FIFE, Scotland (April 22, 2021) – Dumbarnie Links, a daily-fee links course located on the east coast of Scotland near St Andrews, has been honoured by Golf Inc. magazine as the 2021 Development of the Year. Golf Inc., the world’s only magazine for golf course developers, owners and management company executives, annually recognizes the best golf developments around the globe in its Development of the Year competition.
According to Golf Inc., judges selected Dumbarnie Links as the competition winner for its world-class design and its focus on environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability. Dumbarnie Links opened for play on May 29, 2020 and has since received high acclaim throughout the golf world.
The stunning Clive Clark design, located 11 miles from St Andrews, measures 6,905-yards (can be stretched to 7,600 yards for professional competitions) and plays to a par of 72.
Dumbarnie Links is built upon land that is part of the historic 5,000-acre Balcarres Estate. Its 345 acres of genuine sandy links land offers unobstructed views over Largo Bay and the Firth of Forth, a 10-mile wide stretch of water with views across to Muirfield, North Berwick and Edinburgh. The routing is a departure from the usual. Instead of the traditional out-and-back layout, Clark incorporated a mix of two big loops with elevated tees facing into the Firth of Forth.
Golf Inc. Competition Judge Casey Paulson said of Dumbarnie Links, “Beautiful seaside golf links with great shaping and routing. Looks like this will be another wonderful course for golf vacationers.” Judge Mike Nuzzo commented, “By far the best routing of the entrants. The course zigzags through what looks almost like links land, expertly creating variety and interest throughout the round.”
“My vision was to design a traditional links on what is a rare piece of genuine links land, but with a modern twist,” said Dumbarnie Links Founder and Architect Clive Clark. “There are a number of ‘risk and reward’ holes such that Dumbarnie Links becomes a strategic thinking man’s (or woman’s) golf course, but is fun for all. There are three driveable par-4s (under favourable conditions) but in order to cut the doglegs the golfer has to take a gamble and decide whether he or she is going to be a hero. There are also some twin fairways which create choices off the tee.”
With Covid-19 travel restrictions in place since the Club opened, the Scottish golf community has embraced the Links as their own and have enjoyed many, many rounds at Dumbarnie. This summer the rest of the world will get to see Dumbarnie Links on television as the course will host the Women’s Scottish Open Aug. 9-15, 2021.
For more information on Dumbarnie Links, visit www.dumbarnielinks.com.
