Dumbarnie Hyperlinks, Clive Clark’s critically acclaimed structure nestled on Fife’s south coast, has reopened for the 2025 season with adjustments to its tenth gap set to boost the taking part in expertise even additional.
Regardless of solely opening for play in 2020, Dumbarnie has loved a dramatic rise in its quick lifespan. Considered one of many world’s most interesting new hyperlinks designs, Clark’s ‘fashionable masterpiece’ was just lately ranked thirty seventh in Golf Month-to-month’s Prime 100 UK & Eire record, an increase of three locations for the reason that journal’s final rating in 2023.
However regardless of its rising fame and the constructive buzz following its opening 5 years in the past, the choice was made final 12 months to make adjustments to the testing tenth gap – a par-4 stroke-index-one that ranges in size from 356 to 524 yards – with a considerate eye on enhancing its playability for all ranges of participant.
Work on the brand new gap was accomplished over the winter and spring months, with the deal with the removing of a burn that crossed the green, and which generally got here into play from each the tee and fairway approaches.
Suggestions from friends relayed that for longer drivers of the ball who had been carrying their tee photographs 250-260 yards – with the prevailing wind behind them – balls had been in peril of operating into the burn after hitting a downslope on the green. With the burn blind from the tee field, it was thought of unfair for higher gamers who risked being penalised for driving the ball nicely.
Conversely, when taking part in into the wind, shorter hitters had been left with a problem to hold the burn with their second shot, once more with their view of the hazard blocked out because of the adjustments in elevation from the green.
The Burn was stuffed in underneath the watchful eye after all supervisor Grahame Taylor, whose staff introduced in over 300 tonnes of soil to finish the job, with on-the-groundwork ending in March. In a bid to finish the work earlier than the season’s reopening, the land was subsequently formed to make it mix seamlessly with the outlet’s fairway.
Dumbarnie Normal Supervisor, David Scott, mentioned: “We’re all the time listening to suggestions as a result of we actually worth the views of the individuals who play Dumbarnie.
“There are most likely some folks questioning why we now have made the change to the tenth gap, however we felt the burn created a slight unfavorable the place gamers ought to be inspired to hit a driver.
“We’ve got had nice suggestions on the adjustments since we reopened just lately. The burn was blind from the tee, and with the southwest prevailing wind behind you together with the undulating fairway, balls might take a bounce with their tee photographs in the direction of the burn and in fact, that could be a little bit unfair.
“By doing this – and likewise contemplating those that will not be as lengthy hitting in opposition to the wind – we’re making a fairer and in the end a greater expertise for individuals who play Dumbarnie, and that actually is our aim.”
Dumbarnie Course Supervisor, Grahame Taylor, added: “It seems to be just like the burn was by no means there and as soon as the turf beds in additional, nobody will ever know!
“The tenth is the hardest gap on the course and gamers wish to be hitting drivers off the tee on an extended par-4. However downwind you will discover that burn and I felt like that wasn’t what we wished from the outlet. Final 12 months we put indicators up so that folks taking part in it for the primary time knew concerning the burn, however that wasn’t actually the purpose.
“Eradicating the burn has all the time been a speaking level however we didn’t wish to rush it, and we seemed on the suggestions, took that info on board and made the choice.
“To enhance the expertise for folks taking part in Dumbarnie, it was the precise determination and one we’re very pleased with. However be warned: it’s nonetheless an ideal – and really difficult – golf gap that could be very deserving of its stroke-index-one standing.”
With its spectacular setting on the Balcarres Property across the golden sands of Largo Bay, Dumbarnie Hyperlinks presents not solely breathtaking views throughout the Firth of Forth, but in addition a heartfelt welcome which is complemented by a problem that each true lover of the purest type of the sport can not afford to overlook.
Many holes sit in shut proximity to the water – encouraging a risk-and-reward technique – with teeing choices starting from 5,300 yards to six,900. Nevertheless, when set as much as problem the perfect, the course’s skilled tees imply the structure can play a bit over 7,600 yards at full size.
In addition to making an announcement with its current transfer within the highly-regarded Golf Month-to-month rankings, the course has grow to be a everlasting characteristic in various world Prime 100 lists. In 2024, it was rated quantity 22 in Golf Digest’s greatest programs in Scotland, in addition to fortieth within the Prime 100 Programs UK & Eire record. In 2021, the course additionally hosted the Girls’s Scottish Open.
For extra info on Dumbarnie Hyperlinks, customer bookings and costs, please go to the web site here.
