Dundonald Links
Jeremy Ellwood pays a return visit to the South Ayrshire links and enjoys his first stay in the brand-new on-site accommodation
The golf Par 72, 6,831 yards
The original course here fell into disuse after World War II and it wasn’t until 2005 that the new Kyle Phillips-designed links came to life, going on to host the 2017 Scottish Open, won by Rafa Cabrera-bello. The course is a clever blend of length and well-designed shorter holes that can trip you up as easily as the tough long par 4s at 1, 10 and 16.
There are two cracking holes early on the back nine, where length is not the challenge. The 11th plays over marshy ground to a well-protected, wide, elevated green and you then need to plot your way shrewdly down the short par-4 12th. The best angle in is from the left, but a cunning fairway bunker lurks at around 3-wood distance down this side.
Also play… Barassie Links next door offers a superb 27-hole links experience.
Off-course
Following its acquisition by Darwin Escapes in 2019, Dundonald finally now boasts off-course facilities to match its fine links. The company has invested £25 million in a brandnew clubhouse plus a choice of accommodation options, which opened in 2021. Wisely, the Canny Crow restaurant is located upstairs in the clubhouse, from where there are excellent views out over the links and on to Arran beyond. It is a roomy, contemporary space, perfect for whiling away time pre- or post-round. The 22 light and modern hotel rooms lie close to the clubhouse, while the 18 wellequipped lodges (two-, four- or six-bed) are laid out in clusters, with practice chipping and putting facilities right on the doorstep.
Best deals
From January to May, the Dundonald Links Package offers two nights with breakfast and two
Dundonald Links, Ayr Road, Gailes, Ayrshire, KA11 5BF T: 01294 314000 reservations@dundonaldlinks.com dundonaldlinks.com
rounds at Dundonald based on two sharing a twin hotel room for £285pp, or four sharing a two-bedroom lodge (twin rooms) for £330pp. The Ayrshire Links Package offers two nights with breakfast plus three rounds (Dundonald, Barassie and Irvine) based on two sharing a twin hotel room for £360pp, or four sharing a two-bedroom lodge (twin rooms) for £405pp.