Dundonald Links: A true championship experience
Why we’d rather be playing this marvellously renovated Scottish links
Dundonald Links is a modern links course sitting alongside long-established traditional links courses like Kilmarnock Barassie, Glasgow Gailes and Western Gailes, in the heart of the Ayrshire coast.
It is a world-class modern links, with generous fairways, undulating greens, deep rough, a generous helping of gorse and, unlike many traditional links courses, there are areas that are framed by pine trees. The course looks out over the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig.
Architect Kyle Philips said of his design, “I tried to utilise the strongest and most interesting of the natural features and then create grander, more dramatic landforms and features over the remainder of the site.”
History
Dundonald translates to “Fort Donald” and fortifications have been located near here dating back as far as 200 BC.
Dundonald Links first officially opened in 1911, designed by Willie Fernie, the winner of the 1883 Open Championship. It was repurposed as a military station named Dundonald Camp and it was here that D-Day landings were rehearsed during World War II and the site became almost unrecognisable.
Dundonald Links was bought by Loch Lomond Golf Club in 2003 to provide its members with a traditional links challenge, and the respected California-based architect Kyle Phillips (who had recently built Kingsbarns) was brought on board to design the new layout.
In 2019, Darwin Escapes bought the Links and a £25million development plan brought Kyle Phillips back to make improvements to his initial course design, and also saw the construction of an impressive modern clubhouse and luxury lodge accommodation.
Dundonald Links has already hosted numerous tournaments, most recently the FreeD Group Women’s Scottish Open Presented by Trust Golf in 2023 and The Open Final Qualifying in 2023 and will continue to stage this event until 2026.
In the past Dundonald Links has also been home to the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.
What makes it special
The Dundonald Links experience starts with a warm welcome and just gets better. The recent developments have seen it transformed from a golf course to a luxury resort.
The two-story clubhouse is exceptional; built using local materials with a grass roof signalling the venue’s commitment to sustainability and supporting local wildlife. The clubhouse restaurant, The Canny Crow, is one of the best in Ayrshire, and there is a stylish whisky tasting room.
Luxury timber-clad lodges are arranged around practice putting greens and are supremely comfortable and classically stylish, designed with groups of golfers in mind.
It is the perfect base for a trip to the Ayrshire coast – wonderful facilities on site, and surrounded by a wealth of classic links courses.
Where does it rank?
98th in GB&I, 37th in Scotland, 5th in Ayrshire.
Where is it?
Dundonald Links is located a short drive west from the town of Kilmarnock on the A78 on the south west coast of Scotland.
Get in touch with Dundonald Links
For more information about the club and course, visit its website or call them on 01294 314000.
Have you played Dundonald Links Golf Club before? Let us know in the comments, or tweet us.
Ben Outhwaite
Ben is National Club Golfer's Marketing Editor and the latest addition to our golf equipment review team.
He specialises in testing golf bags, beginner golf club sets, apparel and golf accessories. He also collates our buying guides so you know which are the latest and greatest bits of golf equipment on the market.
Ben picked up his first golf club when he was five years old – which was in fact a left-handed set of clubs!
He is a member at Rudding Park Golf Club and has a handicap of fifteen.
