LATEST
NEWS

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Darwin expands golf portfolio with Dundonald acquisition

Darwin Escapes has expanded its golf portfolio with the £4.5 million purchase of Dundonald Links near Troon, Scotland, from Loch Lomond Golf Club.

The club’s course was designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2003. It is regularly-ranked among the UK’s best and hosted the Scottish Open in 2017. The acquisition represents another step into golf for Darwin Escapes. The holiday firm is currently working with Brian Huggett and Tim Lobb on the redesign of The Springs in Oxfordshire, which it bought in July 2017, and owns The KP Club in Yorkshire.

Darwin’s initial plans for Dundonald are focused on accommodation and the clubhouse. Managing director Lindsey Esse said: “Whilst the Dundonald Links golf course is world class, we feel that its supporting facilities do not match this standard and we aim to develop Dundonald Links into a leading golf resort with luxury self-catering lodge accommodation and a new, state of the art clubhouse with a premium food and beverage offering, as well as a range of leisure and golf facilities. In our wish-list, subject to planning, are a spa and an indoor golf performance centre.

“This will make Dundonald Links a unique proposition in the local area, which we hope will attract both golfers and non-golfers to holiday in this beautiful setting and will put us in the frame to host European Tour events.”

Dundonald Links was opened in 2003 with a design inspired by Royal Troon, Prestwick and Western Gailes. At the time, Kyle Phillips said that his intention was to “create a championship Ayrshire links that felt and played as though it was an old, rediscovered course”.

Club manager Ian Ferguson said: “I am so pleased that Dundonald Links has been acquired by Darwin as their enthusiasm for this wonderful golf club matches that of myself and all of the team at Dundonald. Their ambitious plans to regenerate the facilities will ensure that Dundonald Links ranks alongside Scotland’s finest courses. I’m sure our members will all welcome the changes that are being planned and I look forward to working with our new owners to implement them.”

“Scotland is a hugely popular holiday destination and we have been exploring options in Scotland for some time now,” said Esse. “Dundonald Links provided the perfect opportunity to allow us to expand the Darwin Escapes portfolio into Scotland and we will continue to look for other opportunities in the region.”

Previous Article Love Golf Design reaches final stage of Sea Island redesign
Next Article Bonita Bay to begin Bay Island renovation in April
Print
3697 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Dundonald

    UK holiday firm Darwin Escapes has purchased Dundonald Links for £4.5 million

  • Dundonald

    The championship course was designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2013

  • Dundonald

    Phillips said he wanted to “create a championship Ayrshire links that felt and played as though it was an old, rediscovered course”

  • Dundonald

    The club was previously owned by Loch Lomond Golf Club

  • Dundonald

    Dundonald Links hosted the Scottish Open in 2017

Richard Humphreys

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

Other posts by Richard Humphreys
Contact author

Contact author

x
The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Magazine, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!

Includes reports from Maggie Hathaway and Apogee, interviews with Martin Ebert and Dave Axland and a feature on golf art

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now
Magazine, News | Fri 14 Mar, 2025

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now

New issue asks whether the golf boom has led to an increase in municipal golf investment

FEATURE
ARTICLES

Bringing golf to Benin
Afrikafun Production Stephane Brabant
Report | Richard Humphreys

Bringing golf to Benin

Jeremy Pern and Gregori International are creating the first 18-hole course in the West African country, on an ‘almost perfect’ site that also includes a sacred grove and voodoo shrines

The future of vegetation management on Melbourne’s Sandbelt
Lukas Michel/CDP
Opinion | Mike Clayton

The future of vegetation management on Melbourne’s Sandbelt

Mike Clayton discusses Alister MacKenzie’s transformative impact on Australian golf and how clubs can avoid repeating previous mistakes by establishing a long-term plan focused on indigenous plants

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good
Stephen Barton – Second Collective
On site | Adam Lawrence

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good

The reconstruction of the nine-hole course in Los Angeles is the golf industry at its best, says Adam Lawrence

Designs for the big screen
Pizá Golf
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

The ties that bind
Crooked Stick
Opinion | Justin Olmstead

The ties that bind

Justin Olmstead of Profile Products talks about the relationships behind the renovation of Crooked Stick in Indiana

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz
Konrad Borkowski
Interview | Adam Lawrence

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build
Kinsale Golf Club
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build

Florida course is a tribute to the Golden Age designs of Raynor and Macdonald

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?
Larry Lambrecht
Feature | Adam Lawrence

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?

Is the beauty of bunkering being over-emphasised at the expense of its function, asks Adam Lawrence

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor
Grant Books Ltd
Good Read | John Moran and Rand Jerris

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor

John Moran and Rand Jerris share insight into their book about Seth Raynor’s design at Chicago Golf Club

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam
Vinpearl Golf Leman
Report | Richard Humphreys

Vinpearl Golf Léman: New pearls for Vietnam

The first of two Golfplan-designed courses at club near Ho Chi Minh City has opened for play

Seven Canyons: Desert drama
Brad Klein
Report | Bradley Klein

Seven Canyons: Desert drama

Brad Klein reports on a Phil Smith Design renovation in Sedona, Arizona

Gopher Watch Competition – April 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

Gopher Watch Competition – April 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

MOST
POPULAR

FEATURED
BUSINESSES