DUNDONALD links was a golf course I was not familiar with until I arrived there two weeks ago, but it is certainly a course I won’t forget in a hurry.
I was blown away with the resort. We landed into the resort and parked up in the car park which is also surrounded by dozens of wooden pod lodgings and a brand newly opened stunning eco-friendly clubhouse.
The ground floor of the clubhouse is built in a beautiful yellow stone and its upper tier is completely finished with glass so you can see the panoramic surroundings of the course while you dine.
The roof is covered fully in a meadow of grass and blends very well into the surrounding landscape.
If I was blown away by the outside, the inside of the clubhouse was even more breath-taking. It was one of the highest quality finishes to any clubhouse I have ever entered. I first went into the locker room to a vast open space with a seated area by a log fire with a TV above. Behind this wall in the same room sat another seating area with a sauna and steam room along with the shower facilities. Outside the lockeroom was a state-of-the-art gym and beyond the gym you entered the pro shop which would be something you would expect to see in Adare or Augusta National.
Upstairs the views of the golf course and surrounding landscape was amazing.
The golf course at Dundonald links is tough but fair. The starter gave us a 15-minute talk on the first tee about the course and what holes to look out for and areas to make sure we avoided.
When we mentioned we were playing Prestwick the following day, he gave us a history of The Open Championship and how Prestwick held the first ever Open Championship.
A lot of the holes have wider easy-to-hit fairways but others are narrower where you have to make sure you keep your tee shots on the short grass. All the courses we played have several quirky features with cleverly located bunkers and slopes on greens you would only see in Augusta National. On one par three for instance any ball that goes over the green will filter into a deep bunker that you have to enter with a ladder it is so deep.
It is situated about 30 yards from the back edge of the green and even though I am 6ft 4in tall you would struggle to see me inside of it. If you found this bunker you could be a while coming back out. And if you do manage to reach the green it is quite narrow and slopes from back to front where there are a further two pothole bunkers awaiting on the opposite side. Good distance control is important from the tee on this tricky par three.
A common feature with most of the courses in this area is they are built adjacent to the railway tracks. Dundonald is no different the 13th and 16th holes run parallel within meters of the railway line so it’s common to see a high-speed train rolling past you.
One of the things I like most about Dundonald is every hole is unique. The course designers did an incredible job in making each hole exciting from the tee shot all the way to the challenge of the severe undulating greens. The starter informed us the course design is known as an American Stadium Links Course because every hole is enclosed like a stadium by large banks that run along on both sides of the hole in order so you only get to see the hole you are playing. This clever design means you don’t get any sneak peek at any other hole as you walk around. I can’t offhand think of any weak hole which indicates how good a course it truly is.
After nine holes there is a lovely halfway hut with a great outdoor space to eat and drink. They have a vast array of food offerings along with any drink you desire.
After our round we enjoyed a quick sauna before heading upstairs to sample some of the menu washed down with a Scottish ale. The food was exactly what you would want after a long day on the links. They have a classy red velvet pool table in the corner of the bar where you can win even more sterling from your golfing buddies.
In the peak season Dundonald Links is £245 a round however in the off-season they have an offer up to April for £199 for two rounds and an overnight stay at the course which includes breakfast.
The on-site lodgings are fully self-service, finished with a kitchen and dining space. This deal is definitely well worth trying out in the near future should you desire to pop across to Scotland for a pre-season few rounds. I for one know I will be back here again next year to experience another great day out only 10 minutes from Prestwick Airport.
