Just 25 minutes south of St. Andrews lies Dumbarnie Links, the newest links golf course in Scotland.
Dumbarnie Links debuted in the summer of 2020 to near universal praise. Not since Castle Stuart opened in 2009 has a new golf course in Scotland received so much hype and adoration.
But it’s also not every day that a new links course opens here – let alone one just a stone’s throw from The Home of Golf.
As the new kid on the block, relatively few American golfers visiting on Scotland golf trips have had the opportunity to see Dumbarnie Links first-hand.
That’s absolutely certain to change. Soon.
Dumbarnie Links was originally scheduled to open in the spring of 2020, just in time for the busiest golf travel season on record. Instead, it did so in the middle of a global pandemic, with no overseas golfers on the tee sheet for the foreseeable future.
Still, Dumbarnie Links persevered through both the pandemic and some early growing pains, and has welcomed a steady stream of H&B travelers since opening.
I happen to have been among them.
Thanks to the glowing reviews and press mentions, my expectations were high going into Dumbarnie Links.
With a green fee north of the Old Course St. Andrews and Carnoustie Golf Links, that didn’t just apply to the golf course, but to the entire experience.
Dumbarnie Links delivered on those expectations across the board.
Dumbarnie Links – On the Course
When building links golf courses, some architects are blessed with a natural canvas of sand dunes and twisting valleys. Others have to rely on their imagination and manpower to transform a featureless property into a great golf course.
At Dumbarnie Links, course architect and former Ryder Cup player, Clive Clark fell into the latter category.
Dumbarnie Links started as a flat piece of coastal farmland. Like Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart, the end result was almost entirely shaped by man. As you look across the links from some of the higher elevations, it’s almost impossible to believe. But as the round draws to a close, some of the adjacent farmland comes into view and the contrast tells the remarkable story.
From the moment you step onto the 1st tee, it’s clear that something special lies ahead. The opening hole runs downhill to a green just beyond a meandering burn, with the sea off to the right in the distance.
Water is a common theme throughout the entire round, but it’s mostly a treat for the eyes. The Firth of Forth is in view on nearly every hole. On a clear day, the spires of Edinburgh are visible in the distance. All of which contributes to Dumbarnie’s greatest asset: the spellbinding setting.
As for the course itself, the seasoned golf traveler will quickly draw comparisons to the previously mentioned Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart. That’s because the three share much in common…
The fairways at Dumbarnie Links are wide and generous. The well-positioned drive will yield an easier approach. There’s a good chance, however, that you’ll still find it on the short grass if you spray it a little off the tee, albeit with a greater challenge ahead.
The greens are equally large and inviting. They present a nice mix of intriguing subtlety and sweeping undulations. But they are rarely, if ever, severe. The offline approach usually presents a variety of options to the player to get up and down, thanks to extensive use of run-offs and collection areas. Unless you’re wildly offline or in a greenside bunker, putting it from off the green is almost always an option.
All of which comes together to give the average golfer an enjoyable day, where they probably leave with both a smile and their original ball. Meanwhile, the better player is tested with an interesting variety of shots requiring every club in the bag… Especially if the wind is up.
As for favorite holes and highlights during the round, there were many.
The short par-4 3rd is a fun hole that’s a drivable, birdie opportunity in the right wind. The par-3s are all outstanding. Many will choose the 6th as their favorite of the bunch, but mine was the 16th. It played directly into the teeth of a westerly wind and required a punch 3-wood to find the putting surface.
But the most memorable hole on the course, at least in my estimation, is the short par-4 17th hole. The sight of an old stone wall cutting across the line of play had me charmed from the start, but it was the intriguing green complex that won me over entirely. As I learned the hard way, the solid chance for a three can quickly turn into scrambling for a six.
Dumbarnie Links – Off the Course
In addition to the outstanding course, the amenities at Dumbarnie Links are first-class. The practice facility is one of the best in Scotland. The clubhouse is small, but highly functional, with locker rooms, shower facilities, a well-stocked pro shop, and restaurant. And then there’s the patio and firepit, which is the perfect place to cap the day with your beverage of choice in hand.
For yours truly, that choice was easy, thanks to the specialty beers on tap from one of my favorite pubs in The Home of Golf: St. Andrews Brewing Company.
Led by General Manager David Scott – a veteran of Golf and the Good Life in the St. Andrews area – the team at Dumbarnie Links clearly understands that their role in the visitor experience is just as valuable as the course itself.
From the greeting in the car park to the introduction of the links by the course starter, everyone I encountered throughout my visit was warm, welcoming, and intent on delivering a great experience.
For example, I was one of the last golfers off the course and finished as the sun was fading over the firth. After a wind-blown day on the links, I was absolutely famished. I was also a little worried that The Old Barn – the clubhouse restaurant – would have wrapped up dinner service. To my surprise and delight, the kitchen remains open until the last golfers have finished and had an opportunity to place a food order.
An uncommon luxury at many courses around Great Britain and Ireland.
When a golf course receives as much fanfare as Dumbarnie Links, it’s easy to come away a bit let down. That certainly wasn’t the case here.
Is there room for Dumbarnie Links to improve? Absolutely.
The course needs a few years to let the grasses fully grow-in on the man-made dunes and for Mother Nature to soften some of their edges. It also needs permanent restroom facilities and perhaps a halfway house. Amenities which are surely coming.
There’s no question that less than two years since it debuted, Dumbarnie Links is very, very good.
Besides the outstanding experience, Dumbarnie Links gives those who are planning golf trips to St. Andrews an additional choice in the area. It also makes it easier for those who are keen to unpack the suitcase just once to enjoy a different world-class course every day of their trip.
To say it’s worthy of a place on your next St. Andrews golf itinerary would be an understatement of epic proportions.
Review and Photos by Daniel Jones – H&B Marketing & Communications Manager
For more insight on planning your golf trip to St. Andrews, visit the pages below or have a look through our Yardage Book, where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
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