When it comes to Golf in Scotland, Dundonald Links has quickly become “must play”. Our Par 72 course, located at the very heart of Ayrshire, offers a classic links golf experience for all to savour. Generous fairways, undulating greens and a wide choice of tees make it an enjoyable test for everyone that visits us.
Our Past
The first Dundonald Links layout was designed by 1883 Open Champion Willie Fernie, and opened on March 23rd, 1911. At 6700 yards, it was one of the longest golf courses of its time. Following two World Wars, the site was almost unrecognisable.
Dundonald Links was purchased by Loch Lomond Golf Club in early 2003 to provide its global Membership with a traditional links challenge. They enlisted California-based architect Kyle Phillips, who had recently built Kingsbarns, to create a links masterpiece right here on the Ayrshire coast.
Our Present
With the stunning coastal land that presented itself to Kyle Phillips, he saw the opportunity to create the ultimate modern links layout. Featuring everything you would expect from a world class modern links course, Dundonald Links has wonderful undulations, deep rough, a generous helping of gorse bushes and unlike many traditional links courses, there are areas of the course that are framed by stunning pine trees.
“ I tried to utilize the strongest and most interesting of the natural features and then create grander, more dramatic landforms and features over the remainder of the site ”Kyle Phillips
OUR LEGACY
It didn’t take long for the worldwide golfing community to sit up and take notice of this fine new Ayrshire Links. As early as 2008, Dundonald was chosen as the venue for the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School and it continued to host this important tournament until 2011.
In 2012, it was the turn of the Seniors to test their skills against Dundonald’s challenges when the course played host to Senior Opening Qualifying. The prestigious Boys Amateur Championship came to Dundonald in 2014, before the course welcomed some of the world’s best female golfers for the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open in 2015 and 2016.
The arrival of The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 2017 heralded a new chapter in Dundonald’s history. In recent years the Tour has taken this prestigious Championship to some iconic links courses across Scotland. Rafa Cabrera Bello claimed the title in stunning fashion after a brilliant final round 64 took him to a play off with Callum Shinkwin.
The final piece of the jigsaw, came in 2019, when Darwin Escapes purchased Dundonald Links and embarked on a £25 million development plan. As well significant course improvements with designer Kyle Phillips, our new clubhouse and luxury accommodation opened in 2021, finally giving Dundonald Links the facilities the course truly deserves. With our beautiful lodge accommodation, our world-class Clubhouse, and our 72 par course, Dundonald Links is the course you’ve been waiting for.
In 2021, it was announced that Dundonald Links would host the 2022 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open. Since then, we are delighted that the event has returned in 2023 with the Freed Women’s Scottish Open in 2023, and in 2024 with the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open. And, Dundonald Links is now established as one of the select few courses to host Final Qualifying for The Open.
