Colin Montgomerie
Factfile
Born
1963 - Glasgow
Turned Pro
1987
Career Victories
40
Team Victories
Ryder Cup (5 Times), Seve Trophy (4 times), Alfred Dunhill Cup (1995), World Cup (2007
Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s not afraid to show his emotions and there have been several occasions when his temper has got the better of him. But even he must have been shocked to receive an email from us asking him if we could speak to him about his three favourite ‘curses’.
We’re sure he would have obliged, so amenable is he these days, but fortunately he realised what we actually wanted to discuss was his three favourite courses, not his preference for swearwords. He’s also a man of the people so instead of naming three exclusive courses where we could only dream of playing, he said he’d rather choose three domestic courses available to play for the likes of us.
His first choice was, naturally enough, a traditional Scottish links. Monty explained: “I think Nairn is one of the best kept secrets in golf. It is a fantastic links course and in fantastic condition with a lovely vista. My fondest memory at Nairn was winning the Scottish Amateur there in 1987.”
One of the great things about Nairn, of course, is that you can see the Moray Firth from every hole, which would surely only increase one’s fondness for the course.
Heading west from Nairn, across mainland Scotland and the Irish Sea, Monty’s second choice is the International Association of Golf Tour Operators’ golf resort of the year 2008, Carton House, and its Montgomerie course... hang on a second!
“Although it is a course I designed, I really do think it is one of the best links courses in the most magnificent setting,” said the record eight-time Harry Vardon Trophy winner.
“The location is fantastic too and I am really proud of the design. My fondest memory there is when Carton House hosted the Irish Open in 2005 and 2006 – it made me feel very proud to have designed a course that was picked to host Ireland’s national Open.”
Monty is of course one of those players to have been given the unfortunate – and unwanted – sobriquet of ‘the best player never to win a major’. He’s come close on a number of occasions – and it’s the venue for one of his near misses that he chose as his third ‘pick’: the Old Course at St Andrews.
He said: “I think every golf fan should play there. It has to be at the top of everyone’s must-play list as much for the course and fantastic views as for the history and sense of occasion you feel when you are there.
“Although it is not easy to get a tee time there is a ballot system that allows anyone to apply to play on the course.
“My best memory there was finishing second at the Open in 2005 – the atmosphere created by the Scottish fans was incredible.”
