Carnoustie is often called “Golf’s Greatest Test,” and on November 9, 2026 it earned new headlines: the R&A confirmed that The Open will return in 2029. But who actually owns the famous Angus links? The answer is split in two, and it changed in 2025 in a way many headlines described loosely.
Who Owns Carnoustie Golf Links in 2026?
Angus Council, the local authority for Angus, Scotland, owns the land and golf courses at Carnoustie, including the Championship, Burnside, and Buddon courses, according to its own background paper. Day-to-day running is now in private hands. Carnoustie Golf Heritage and Hospitality Group Limited (CGHH) took over operations in March 2025 under a management agreement that runs to March 2033.
Some headlines called the change a sale, but council papers say the council keeps ownership of the land and courses. Under the deal, CGHH receives all income from the courses and pays all costs, including maintenance and investment.
Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Party | Role | Status | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angus Council | Landowner and custodian | Owns the land and all three courses | Public ownership since 1890 |
| CGHH | Private operator | Runs the courses until March 2033 | Keeps course income and pays running costs |
| Johann “Max” Herberstein | Majority shareholder of CGHH | Lead investor | Austrian; former investment banker and private equity executive |
| Paul Lisiak | Shareholder and director of CGHH | Investor | New York-based investment manager |
| Carnoustie Golf Links Properties Ltd | CGHH subsidiary | Holds the ground lease of the hotel | Owns the 96-room Carnoustie Golf Hotel |
| CGLMC Ltd | Former manager (1980 to 2025) | Charitable company | Reportedly sold its trademark and assets to CGHH |
| The R&A | Organizer of The Open | No ownership | Awarded the 157th Open to Carnoustie |
| Local golf clubs | Members who play the links | No ownership | Use courses owned by the council |
The Origin Story: From an Earl to the Town
Golf is recorded at Carnoustie as far back as the early 16th century, according to Wikipedia. In 1890, the 14th Earl of Dalhousie, who owned the land, sold the links to the local authority. Public ownership began that year and still holds today.
The Management Committee Era
From 1980, the Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee ran the courses for the council. It became CGLMC Ltd when it incorporated in 2011. An earlier Courier report noted that the committee made no direct yearly payment to the council.
By the early 2020s, the committee wanted a new 125-year lease to unlock investment and keep The Open on the rota. A local newspaper report from 2022 described the council’s frustration at slow progress, and the council called the decision one of the biggest it would ever take.
How CGHH Took Control
CGHH was incorporated in 2021 as the vehicle for private investors. In 2023, its subsidiary secured the ground lease of the 96-room Carnoustie Golf Hotel, according to The Scotsman. The council still owns the land under the hotel and leases it out.
In 2024, the council ran a public consultation on a two-phase plan. Phase 1 handed day-to-day management to CGHH until 2033, and Phase 2 would be a longer deal tied to major investment. Operations moved to CGHH in March 2025.
CGLMC reportedly sold its intellectual property, including the “Carnoustie Golf Links” trademark, for about £5 million, with its assets and staff moving across, per Golf Business News. Talks about a longer arrangement reaching 2123 were reported at the time. Public reports do not make clear whether that longer lease has been signed.
The council also says local golfers stay protected, and the Courier reported that the council spent more than £150,000 since 2021 putting the deal together. Another report said about £100 million of investor money was waiting to be unlocked.
Who Is Behind CGHH?
Johann “Max” Herberstein is the majority shareholder. The Scotsman reports that he worked as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and Hicks Muse Europe. At TDR Capital he led the acquisitions of David Lloyd Leisure and the Stonegate Pub Company.
Paul Lisiak is a New York-based investment manager and golf enthusiast, described by GolfPass as managing partner of Metropolitan Partners. Other listed directors include Scott Lloyd and Oliver Marshall, per golf writer Geoff Shackelford. The council says it ran due diligence on CGHH’s investors in late 2024, and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.
The Open Returns in 2029
The R&A announced on Monday, November 9, 2026, that the 157th Open will be played at Carnoustie, as Sky Sports reported. It will be the ninth Open at the links and the first since 2018. The event week runs July 15 to 22, 2029, with championship rounds on July 19 to 22, per the Golf Channel.
Past winners include Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Paul Lawrie, Pádraig Harrington, and Francesco Molinari, who won by two strokes in 2018. The gap between 1975 and 1999 was 24 years, so the 2029 return is a big moment for the town. Tiger Woods, now a co-founder of TGL, also produced some of the memorable play of the 2018 Open.
The R&A thanked Carnoustie’s “ownership and management” in its announcement, as National Club Golfer noted. Council leader George Meechan said the council had taken “a leap of faith” to secure the return. Shackelford noted that the announcement did not mention a multi-Open commitment, and fans can register interest at TheOpen.com.
How Carnoustie Compares with Other Famous Venues
Carnoustie’s mix of public land and a private operator is unusual among famous courses. Augusta National, home of the Masters, is a private club run by Augusta National Inc. Turnberry, another Scottish links, has been owned by the Trump Organization since 2014.
If you follow ownership stories across sports venues, Carnoustie is a rare case where a council still owns an Open venue while private investors run it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Carnoustie Golf Links?
Angus Council owns the land and the three golf courses.
Q2. Who runs Carnoustie Golf Links now?
CGHH has run the courses since March 2025, under an agreement lasting to March 2033.
Q3. Who is behind CGHH?
Majority shareholder Johann “Max” Herberstein, with Paul Lisiak among the other shareholders and directors.
Q4. Who owns the Carnoustie Golf Hotel?
CGHH owns it through its subsidiary Carnoustie Golf Links Properties Ltd, which secured the ground lease in 2023.
Q5. Since when has Carnoustie been in public ownership?
Since 1890, when the Earl of Dalhousie sold the links to the local authority.
Q6. When is the next Open at Carnoustie?
The 157th Open is set for July 2029, announced on November 9, 2026.
Q7. Does the Carnoustie Golf Club own the course?
No. The club’s own website says the courses are owned by Angus Council and administered separately.
Q8. Can visitors play Carnoustie?
Yes, visitors can book through Carnoustie Golf Links, and the council says local golfers’ access stays protected.
Angus Council owns the land and courses at Carnoustie Golf Links, and it has done so since 1890. Since March 2025, the private company CGHH, led by majority shareholder Johann “Max” Herberstein, runs the courses under an agreement lasting to March 2033. CGHH also owns the Carnoustie Golf Hotel through a subsidiary.
With the 157th Open confirmed for July 2029, the council-plus-investor model has passed its biggest test so far. Whether a longer lease follows is the next question to watch.
Official website: carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk
