Dundonald
Dundonald is a modern links course that marches with Western Gailes and Kilmarnock Barassie. The wrong side of the tracks for the most natural linksland though the first of an Ayrshire threesome; with Barassie and Irvine this threesome will satisfy most golfers along this coast.
A smart entrance, bracketed with modern lodge accommodation, you will receive a Loch Lomond welcome. That are superb range facilities and practise areas and capacious locker rooms. We did have to check that we weren't accidentally in the ladies’ rooms for the wallpaper salesman in this area must be pretty compelling talkers. Mind you the youngest member of our group thought it rather marvellous. Perhaps it is an age thing. Contrast this with the more restrained locker rooms of Western Gailes the day before, which the youngest member also appreciated. The food upstairs was brilliant, as good as any clubhouse, and the views of the course and the sunsets were stunning. Well worth a separate or additional trip whilst you're in the area.
The course is beautifully designed with holes banked on either side to make each hole self-contained and recreating on every hole the atmosphere and challenge the architect envisaged on their drawing board.
Stroke index 4 to start sets the tone followed by a sharp dog leg right and then a hard working par 5, par 3, par 5, par 3 challenge. The first par 5 fairway chokes down as the burn cuts in and asks you when and how you will attack the raised green, the par 3 is long uphill and upwind, the next par 5 is relentless into an open landscape and the following par 3 is enclosed with trees ,a tough front bunker, and a greedy burn on the leeward side, pretty too. The closing hole on each half is pretty and challenging with water in front of the green and a tied match on the fairway will generally produce a result!
Mention must be made of the halfway hut which is not only well stocked inside but has a good stock of ravenous birds outside. Any golf bag within 50 yards of the hut is a target for birds who know how good and plentiful the provisions are from inside.
The tenth is a sweeping hole stroke index three, and is followed by a demanding par 3 with a wicked bunker beyond the green that sits in the bottom of a bowl. In Ireland it would be larger and called a Mass hole. Here this bunker is more the size of a Confessional box and you would have to say your prayers before getting out and ask yourself what you had done in your prior life to deserve this. Take your penance and move on.
I particularly enjoyed the twelfth hole that runs up to the railway, over the tracks form Western Gailes, and over the fence from Barassie. A wickedly raised green that is approached from a narrow fairway. That is to say, we all approached it from the rough. The next is a good hole established by a very tough green to hold on the right level. The passage to the next criss-crosses various holes and in the recollection of the course you realise that the vistas from numerous tees are broadly similar. This is an understandable factor given it’s comparative youth and it’s man made development but it does prevent it from sticking in the memory and generating it’s own character.
It is a wonderful course to play with all the difficulties and variety you would expect. It is immaculately set up with all the latest greenside technologies. It is a splendid place to play with friends, but it does not have the character or charm of Western Gailes.
