Dumbarnie Links

What we say

Dumbarnie Links is already one of the best courses in Scotland and will only improve further as it matures.

Does Scotland need a new links course? Does Fife need a new links course? It’s a moot point.

A course opening in arguably the most famous golfing area in the world has to be special, otherwise it stands no chance of being successful given St Andrews New, Old and the Castle as well as Kingsbarns are its neighbours – not to mention the likes of Elie, Lundin, Ladybank and Leven.

RELATED: Kingsbarns Golf Links review

Well, Dumbarnie is special. And it is different. There are similarities with Kingsbarns – also man-made, with lots of sea views and strategic holes – as well as Castle Stuart – just as wide off the tee with funky greens – but Dumbarnie is distinctive. Designed by Clive Clark, it wants to flatter you, not beat you up. Off the whites it is great fun, off the blues at 6,400 yards it is playable for the majority.

The conditioning, for a new links, is frankly incredible, with impressive covering of fine fescue on the fairways. A vast amount of sand was moved to create Dumbarnie, turning it from a farmer’s field into a dune-lined course. The shaping is impressive, even if bulldozers can never match what the wind can do over thousands of years.

RELATED: St Andrews (Old Course) review

Dumbarnie had to be special to standout – it is and it has. It will be extremely popular with American golfers as well as Brits for its mix of scenery, risk-reward holes and playability.

We even predict the 17th, a sharp dog-leg right which will bemuse some off the tee and might be pinpointed as a weaker hole, will end up being a heroic moment in the round. It is, already, a top 25 course in Scotland in our view, and a top 50 links in GB&I.

As it matures and settles – giving it higher Presentation marks – expect it to rise. Its positions in our Links Top 100 and Scottish Top 100s are, rest assured, cautious first rankings.

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  • Course Summary

  • Costs -
  • TG Rating 4 out of 5
  • Players Rating Not yet rated
  • Address
    A917, , LEVEN
  • Tel 0800 085 1280
  • Website www.dumbarnielinks.com

Course Information

Course 72 par
Course Style -
Green Fees -
Course Length 6,900 yards (6,309 metres)
Holes -
Difficulty -
Course Membership -

Course Features

  • Course has: Bar
  • Course has: Buggy Hire
  • Course has: Driving Range
  • Course has: Practice Green
  • Course has: Pro Shop
  • Course has: Restaurant
  • Course has: Trolley Hire
  • Course has: Dress Code
  • Course has: Club Hire
  • Course has: Handicap

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