DUMBARNIE LINKS TAKING SHAPE, SCOTLAND’S NEWEST LINKS COURSE
Designed by former Ryder Cup player Clive Clark, first tee times available for play May 16, 2020
Crews have enjoyed favorable conditions and have made incredible progress readying Dumbarnie Links, Scotland’s newest true links golf course, for its upcoming public debut. Crafted by noted golf course designer and former Ryder Cup player Clive Clark, Dumbarnie Links is expected to open for play May 16, 2020. The course is located on Scotland’s East Coast in the Kingdom of Fife along the north shore of the Firth of Forth just 20 minutes from St Andrews, the Home of Golf.
Dumbarnie Links is built upon land that is part of the historic Balcarres Estate. Its 345 acres of genuine sandy links land offers unobstructed views over the Firth of Forth, a 10-mile wide stretch of water, offering views of Muirfield, North Berwick and Edinburgh.
“There was an air of uncertainty when my family was first approached about building a golf course on our land,” said Lord Anthony Balniel, whose family has owned the Balcarres estate since the 16th century. “Fast forward several years and we simply could not be more pleased. What Clive Clark and his team have done is nothing short of outstanding. I have been struck not only by the beauty of what has been created with the dune landscape significantly enhanced but also by the focus on the wildlife, plants and birds. It has been a joy to see the project unfold.”
“Dumbarnie Links has already received rave reviews from not just the local community, but internationally, as well,” added Lord Balniel. “When we began this ambitious undertaking, our goal upon completion has always been to provide an unparalleled, memorable golf experience – not just the playing surface, but the service level, as well. I think we’re well on our way to achieving that.”
The water of Largo Bay and the estuary can be seen from at least 14 of the holes at Dumbarnie. The course design features a mixture of tees that play down an escarpment towards the water. Some of these tees sitting on top of the escarpment have views straight into the water and are as much as 60 feet above their respective fairways.
For more information on Dumbarnie Links, or to book your starting time starting May 16, 2020, visit the course website at https://dumbarnielinks.com.
Recently, Clive Clark photographed a selection of his favorite holes, and provided the following descriptions to future players:
| Hole #3 Par-4 / 344-yards (measured as dogleg) This is a risk-and-reward hole, and for some players, with suitable wind conditions, it may be driveable. However, in order to cut the corner of this hole and go directly for the green, players must carry a large protective bunker some 50-yards short of the green. Most golfers will instead play a safer line to the fairway on the right and hit their approaches with a short iron or wedge. The small pot bunker in the fairway will catch the golfers’ attention, but for many it can be carried. |
| Hole #9 Par-4 / 422-yards The elevated set of tees is some 60-feet above the fairway, and they offer magnificent views of The Firth of Forth, with Muirfield Golf Club directly across the water. The elevation of the tees will add some extra length to the drive. The green is split level, with the lower part being on the left. Pin placement will make quite a difference as to how the hole will play. Most of the greens at Dumbarnie have subtle breaks, but the 9th green has most pronounced on the entire golf course. For a player on the wrong level, judging the pace will be vital. |
| Hole #17 Par-4 / 362-yards (measured as dogleg) This will become a distinctive and memorable hole, punctuated by the 300-year old wall passing through it. There are two ways of playing this short Par-4. Golfers can either play left of the wall to a generous fairway, leaving them a short-iron second shot. The alternative is to drive over the wall and dice with ten precocious pot bunkers. The prevailing wind follows on this hole, and it can be a good opportunity for birdie or even eagle. However, a poor tee ball can lead to a double-bogey. |
About Clive Clark Design
Golf course designer and former Ryder Cup player, Clive Clark has been dedicated to designing high-quality golf courses for more than 30 years. He has an eye for detail and is known for consistently producing award-winning courses and remodels that have proven extremely successful for golfers, clients and developers alike. As the designer of 35 golf courses in Europe and the United States, Clark began his work in the golf course design industry with a highly successful partnership with Peter Alliss before setting up his own firm after moving to the U.S. Visit www.CliveClarkDesign.com for more information.
About OB Sports
Dumbarnie Links is professionally managed by OB Sports Golf Management, a diversified, golf-oriented company with a long history of success in the golf industry. OB Sports, led by Senior Vice President of Agronomy and Construction, Luke Beardmore, has been an integral part of the Dumbarnie project since its inception. Acquired by Troon in April 2019 and currently managing around 60 premier golf courses and country clubs throughout the United States, OB Sports has expanded its international footprint to include Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas, and Dumbarnie Links in Fife, Scotland. Known for its comprehensive and personalized services since 1972, OB Sports has become widely acclaimed as the leader in boutique-style golf course management. Named a Top 100 Business in Golf by the National Golf Foundation in 2018, visit obsports.com to get more information, or call (480) 948-1300. Become a Fan of OB Sports on Facebook, follow OB Sports on Twitter, or visit the OB Sports YouTube channel.
CONTACTS:
David Bataller
480-948-1300
dbataller@obsports.com
Jeff Locke
(480) 348-7540
jlocke@commlinks.com
