The Carnoustie Golf Hotel can get you on this awesome Carnoustie golf course.

I stumbled upon a great little nugget of information the other day when planning my upcoming Scotland golf vacation. I was trying to make a tee time at The Championship course at Carnoustie Golf Links, which we've described before as "the most challenging course you can play on a Scotland golf vacation." Unfortunately, when I called Carnoustie to make reservations on The Championship Course, they had no available tee times.

Who can forget last year's Open Championship at Carnoustie? Like Jean Van de Velde's unforgettable meltdown in 1999, it ended in dramatic fashion as Padraig Harrington, leading by one shot with one hole to play, dunked two balls into the drink, opening the door for Sergio Garcia. Snakebit Sergio went on to bogie the 18th hole and ultimately lost in a playoff. Who can forget? Apparently, nobody. This nail-biting theater has made Carnoustie even more of a must-play for those on a Scotand golf vacation...which is why I got squeezed out.

The good news is, and this is the nugget, the 85-room Carnoustie Golf Hotel, located directly behind the 18th green, has special access to prime tee times on the Championship Carnoustie golf course: a one-hour window in the morning and another in the afternoon. So, I booked a night at the hotel and secured a precious 9:00 am tee time for the next day. (The Carnoustie Golf Hotel is not to be confused with the Carnoustie Links Hotel, a seven-room property, also adjacent to the 18th green, owned and operated by the McClory family.)

If you have your heart set on playing this awesome Carnoustie golf course, this little tip could be a lifesaver for your Scotland golf vacation. It certainly saved mine.

By the way, this arrangement is not unique to Carnoustie. It can be found at other great courses, including some on the Open Championship rota. For example, did you know that Royal Lytham & St. Annes (which last hosted in 2001 and will host again in 2012) has its own Dormy House steps from the first tee? Guests get preferred tee times, reduced green fees and experience the true ambiance of the club (snooker anyone?). In true dormy house fashion the bathrooms are down the hall (sorry, no ladies allowed).

If you are interested in the great courses on the world, our sister publication, Golf Odyssey, has anonymously visited more than 1,000 of them across 30 countries. March is usually "British Open" month and indeed, the March 2006 issue includes detailed insights into Royal Lytham as well as recent host venue, Royal Liverpool. Golf Odyssey's in-depth analysis of Carnoustie appeared in its March 2007 issue. Both are required reading if you are even considering playing these historic venues on a Scotland golf vacation (as will the March 2008 issue, which examines Royal Birkdale, the 2008 Open Championship venue).

Normally, these back issues cost $17 each and are only available to Golf Odyssey's paid subscribers. However, I'll send them to you, absolutely free, just for trying Golf Odyssey.

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