Championship VenueLinks Classic

Dumbarnie Links

Upper Largo, Fife · Designed by Clive Clark (2020) · Est. 2020

Dumbarnie is the most talked-about new links in Scotland. Designed by the former Ryder Cup player and respected architect Clive Clark, it opened in May 2020 on 345 acres of the Balcarres estate above Largo Bay, a few miles west of Elie and Lundin. Clark routed the holes across raised duneland so that a remarkable fifteen of the eighteen have a view of the Firth of Forth, with wide, generous fairways and huge greens that let mid-handicappers enjoy it while it stretches beyond 7,600 yards from the tips.

The style is expansive and modern — big skies, sweeping sea views and clever risk-and-reward par-5s — and it has been showered with awards since opening, rising quickly into the rankings of Scotland's best. It sits in the heart of the Fife golfing coast, an easy pairing with St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Elie.

Since opening it has climbed rapidly into Scotland's rankings and drawn a steady stream of pilgrims down from St Andrews. There is no hotel and no housing on the 345 acres — just the links, the bay and a smart modern clubhouse — so it plays like a pure golf retreat, and the wide corridors let you swing freely off the tee, a rare luxury on a links that stretches this long.

Holes worth knowing

117th (par-4) — the signature hole: a short, tempting par-4 climbing over a 300-year-old stone dyke to a heavily bunkered three-tiered green, all risk and reward late in the round.
28th (par-3) — a downhill short hole and a little beauty; the quartet of par-3s is one of the course's real strengths.

Highlights

Clive Clark modern links, opened 2020
Sea views from 15 of the 18 holes over Largo Bay
Wide fairways and big greens — playable yet up to 7,600 yards

Good to know

→Book direct through Dumbarnie — it is genuinely visitor-friendly, takes tee times online, and morning or shoulder-season slots are the sweet spot for both availability and price.
→There is no hotel or housing on the property — just the links, Largo Bay and a smart modern clubhouse — so it feels like a pure golf retreat. Stay in the East Neuk (Elie, Lundin Links) or St Andrews, both a short drive.
→Play the right tees: it stretches beyond 7,600 yards from the tips, but the generous fairways and huge greens make it a joy from the forward markers — especially when the wind is up off the Forth.
→Dumbarnie is one of the finest modern links in Britain — a 2020 Clive Clark design on a mile of Largo Bay shoreline, with wide fairways, big views and a timeless links feel.
→It sits beside Lundin and Leven on Largo Bay, with St Andrews 30 minutes north — an easy, high-quality addition to a Fife trip.

Visitor Information

Getting There

1h 15min drive

45min drive

Common questions

What is Dumbarnie Links and when did it open?

Dumbarnie is a modern links on the Fife coast above Largo Bay, designed by the former Ryder Cup player and architect Clive Clark and opened in May 2020. It has been one of the most acclaimed new courses in Britain, rising quickly into the rankings of Scotland's best, and sits a short drive from St Andrews.

What makes Dumbarnie special to play?

Fifteen of the eighteen holes have a view of the Firth of Forth, and Clark built wide, generous fairways and huge greens so it is genuinely enjoyable for mid-handicappers while still stretching beyond 7,600 yards from the back tees. The style is expansive and modern, with big skies, sea views and clever risk-and-reward par-5s.

How do I combine Dumbarnie with other Fife courses?

It sits in the heart of the Fife golfing coast and pairs naturally with St Andrews, Kingsbarns, Elie and Crail. A three or four-day Fife trip based near St Andrews or in the East Neuk lets you play all of them comfortably.