About the course
Dumbarnie Links lies on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth near Upper Largo in Fife, on around 345 acres of coastal land overlooking Largo Bay. One detail that gives it a sense of age despite its youth is an old stone wall, around three centuries old, that cuts across the 17th.
The course was designed by Clive Clark, who played for Great Britain and Ireland in the 1973 Ryder Cup, and the developer Paul Kimber was the driving force behind the project. It opened in mid-2020 and took only a year to land its first major event, the 2021 Women’s Scottish Open. The turf has matured quickly, and the course no longer looks newly built.
Clark built a links that can play anywhere from just over 5,000 yards to more than 7,600, so the same holes can be set up in very different ways. The 8th is a short par 3 that recalls the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon, a small target where precision matters more than length. On the 17th the old wall has to be taken into account both from the tee and on the approach.
Firm turf and the wind off the firth reward a low ball flight and imaginative recovery shots, and the conditions can change the character of the round from one hour to the next.
Why we recommend it
Dumbarnie is a modern links on the Fife coast that has quickly become a favourite with visiting groups. Most holes have views over the Firth of Forth, the fairways are wide and the greens have generous run-off areas, so it is enjoyable for mixed handicaps while still testing better players from the back. A couple of short par fours tempt you to go for the green. It is around half an hour from St Andrews and fits easily into a week alongside Kingsbarns and Elie.
Photo gallery
| Ranking Scotland | 17 |
| Architect | Clive Clark |
| Year of foundation | 2020 |
| Par Course | 72 |
| Number of holes | 18 |