Dumbarnie Links, a links course located on the east coast of Scotland that opened last year, has been awarded Golf Inc. magazine Development of the Year for 2021.
Golf Inc., the magazine for golf course developers, owners and management company executives, annually recognises 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 in May 2020 and has since received high acclaim throughout the golf world. The Clive Clark design, located 11 miles from St Andrews, measures 6,905 yards – it can be stretched to 7,600 yards for professional competitions – and plays to a par of 72. It is due to host the Women’s Scottish Open from August 12-15 this year.
The course is built on 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.”
Dumbarnie Links architect Clive Clark said: “My vision was to design a traditional links on what is a rare piece of genuine links land, but with a modern twist. There are a number of ‘risk and reward’ holes such that Dumbarnie Links becomes a strategic thinking golfer’s course, but is fun for all. There are three driveable par-4s, 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.”