As if hosting the 150th Open Championship this summer isn’t enough – including an early commitment to play by Tiger Woods – Scotland and Dundonald Links offer an array of complimentary offerings that make the Home of Golf a must-visit destination.
Home to the world-class, Kyle Phillips designed golf course and burgeoning resort in Western Scotland, Dundonald Links recently unveiled 18 luxury lodges, 22 hotel rooms, a new clubhouse with a Michelin-caliber restaurant, whisky tasting room, and more – the latest phase of a £25m investment transforming the esteemed Scottish venue into one of the UK’s most modern new golf resorts.
While the global spotlight this summer will inevitably fall on the east coast for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, golfers will certainly want to sample some of Ayrshire’s finest links starting with Dundonald Links and including Western Gailes, Prestwick, Barassie, and Irvine – to combine with a luxury stay at Dundonald Links’ new hotel and lodges.
With a record-breaking 290,000 spectators set to attend at the world-renowned Old Course, tee times and accommodation in Scotland are proving hard to come by. Dundonald Links can enhance the golfing experience and play host at the resort which is fast becoming one of the most sought-after locations in Scotland.
The Dundonald Links Experience is available from £295pp and features two rounds at Dundonald Links, two nights with twin occupancy in a luxury hotel or lodge room, and breakfast and dinner at the ‘Canny Crow’ restaurant that is located upstairs in the venue’s impressive clubhouse.
The Ayrshire Links Experience is based on a two-night stay at Dundonald with three rounds across the host venue, and the links at Barrasie and Irvine Golf Club. It also includes breakfast and a ‘Canny Crow’ dinner and starts from £380pp.
The third ‘Love Links’ offering comes in the shape of the two-night Ultimate Links Experience package with golf at Dundonald Links and the prestige links of Western Gailes and Prestwick Golf Club. Breakfast and one dinner are also included, and packages start from £470.
Dundonald Links’ collection of brand-new 2-, 4- and 6-bedroom lodges were custom-designed with golfers in mind, with bag storage and drying areas, en-suite bathrooms, large living spaces, and a fully equipped kitchen and dining facilities. Each of the lodge clusters surround a private practice putting green. The brand-new hotel rooms are situated beside the clubhouse for ease of access to the restaurant and club facilities.
Resort owner Darwin Escapes also invested £1m in upgrading the 18-hole championship course, including the addition of a new halfway house.
“The world is watching Scotland this summer and avid fans and players are planning trips here to be part of the historic season and professional golf tournaments,” said Ian Ferguson, Dundonald Links Club Manager. “We are ideally positioned to host guests, allow them to enjoy our luxury amenities and world-class golf course, plus attend what promise to be unforgettable competitions.”
As well as the 2023 Open Final Qualifying, Dundonald Links is also hosting other major golf events this year including the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open, July 28-31.
For more details and to book a stay at Dundonald Links, please visit dundonaldlinks.com.
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About Dundonald Links:
The first Dundonald Links layout was designed by 1883 Open Champion Willie Fernie and opened on March 23rd, 1911.
Dundonald Links was purchased by Loch Lomond Golf Club in early 2003 to provide its global membership with a traditional links challenge. The club enlisted California-based architect Kyle Phillips, who had recently built Kingsbarns, to create a links masterpiece on the Ayrshire coast, featuring 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.
The 18-hole, par-72, championship course offers a classic links golf experience for all to savor. Generous fairways, undulating greens, and a wide choice of tees make it an enjoyable test for golfers of all abilities. It is also one of the longest courses in the UK, measuring 6,700 yards.
In 2008, Dundonald was chosen as the venue for the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School and continued to host the tournament until 2011. In 2012, the course hosted the Senior Opening Qualifying. 2014 saw the prestigious Boys’ Amateur Championship played at Dundonald. The venue then hosted some of the world’s best female golfers for the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open in 2015, 2016, and 2017 – where the course also welcomed the men’s event. Darwin Escapes, which also operates The Springs in Oxfordshire and the KP Club in Yorkshire, acquired Dundonald Links for £4.5m in 2019 and laid out a £25m development plan which will see the venue completely transformed into a resort, with a new clubhouse, luxury lodges, and hotel rooms.