Golf’s oldest major is coming back to Angus for the first time in 11 years, just days after plans were lodged for a £480 million luxury resort a few miles down the road. Last time round, it brought £21 million of new money into the county.
The Claret Jug is coming back to Angus. The R&A confirmed on Monday that Carnoustie Golf Links will host The 157th Open from 15 to 22 July 2029. It will be the ninth time the famous links has staged the championship, and the first since Francesco Molinari lifted the trophy in 2018.
Carnoustie completes a run of three announced venues, following St Andrews in 2027 and Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2028. In getting the nod, it edged out Muirfield, Trump Turnberry and Ireland’s Portmarnock, all of which had been tipped for the 2029 slot.
R&A chief executive Mark Darbon described Carnoustie as “a world-class championship venue where some of golf’s greatest players have lifted the Claret Jug”. He said its return after more than a decade would give fans the chance to be part of another memorable chapter.
Angus Council played its part too. Council leader Cllr George Meechan said the authority had worked hard to deliver the changes needed to bring the championship back.
“The council has worked hard and taken a leap of faith to deliver the changes needed to secure the return of The Open.”
Cllr George Meechan, Leader, Angus Council
What it means for the region
The last Carnoustie Open set a record for the venue. An independent study by Sheffield Hallam University, commissioned by The R&A, VisitScotland and Angus Council, put its value to Scotland at £120 million.
- 172,000 fans in 2018, a record for the venue
- £21 million of new money into Angus alone
- £69 million economic impact across Scotland
- £51 million in destination marketing from TV coverage reaching more than 600 million households in 193 countries
Almost half of the spectators came from outside Scotland, and 62% of visitors from beyond Angus said they planned to come back for a break within a year. Angus Council’s leader at the time called that money great news for the county’s hotels, B&Bs, shops and restaurants.
Opens have only grown since. Royal Troon’s 2024 championship drew a record 258,174 fans and was valued at more than £303 million in total economic benefit. For Carnoustie’s hospitality trade, and for a Dundee visitor economy already building towards Eden Project Scotland, 2029 is shaping up to be a very big week.
Investment that paid off
The announcement rewards several years of work at the links. Carnoustie moved into private management, and its new operators have put serious money into the course, the facilities and the visitor experience, with the stated aim of bringing The Open back on a regular basis. The R&A says it has worked closely with the venue to make sure those upgrades support future championships.
Carnoustie chief operating officer Ross Blackadder said the club was beyond proud to have been selected, calling it one of the greatest honours in golf.
Hot on the heels of Brae of Angus
The news comes just days after a planning application went in for Brae of Angus, a proposed £480 million hotel, golf and leisure resort at Shank of Omachie, near Wellbank.
Angus Land Company Ltd, owned by private investment firm Mocca Capital, has applied to Angus Council for planning permission in principle on about 310 acres of land. Its plans include a five-star Hyatt-branded hotel, which would be the first five-star hotel in Angus, along with an 18-hole championship course, a golf academy and more than 180 housing plots. Proceeds from the housing would help pay for the hotel and golf facilities.
The developers are pitching the resort as part of the East Coast golf belt, with Carnoustie only a few miles away. Director Natalie Calderbank said the plan is to create “a place to live, play and stay”.
Brae of Angus at a glance
- Approximately 310 acres at Shank of Omachie, north and east of Wellbank
- Direct investment of around £480 million
- Five-star Hyatt-branded hotel, the first in Angus
- 18-hole championship course, golf academy and training facility
- More than 180 housing plots to help fund the resort
- Status: planning permission in principle application lodged with Angus Council
It is still early days. This is a permission-in-principle application, and the site has seen ambitious plans before. But the timing could hardly be better: Angus now has a major championship on the calendar and a proposal for the kind of five-star accommodation that the area has always lacked.
First Minister John Swinney called the return of The Open “tremendous news for Scotland”. He said the championship supports jobs and tourism and puts a global spotlight on the country. VisitScotland also welcomed the decision.
No ticket details have been released yet, but fans can register their interest on the official Carnoustie 2029 page. The countdown to July 2029 starts now.
Sources
- The Open (official R&A release): Carnoustie to host The 157th Open in July 2029
- bunkered: R&A announces venue for 2029 Open Championship
- PGA Tour: The R&A announces Carnoustie as host of The Open in 2029
- Scottish Daily Express: The Open returns to Carnoustie after 11-year wait
- Golf Digest: Carnoustie named host of 2029 Open
- Scottish Government: Economic benefits of hosting The Open revealed
- Project Scotland: Plans submitted for Brae of Angus
- The Golf Business: £480 million Brae of Angus golf resort plans lodged
