Dundonald Golf Course – A Golfing Masterpiece
Dundonald Links Golf Course is a golfing masterpiece created in a region which has some of the best golf courses in Scotland. Located on the seaside near the legendary town of Troon it was earlier known as Southern Gailes Golf Club. Even before that Dundonald was an 18th century, nine-hole links layout that had been turned over to farm use during the Second World War. The property had fallen into disrepair since then and turned into wasteland.
Loch Lomond Golf Club acquired the Southern Gailes estate as a winter course for its members. Leading golf architect Kyle Phillips was commissioned to develop what might be the very last piece of real estate still available for a golf course in the region and build the ultimate links layout. He created a masterpiece that fits into its surroundings – a very traditional links golf course, probably as pure as it gets.
Located in Irvine with Kilmarnock to the south, Glasgow Gailes to its north and Western Gailes to its west, the Dundonald golf course is in prime golfing country and worthy of its older more established neighbors. Dundonald was an ancient Ayrshire links layout with a flat terrain made up of light, sandy soil that was once covered by the sea. Phillips demonstrated skill, respect for tradition and a remarkable sensitivity to the qualities that make Scottish links courses unique.
Phillips fulfilled his desire of creating a championship Ayrshire-style links course that felt and played like an old rediscovered course. He has seamlessly integrated new constructed features with existing natural features of the landscape. New tee boxes, greens as well as additional landscaping and earth mounding has resulted in an outstanding 7300 yard par 72 course with four tees.
The redesigned course was opened in 2003 and has been acknowledged as one of the best new courses in the world. Dundonald is a challenging but extremely rewarding course with true rolling greens that are big and fast, with serious run-offs for the wayward shot and neat dry ditches that once held water. Large grassy sand dunes bank the sides of the springy fairways, making each hole private. It boasts of outstanding par threes that are tough, interesting and different from one another. The back nine has the best view with glimpses of the sea.
