In 1877 Tom Morris was asked to survey the Arbroath Links and give his opinion as to its suitability for a golf course, and on the 9th of March 1878 a course of 18 holes was opened with a game between Tom Morris and another great professional of his day Mr Rob Dow. The Course remained much the same until more land was purchased and in 1907 Mr Willie Fernie of Troon was employed to redesign the layout. It was not until 1931 that the great James Braid was employed to redesign the bunkering and his layout has not altered a great deal since.
Arbroath Golf Course is a deceiving links course at first view. It appears to offer flat open fairways, however, in true links style the undulating greens are well protected by testing bunkers.
The photographs above are of the par 3 7th hole from the elevated tee and is the second of two par 3's on the front nine, this hole is very deceptive from the elevated tee as this green is well guarded by bunkers on all sides. The photograph on the right illustrates the newly installed pot bunkers to the front left of the green. You may think aiming left is the safer option, but if you miss the green to the left you will left with a difficult pitch shot up a steep bank and down a slope to the green which will leave you a testing putt to save par on an undulating green.
The front 7 holes are lined by out-of-bounds on the right hand side with water crossing 3 fairways, making this a good test of golf strategy. The 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th holes are situated in the middle of the golf course and although does not feature out-of-bounds they require good golf shots to make par.
From 13th to 18th the course offers a good variety of holes. The 14th is a very good par-3 with large bunkers to the front and water beyond the green. The 16th is also a par-3 which is protected by bunkers at the front of the green, and the 15th, 17th and 18th although also not in danger of out-of-bounds require an accurate game to make good pars.
Our signature hole is the Thirteenth. This is named the "Dowrie" and is 412yds, par 4. There is a railway line and out-of-bounds down the right. A burn crosses the fairway 120 yards from the green, leaving a tricky second shot to the smallest and elevated green on the course.