The 25th playing of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship begins Thursday. Contested on the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, the Dunhill remains the only annual professional event held on the Old Course.
The format of the tournament is similar to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am; each professional is paired with an amateur, and the field rotates through all three courses over 54 holes. After that there’s a cut, and the top 60 pros and top 20 teams advance to the final round on the Old Course.
By this time, the summer tourism has tapered off in St. Andrews. However, the Auld Grey Toun will buzz again this week as the tour descends. The grandstands and corporate hospitality will suddenly arise and dominate the horizon; the pubs and hotels will be full and there will not be a single parking spot. The first and 18th holes of the Jubilee will be commandeered and turned into a range.
Thankfully, the weather forecast this week looks mild for St. Andrews, compared to last year when extreme wind delayed play multiple times. Given the fickle nature of the Scottish seaside climate, the forecast is always subject to change, and the weather could turn severe at any time.
Notable players in the field:
Scotsman Bob MacIntyre returns to defend his title.
World No. 16 Justin Rose is coming off a solid showing in the FedexCup playoffs.
Tyrrell Hatton, who finished runner-up last year and has won the event three times.
Matt Fitzpatrick arrives off a win at the Open de France.
Tommy Fleetwood, fresh off a withdrawal from the same tournament due to illness, is scheduled to play, but we shall see.
Brooks Koepka is back with a chance to become the first American to win the event.
Francesco Molinari, who won the 2018 Open at Carnoustie, will hope to rediscover some of the links magic he used to defeat Tiger Woods eight years ago.
The amateur side carries its usual mix of athletes and actors including soccer stars Gareth Bale and James Milner, award-winning actor Michael Peña and world-champion surfer Kelly Slater.
Where visitors should play:
Anybody who loves the game of golf must go to St. Andrews. Whenever you find yourself there, here are six gems in the surrounding area to play.
Crail Balcomie. The Crail Golfing Society dates back to 1786. The course sits on the eastern tip of Fife, 20 minutes from St. Andrews, with sea views from almost every tee. It is short with a lot of character, and the green fee is modest.
Elie. The starter at Elie watches the first fairway through a periscope salvaged from a submarine, since the drive plays blind over a hill. The course is a joy from start to finish and is consistently rated as a favorite among those who’ve made the loop.
Dumbarnie Links. A few minutes along the coast from Elie, Dumbarnie opened in 2020 and has already hosted the Women’s Scottish Open. Although this is a links course, with most holes looking out on the water, there is an undertone of inspiration from American design. The combination of these two styles makes for an interesting and memorable hybrid experience.
North Berwick West Links. An hour east of Edinburgh, North Berwick has the original Redan at the 15th. Architects have copied the hole for more than a century. The course also plays across stone walls and beside the beach. It is on the shorter side, and is consistently described as a “very fun” golf course.
Cruden Bay. North of Aberdeen, the fairways run through a beautiful landscape of tall dunes. Tom Simpson reworked the links in the 1920s, and much of his work survives. The historic ruins of Slains Castle stand on the cliffs nearby.
Royal Dornoch. It is a long drive north, but well worth it. Old Tom Morris did some of the design work, and Donald Ross was the club’s first pro and greenkeeper before he left for America. Golfers who make the trip often call it the best course they have played.
Golf Channel and Golf Channel mobile will have coverage beginning Thursday at 7 a.m. ET.
