WHERE IS THIS

KING ROBERT THE BRUCE (RTB)

£150

WHY PLAY

Recently named the 2019 Best Golf Resort in Europe by LeadingCourses.com, Trump Turnberry offers an incredible golfing experience on the magnificent King Robert the Bruce course.

The magnificent new King Robert The Bruce (RTB) was built on land which was once known as the Kintyre.  After Turnberry was acquired in 2014 Martin Ebert, fresh from his success on the Ailsa Course, was then tasked with creating a 2nd World-Class Golf experience name after Robert the Bruce.

In typical Trump ‘go big or stay home’ fashion an ambitious plan was created.  Significant modifications were made to the old track.  Bunkers were overhauled, a burn which used to cross the 1st hole was removed and many new waste areas were introduced as well as a large wetland.  These changes resulted in a stunning new course routing that follows the stunning coastline with spectacular views in every direction.  Ebert reimagined the land and delivered a stunning new course that put Turnberry back on the Map as one of Scotland’s ultimate golf resorts.

Many people are unaware of the true history of Turnberry and the fact that the iconic lighthouse, which was built by the family of celebrated author Robert Louis Stevenson, is situated amongst the ruins of Turnberry Castle. It was in this medieval castle that King Robert the Bruce was born in July 1274. Turnberry is steeped in a strong history, leading us to name our new golf course after the King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce, the historical warrior who led Scotland to claim its right as an independent country in the Battle of Bannockburn in June 1314.

Martin Ebert, who was the architect responsible for his acclaimed work on the Ailsa Open Championship links, was commissioned to create a new world-class golf experience. The result was a thrilling new golf experience that is playable for golfers of all abilities. The breathtaking vistas from the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th of the new King Robert the Bruce course will provide golfers the opportunity to play 2 world-class courses and experience spectacular views of Turnberry’s stunning coastline, castle ruins, and the lighthouse.

The overall design concept for the course has been to introduce fairway bunkers with sand faces and marram grass “eyebrow” faces tempting “risk or reward” shots whilst greenside bunkers are shaped and neatly revetted to require perfect recovery shots. With 18 holes of magnificent golf, the King Robert the Bruce course reinforces Trump Turnberry’s reputation as a true golfer’s paradise.

WHY PLAY?

DUMBARNIE LINKS

£258

COURSE SUMMARY

Dumbarnie Links, Scotland’s latest world-class links golf course, opens to golfers on 29 May 2020. Covid may have delayed its opening and subsequent arrival on the world stage.  But it won’t be long until golfers from the four corners of the world get the privilege to play this new masterpiece.

Somehow It seems fitting that Dumbarnie was built on an incredible piece of land overlooking the Firth of Forth directly towards Muirfield where the first 13 rules of golf were written in 1744.  This visually stunning pure links golf course was founded, designed, and developed by the highly acclaimed and former Ryder Cup Player Clive Clark.  If there was ever a labour of love this was surely it!.

Clark who partnered with Peter Alliss has a portfolio and has won many awards for over 30 courses in Europe and North America.

Located in the Kingdom of Fife.  In an area of Scotland already blessed with some of the world’s top links golf courses. This course, which was built on 600 natural sand dunes, is no pretender to the throne and will undoubtedly take its place amongst Scotland’s Crown Jewels.

The Dumbarnie Golf Course is part of the Balcarres Estate which spans 5000 acres.  This incredible piece of rediscovered land has 1.5 miles of beach which front many of the holes.  The land has been in Lord Balniel’s family for 400 years. Incredibly no less than 14 of the holes on the course have panoramic or sea views of the bay which is similar to the likes of Pebble Beach.

The course is split by an escarpment.  This provides the elevation changes that made it possible to create a number of elevated tees from where there are some wonderful panoramic views of the Forth. Expect to have a lot of fun on the 4 holes that play from the top elevation to fairways 50 feet below.

The playability of the course is also remarkable with wide fairways and expansive greens but make no mistake this course is not a walk in the park.  You really do need to keep your wits about yourself and think your way around the course. The course has split fairways on the 5th and 13th Holes where you can take a risk by driving into the narrow side of the fairway and get 50 yards closer to the hole.  There are also 3 short par 4s which can be drivable depending on the weather and tees you are playing.

Quite simply this is a must-play course for all golfers who enjoy links golf.  The course looks established like it has been there forever. It is visually spectacular and has wonderful views over the Firth of Forth to Scotlands Golf Coast which as the crow flies is only 10 miles away yet takes almost 2 hours to drive.  The only noticeable thing that is quite different is the pure white sand in the low maintenance Eco bunkers.

WHY PLAY?

CASTLE STUART LINKS

£215

SUMMARY

Castle Stuart is the newest Championship Links Golf Course in the Scottish Highlands. Designed by the late Golf Visionary Mark Parsinen who saw it as his personal destiny to create a major golfing resort at Castle Stuart and the ‘Pebble Beach of the British Isles’.

After their highly acclaimed work at the Kingsbarns Links in Fife.  Parsinen once again worked with fellow American Gil Hanse on Castle Stuart.  Together they once again produced a modern, visually stunning, Championship course.  The course opened for play in the summer of 2009 and just 18 months later staged the Scottish Open.  This was the first time such a major European Tour golf event had been held in the Scottish Highlands.

Castle Stuart is a modern links Golf Course with great character.  It was built on a magnificent piece of land which runs along an estuary with spectacular views overlooking the Moray Firth, has so far held the prestigious Scottish Open four times in 2011, 2012,-2013, and again in 2016. The Highland’s setting is simply stunning and the design of the course is magnificent with views over The Moray Firth to the Black Isle. Every hole on the course is memorable in one way or another. Beautifully scenic with perfect infinity greens and natural bunkers.  A round of golf on these links is sure to live long in your memory.

The course design makes the most of some great elevation changes to add more character to a course that is renowned for always being kept in perfect condition. Add to that the very changeable weather elements that come in from the coast and you can expect a unique fun and challenging round of golf!.

The course is widely regarded as a contemporary classic among Scotland’s rich heritage of links courses,.  Castle Stuart succeeds as a course that challenges the very best players in the world but is enjoyable and playable for every-day golfers of all abilities.  The fairways are wide and generous so not too intimidating off the tee.  No forced carries and plenty of safe or bail out options. Also, expect some risk or reward holes with those taking the braver line likely to be rewarded with easier approach shots into the infinite greens.  The course looks stunning from every tee box.

After your pre-round warm-up on the superb range and huge putting green in front of the great Art Deco clubhouse, it’s a short walk to the first tee where you are greeted by a decent length par 4 with the estuary to contend with on your right and a lovely fairway stretching out in front of you.

WHY PLAY?

FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS -Torrance

£105

SUMMARY

Fairmont’s Torrance and its sister course Kittocks are a wonderful addition to St Andrews and The Home of Golf.  The Torrance course was built-in 1991 to satisfy the ever-increasing number of worldwide golfers arriving in Scotland to experience this mecca of Links golf and its many world-class courses.   Despite being relatively new the courses have grown quickly in stature and now regularly host The Seniors Open and from 2020 The European Tour. The Torrance was also the Final Qualifying Venue for the 2010 Open Golf Championship. That same year, the World Deaf Golf Championships and the Scottish Seniors Open were held on the Torrance.

The Torrance Course at St Andrew’s Bay was designed by Denis Griffiths, Gene Sarazen and Legendary Scottish Ryder Cup golfer and winning Captain Sam Torrance.  Once flat farmland the course was carved out of an incredible piece of land on the clifftop above St Andrews Bay.  The course overlooks the North Sea and plays 7,230-yards long.

In 2009, the course was redesigned by golf architect Gary Stephenson who is now the head of Phil Mickelson’s Golf Course design operations.  The changes included eight new holes, in preparation for the 2009 Scottish Seniors Open.

The 360-degree views are simply stunning.  Set on 520 acres of land you never seem to be too far away from the beautiful 5-star Fairmont Hotel and Spa which is located in the very heart of award-winning Golf Resort.  Many of the hotel’s bedrooms and Lodges have wonderful course views or balconies where you can relax and watch the sunset over the bay.  Despite opening as recently as 2001 the course has matured and somehow looks timeless as though it has been there forever.

The Torrance Links course is very playable.  Expect a Scottish style Links design with strategically placed traditional revetted bunkering throughout.  These bunkers are deep and should be avoided at all costs.  Make no mistake there is danger around every corner.  There are plenty of hazards to avoid such as High deep rough, Gorse, Cliff edges, and small internal lochs throughout the course.  All together they help make this a formidable test of golf. The final stretch is dramatic and visually stunning as you follow the cliff back from the 14th green to the Clubhouse.   At the end of the round, a visit to the clubhouse with its elevated views is a wonderful place to discuss the day’s adventures.

WHERE IS THIS

KINGSBARNS GOLF COURSE

£268

NOW ON THE TEE SUMMARY

Kingsbarns reopened as a Golf Course for the third time in 2000. Recognised by golfers as one of the most scenic and challenging links golf courses in Scotland. Expect to experience a lot of elevation changes and be enthralled by the spectacular scenery. Kingsbarns is a new jewel that shines bright in the Scottish golf scene. After your round be sure to spend some time at the beautiful clubhouse.

From the moment you arrive at Kingsbarns Golf Course, you will sense that you’re in for something special during and after your round.  If you like whisky then you will have already driven past and planned a post-round visit to Kingsbarns Distillery.  Kingsbarns staff are friendly, the practice facilities are top class and the Pro shop is well stocked.  There’s just enough time to buy a few authentic Scottish golf collectibles to take back to the friends you left behind!

The course routing is ingenious, crescent-shaped as it follows the Fife coast.  There are holes with separate levels providing sea views from every fairway.

Golf has been played in and around Kingsbarns since 1793. The original Kingsbarns Golfing Society was established in 1815 and its members played on the original 9-hole Kingsbarns course until it closed in 1850

The course was re-established in 1922 and the golfing society was reformed as Kingsbarns Golf Club which remains in existence today. Course Designer Willie Auchterlonie laid out the course in 1922 which closed again at the onset of the Second World War. Land mines were buried on the course site as part of the national security defence effort and the ground reverted to rough pasture.

Construction of the current Kingsbarns Golf Links began in November 1997 under the direction of architect Kyle Phillips and the course opened in July 2000. The course has no membership and welcomes visitors.