Where the Fairway and the Railway Lie Side by Side

A train running near Chambers Bay, the public links course in Washington State that hosted the 2015 United States Open. Carnoustie and several other British Open courses have railroads that are part of the scenery, if not one of the hazards.CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — Phil Mickelson has played in 25 British Opens, so he didn’t look startled when a train rumbled into his field of vision as he prepared to hit his approach shot into the ninth green on Friday at the Carnoustie Golf Links.

Mickelson stepped back, reloaded and got on with his round of 69.

The railroads are a big part of the history of golf in this region that is so rich in golf history. The game, of course, predates the tracks: Golf was…