Dundonald Links, Irvine, Scotland

https://dundonaldlinks.com/

Men's medal tees 6725 yds, par 72, slope 138        

Front tees 5560 yds, par 72, slope 131

Dundonald Links lies on the Firth of Clyde on the south west coast of Scotland but is separated from the sea views by another true links course, Western Gailes.  It is part of the Ayrshire golf coast with, amongst others, Royal Troon and Prestwick close by.  There was a golf course here in the early twentieth century but it was commandeered for a military camp where the D-Day landings were rehearsed in the Second World War.  The land languished until  a course was partly built intended to be called Southern Gailes.  In 2003 ownership changed hands and golf architect Kyle Phillips was engaged to design the course which is now Dundonald Links. The course has hosted both the Ladies' and Mens' Scottish Opens.

The challenging par 3 6th hole

This is a proper modern links course with the added advantage of a modern clubhouse with views across the course and accommodation in lodges and rooms.  We stayed and played with Lynn and David Lawson on a lovely Ayrshire day with light winds.  The course is well designed with many holes in valleys with dunes screening them from view.  At times it felt like a private golf course. The fairways are wide with lots of strategically placed bunkers.  Shots to the upturned saucer greens have to be accurate to avoid the many swales and runoffs.  

The 11th hole.....
....and its ultimate pot bunker!

The course opens with two good par fours.  The third is a testing par five with a ditch running up most of the right side then crossing the fairway closer to the green.  The sixth is a challenging par 3 with a ditch running across the fairway and up the left side of the green and a large deep bunker protecting a pin position on the left of the green. There is no room for anything less than perfection! Heading back to the clubhouse the ninth has penal bunkers in ladies landing area and a ditch across the front of the green.  The eleventh is a testing par three with a plateau green and the ultimate pot bunker for those going long and left.  The 12th plays towards the sea although unfortunately the view is blocked by the railway line and Western Gailes.  With out of bounds and the railway line down the left and a ditch in front of the two-tier green all viewed from an elevated tee, the thirteenth is another strong par 4. We particularly liked the 16th which is a par 4 which plays into the prevailing wind.  There is out of bounds on the right and two well positioned fairway bunkers to be avoided with the drive.  The lovely par five finishing hole has no fewer than eleven bunkers and yet another ditch across the front of the green.

The 9th green is guarded by a penalty area

Worth playing?  Without doubt.  It is a classic modern links course.

Troon Lochgreen

https://www.golfsouthayrshire.com/play/the-courses/troon-links/ 

White tees par 74, slope 122, 6784 yards
Red tees par 75, slope 133, 6077 yards

Troon Lochgreen is one of the four true links courses in the coastal town of Troon in Ayrshire, the most illustrious being Royal Troon.  Separated from the sea by Royal Troon and Troon Portland it is a municipal course which in the past was used for qualifying for the Open Championship.  In 1962, the last year in which all players, including Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, had to qualify eighteen of the thirty-six holes were played over Lochgreen. It lies on the same ground as Troon Darley and Fullarton and shares the same clubhouse although oddly Fullarton does not appear in the list of true links courses.

The island of Arran can be seen in the
distance from the 6th

We played Lochgreen with Lynn and David Lawson on a cold, bright breezy day when the gorse was in full bloom.  The condition was poor with a lot of rabbit holes, worn fairways and scruffy bunkers.  It is largely a parkland or heathland course with only the 4th to 8th holes, which lie on a narrow tongue of land beside Troon Portland, being true links in nature.  It starts with three long holes and then crosses a road to the section containing the 4th to 8th holes from which there are distant views of the sea and the islands of Arran and the Ailsa Craig.  Standout holes on this section were the par 4 5th which starts on a high tee and is bordered on the right side by the Ayrshire Coastal railway and the 6th which is a good par 3 well guarded by small dunes and bunkers.  The 11th to 14th holes are characterised by lush grass and mature trees and are definitely parkland in nature.  

The 13th is a parkland hole

The 5th is a true links hole

Worth playing?  There are better courses nearby although Troon Lochgreen is much cheaper to play