Dundonald Links has entered an exciting new era with the opening of 18 luxury lodges, the latest phase of a £25m investment transforming the esteemed Scottish venue into one of the UK’s most modern new golf resorts.

The collection of two, four and six-bedroom lodges opened to widespread acclaim in August and have been custom-designed with golfers in mind, with bag storage and drying areas, en-suite bathrooms, large living spaces and fully equipped kitchen and dining facilities.

Darwin Escapes has already invested £1m in upgrading Dundonald Links’ Kyle Phillips-designed 18-hole championship course, including the addition of a new halfway house, and more is set to follow this autumn with the imminent opening of a new clubhouse and 22 hotel rooms.

Ian Ferguson, club manager, said: “The opening of the new lodges is the start of an exciting new chapter for Dundonald Links, and we’re thrilled with the initial feedback that we have received from guests.
“It’s been wonderful to see all the investment plans come to fruition over the last year and even more is to come in the next few months. With the opening of the new clubhouse and hotel rooms, not only will the resort boast some of the finest golf accommodation facilities in the UK, but it will also become the perfect base for golfers and their families to experience everything that this famous part of Scotland has to offer.”

Golf influencer Peter Finch, who has more than 400,000 followers on YouTube and who recently stayed in the lodges, said: “The biggest compliment I could pay is that I would love to live there!”

Boasting a striking contemporary design, the new two-storey clubhouse will feature large balconies overlooking the course and panoramic views to the Isle of Arran. Facilities within the clubhouse will include a pro shop, restaurant, bar, whisky tasting room and outdoor dining terrace, as well as a gym, sauna, steam room and extensive changing facilities.

Set amongst the picturesque Ayrshire countryside, the clubhouse has been created from natural materials and finished with local whinstone and a grass roof.  This not only helps it to blend seamlessly with the rugged landscape and surroundings but also reinforces Dundonald’s long-term commitment to sustainability, conservation and nature.

In addition, the resort is also set to cut the ribbon in the coming months on a range of new hotel rooms, which are situated beside the clubhouse for ease of access to the restaurant and club facilities.

Already a well-respected test for bucket-list golfers from across the world, Dundonald Links has hosted many major professional golf events since 2008 – including the Ladies’ Scottish Open in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 2017.

The resort is one of three golf venues operated by Darwin Escapes, in addition to The Springs Resort & Golf Club in Oxfordshire and Kilnwick Percy in East Yorkshire.

For more details and to book a golf break at Dundonald Links, please visit dundonaldlinks.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DundonaldLinks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DundonaldLinks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dundonaldlinks
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCYx8sB_G2kuwoFrRRTfEOvw?view_as=subscriber

ENDS

About Dundonald Links

• The first Dundonald Links layout was designed by 1883 Open Champion Willie Fernie and opened on March 23rd, 1911.
• Dundonald Links was purchased by Loch Lomond Golf Club in early 2003 to provide its global membership with a traditional links challenge. The club enlisted California-based architect Kyle Phillips, who had recently built Kingsbarns, to create a links masterpiece on the Ayrshire coast, featuring wonderful undulations, deep rough, a generous helping of gorse bushes and, unlike many traditional links courses, there are areas of the course that are framed by stunning pine trees.
• The 18-hole, par-72, championship course offers a classic links golf experience for all to savour. Generous fairways, undulating greens and a wide choice of tees make it an enjoyable test for golfers of all abilities. It is also one of the longest courses in the UK, measuring 6,700 yards.
• In 2008, Dundonald was chosen as the venue for the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School and continued to host the tournament until 2011. In 2012, the course hosted the Senior Opening Qualifying. 2014 saw the prestigious Boys’ Amateur Championship played at Dundonald. The venue then hosted some of the world’s best female golfers for the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open in 2015, 2016 and 2017 – where the course also welcomed the men’s event.
• Darwin Escapes, which also operates The Springs in Oxfordshire and the KP Club in Yorkshire, acquired Dundonald Links for £4.5m in 2019 and laid out a £25m development plan which will see the venue completely transformed into a resort, with a new clubhouse, luxury lodges and hotel rooms.

For further information please contact Pete Simm on petes@theazaleagroup.com or 01730 711920 or Kevin Paver on Kevin.paver@darwinescapes.co.uk