The last event of the 2024 NCG Top 100s Tour regular season came in Ayrshire, at the stunning Kyle Phillips-designed Dundonald Links.
The golf course, which is part of the wider Dundonald resort, has hosted Final Qualifying for the Open Championship and both the men’s and women’s Scottish Opens in its short history.
The championship venue has four sets of tees with the Blacks being the furthest and hardest on the property. The Black tees take the course to almost 7,300 yards, and with a Course Rating of 76.0 – four shots more than the layout’s par of 72. The Blues (6,830 / 74.0) and the Whites (6,420 / 72.2) are the other options, with our competitors playing from the latter in early October.
For the Ladies, the Red tees also play as a par 72, with the course measuring just over 5,500 yards. It plays with a Course Rating of 72.9, making it almost a full shot harder than its par.
What is the course like and what are the best holes?
If you have played at Dundonald before, you already know why it is a championship venue, and why the LET and LPGA visit the course every year for the Women’s Scottish Open.
It is not like a traditional links. It is not an out-and-back, or in two loops of nine. It might not be either of those things, but Kyle Phillips’ design incorporates all the usual links traits. There are pot bunkers, undulating fairways, multi-tiered greens, and both gorse and heather in abundance. There are also some tree-lined fairways, water hazards and changes in elevation. It is a true test of golf.
The 11th hole is the shortest of the lot, and one of the shortest that our competitors will have played throughout the 2024 season. It is also quirky, as from the Black tees, it plays five yards shorter than the Blues… Off the Whites, it plays just 118 yards, but there are three deep pot bunkers in front of the green, and if you find one of those, you will not be able to see the putting surface as you will be that far below the green.
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The closing hole is a cracking par 5, and one that has decided championships in the past. A good drive might give you a chance of reaching this long hole in two. Off the backs, it is 580 yards, so maybe only off the Whites can this be reached in two. However, with a burn running in front and to the right of the putting green, it might require three shots instead. It is a cracking final hole, and one that could make or break your card.
What did our competitors think of Dundonald Links?
Looking for other opinions on Dundonald Links? Check out what some of our players had to say about this championship venue here:
“Glad I managed to make it in with one of the last few spots, as I love this place!” – Fraser Mitchell
“Myself and Clive really enjoyed our day at Dundonald, and it is a place that we would certainly want to come back next year.” – Samantha McFadzean
“Another glorious place on the NCG Top 100s Tour!” – John Leonard
What about the off-course facilities?
Away from the golf course, there are some incredible practice facilities available for guests who are playing at Dundonald Links. There is a full-length driving range with complimentary golf balls and grass tees, along with a stunning short game area and a putting green on the walk from the clubhouse to the first tee.
The clubhouse is a glorious building, one that only opened shortly after the COVID lockdown. It includes the pro shop, which has everything you could wish for – from branded gear, to clubs from the major brand – and the Canny Crow Restaurant. There is a balcony on the top floor of the building, which leads from the restaurant, and offers views over the golf course, including both the 9th and 18th greens.
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As mentioned earlier, the course is part of the Dundonald Resort, with a number of different types of accommodation available. There are both cottages and pods available, which can sleep up to six, and you can find out more on the NCG Top 100s site.
How can you play at Dundonald Links?
Tee times are available every day of the week for visitors at Dundonald Links, with prices for a game being more expensive on the weekend. It is cheaper for those who are staying on site.
You can check out the green fees for a game at Dundonald here, and you can book in for a round via the club’s BRS system here.
Dundonald Links is located on the Ayrshire coastline, around 10 miles from the city of Kilmarnock. It is in somewhat of a golfing paradise, with six venues in the region which are visited on the NCG Top 100s Tour.
Gailes Links, Irvine, Kilmarnock Barassie, Prestwick St Nicholas and Western Gailes are all within a stone’s throw from Barassie, and you can play all of them in 2025.
- Keep up to date with the ever-expanding 2025 NCG Top 100s Tour schedule here.
- #Book on to play our 2025 event at Dundonald Links on September 23rd here.
- Fancy playing a three-day run? Our Barassie, Dundonald, St Nicholas Swing can be booked here.
Get in touch with Dundonald Links
For more information about the club and course, visit the club’s website.
To get in touch with Dundonald, you can call them on 01294 314000, or you can send them a message via the contact form on their website, which you can find here.
Now have your say
Have you ever played at Dundonald Links before, or played on the NCG Top 100s Tour before? Let us know with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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