DVD is a magnificent tribute to the community and its unsurpassed golfing links; it also recognises the enormous energies and enthusiasm of many of the characters in this little Angus town over some five hundred years. For the true golf enthusiast, it is the essential companion to the book of "The Carnoustie Story".
For full details of the DVD please click here.
Got the book? Now get the poster!
This eye-catching poster will have terrific impact and goes a long way to reporting many of the goings-on over the Carnoustie links during the past century in particular.
Old black-and-whites, stunning colour pictures of the courses, together with portraits of the Open Champions at Carnoustie are interwoven within some fifty or sixty illustrations, all extracted from the 128 pages of "The Carnoustie Story".
The poster is ideal for mounting and framing and is presented in a protective tube for security or mailing. Stocks will be available around the beginning of May. Preorder your copy using the links on this page.
Also available, the 2007 Carnoustie Calendar!
One of the most stunning publications ever produced by the author, this sumptuous pictorial celebration of the ascendancy of Carnoustie Links to the pinnacle of world golf is, simply, spectacular.
Thirteen of Donald's photographs (cover shot plus twelve calendar months) of the Carnoustie courses are featured, with accompanying editorials. The six Open Champions at Carnoustie are recognised with their winning performances fittingly summarised.
Calendar page size is 420 mm x 297 mm. When opened, the lower half (same dimensions) offers daily boxes for recording engagements, etc. and the major golf tournaments of 2007 are highlighted.
Along with the author each calendar will be personally signed by 1999 Open Champion at Carnoustie, Paul Lawrie. A unique publication, it will be produced as a limited edition of 2000 copies and will justifiably rank as a collector's item.
The calendar comes with customised wallet for presentation or mailing. Stocks will be available around the beginning of May. Preorder your copy now, using the links on this page.
