That milestone was reached almost four years to the day since Carnoustie became the first Open Championship venue to launch its own fully automated online tee-time booking system and it comes at a time when its online bookings now account for nearly 20 per cent of all visitor bookings.

"We launched our online booking service back in March 2004, but for the first year or so the vast majority of visitors continued to book tee-times using the traditional methods," said Colin McLeod, golf services manager at the CGLMC.

"However, last year, online bookings shot up to almost £375,000 and all the signs are that over the next few years they will continue to rise at a significant rate."

The CGLMC launched its tee-time booking system in order to provide visitors with an easily-accessible, round-the-clock booking service.

"Currently somewhere around 60 per cent of our overseas visitors come from the USA and so are faced with a time difference of anywhere between five to 10 hours when they want to book a tee-time," said Mr McLeod.

"Our online system enables us to be open 24 hours a day for all our customers. It simplifies the booking system, which has increased our green fee revenue and also benefited the local and national economies as well."

The system can be accessed by logging on to the website address: http//www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk/ and following the simple instructions. Tee-times on all three of Carnoustie's 18-hole courses can be booked online. No booking fees or credit card fees apply.