Playing Carnoustie on a Scotland golf vacation often results in a bittersweet beating.

If you are looking for the ultimate challenge on your Scotland golf vacation, look no further than Carnoustie Golf Links, where the British Open will be played later this month. Even when the six-time championship host site isn't sporting "tournament conditions," it's one of the sternest tests in golf.

Just don't go expecting to see lots of elevation changes and dramatic holes. Carnoustie is essentially a level layout with little aesthetic appeal. What it does have, however, is more wind and water than other Open courses. Members of Carnoustie with single-digit handicaps who play the course in a 15 mph breeze often can't break 85. Water awaits errant shots on 10 holes, about as often as on all other British Open courses combined.

Simply stated, Carnoustie puts more pressure on the swing than does any other course in the British Isles. No hole is a breather as every full shot, without exception, is imperiled by sand, water or both if it's even slightly offline.

From the 401-yard 1st (featuring sand, gorse, mounds, rough, out-of-bounds, and a blind second shot) to the 428-yard 18th (the devilish Barry Burn immediately in front of the green, sand left and right of it), danger looms everywhere. It's quite unnerving to say the least; just ask Jean Van de Velde, who famously lost the 1999 Open after leading by three shots with one hole to play.

So, if you're planning on playing Carnoustie on your Scotland golf vacation, you'd be wise to hone your game (especially your wind game) ahead of time...and prepare yourself for a battle that you will never forget.

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