Golf Course Architecture - Issue 58 October 2019

20 TEE BOX The seventeenth hole at the new Dumbarnie Links course on the south coast of Fife, Scotland, is a short par four with multiple play options. “The seventeenth will become a distinctive and memorable hole, punctuated by the 300-year-old wall passing through it,” said golf course architect Clive Clark, a former Ryder Cup player. “Golfers can play left of the wall to a generous fairway, leaving them a short- iron second shot. “The alternative is to drive over the wall and dice with ten pot bunkers. The prevailing wind follows on this hole, and it can be a good opportunity for birdie or even eagle. However, a poor tee ball can rapidly lead to a double bogey. It’s like playing chess, you have to weigh up the odds before making your move.” The course is expected to open in May 2020. Its 345 acres of sandy linksland offer unobstructed views over the Firth of Forth – a 10-mile wide stretch of water – and of Muirfield, North Berwick and Edinburgh. Clive Clark’s team on the project includes course manager Grahame Taylor, golf course project manager Paul Kimber, construction firm Landscapes Unlimited, and Llewellyn Matthews from Ecobunker. The development will be managed by OB Sports. Lord Anthony Balniel, whose family has owned the Balcarres estate since the sixteenth century, said: “When we began this ambitious undertaking, our goal upon completion has always been to provide an unparalleled, memorable golf experience – not just the playing surface, but the service level, as well. I think we’re well on our way to achieving that goal.” THE B IG P I CTURE Photo: Clive Clark