Barry Burn

Voice from the Course

Account relating to Carnoustie, September 1937

There's no a water hazard in the whole of Scotland that'll put the fear intae ye quite like the Barry Burn, I'll tell ye that for nothing. As we made our weary way up the grueling 18th, the skies above turned dark as iron, threatening tae open up at any moment in that way that perfectly suits the grim mood of these links.

The burn disnae simply cross the fairway like a well-behaved wee burn ought tae — naw, it coils and snakes aboot in front of the putting surface like something wi' a personal grudge, forcing ye intae the kind of decision that keeps a man awake at night. Risk or ruin, that's yer choice, and neither feels particularly braw. The tall blonde grass along the banks was thrashin' aboot something fierce in the incoming squall, whispering away tae ye, constant as anything, tae haud yer wheesht and lay up.