Scotland is jam-packed full of world-class golf courses. But the country is not content to rest on its laurels. Instead, top new venues are springing up all over and there are yet more grand plans for others. In the last decade or so, the real gem to emerge has to be Loch Lomond, which has already become home of the Scottish Open. But the course is so exquisite and so exclusive that it's just about impossible to get a tee time. And that's a shame as the course boasts one of the most spectacular settings in world golf. Nestling on a green outcrop that bulges out into the loch, the lay-out makes the most of the terrain and the stunning views across to Ben Lomond. It's just amazing that the place only opened in 1994. But the American company that owns Loch Lomond Golf Club, the Anderson Companies, has already spread its wings and opened a second venue in Scotland. Dundonald Golf Club, formerly Southern Gailes, offers a more attainable taste of the Loch Lomond golf experience. Situated on the west coast just south of Glasgow and a stone's throw from historic Troon, Dundonald opened in 2003 after an extensive re-design by the renowned Kyle Philips, who designed Kingsbarns on the Scottish east coast. Dundonald is a challenging but extremely rewarding course often compared in style to Carnoustie. Phillips says Dundonald is a very traditional links course, probably as pure as it gets. He adds: "My desire was to create a championship Ayrshire-style links course that felt and played as though it was an old rediscovered course, by integrating newly constructed features with existing site features." Phillips has certainly created a course that impresses. Golf World magazine ranked Dundonald among the ten best newcomers in GB and Ireland in 2005, placing it above The Grove. What's more, the soil and climate conditions make the course suitable for year-round play and there are some wonderful views across the sea to Arran and south down as far as Ailsa Craig in the Irish Sea. More visitor times have been released and while booking in advance is highly recommended, you should find it fairly simple to get a slot here. There's no doubt that Dundonald is well worth playing now, despite being brand new in many respects. The championship lay-out comes in at a huge 7,300 yards and is still 6,765 off the medal, 6,410 off the middle (or yellow) and 5,580 off the front (or red). There are some lovely holes but the stand-outs have to be the par 3 6th and the par 4 16th and 18th. The 6th is a particularly fine test. Just 135 yards off the middle tees, the hole requires a perfectly straight hit to a raised green with water tight in all the way down the left. The 16th runs alongside the railway line that separates the course from the sea. At 415 yards off the middle tees, it's no monster par 4 but still requires a couple of decent hits. The 18th is a really great 525-yard par 5 in an elongated S shape with the green approached over water. While Dundonald is undoubtedly a top-class course in a wonderful setting, it does have a minor drawback - the rather smelly (depending on wind direction) paper mill that is situated nearby. But the plusses are that the course is a superb links test, the views are very impressive and the lovely town on Troon - and a wide variety of other golfing options including the Open course itself - is just a few miles to the south. And then there are the excellent rail links. The aforementioned railway line links Troon with Turnberry to the south and Glasgow to the north. Consequently it's possible to visit both for the day or even stay at either and travel into the Troon area for the golf. Glasgow, of course, has a direct rail link with the North East through GNER (three hours from Darlington and two and a half from Newcastle) and so it's entirely possible to organise a trip to this area of Scotland without the car - or by picking up a hire car once you are at your destination. It's certainly worth being able to get about once you're in this area of Scotland as, for instance, you could work in a visit to the Auchentoshan whisky distillery in Clydebank near Glasgow, which is around 40 minutes from Dundonald. The distillery produces the only triple distilled single malt in Scotland and offers excellent guided tours with a state-of-the-art visitor centre and shop. An excellent place to stay is the historic and superbly situated Marine Hotel in Troon, which overlooks Royal Troon golf course itself and the stunning view across to Arran. Or, for the more cost-conscious, there's the Thistle Hotel in Irvine. --------------------------------------------------------- Factfile Dundonald Golf Club is situated just off the A78 to the north of Troon.
Greens fees: Weekday/weekend round £95 (summer), £70 (winter).
For information about visitor golf at Dundonald, call 01294-314000 or email: dundonaldgolf@lochlomond.com
You can also log on to: www.lochlomond.com Marine Hotel, Troon. Call 01292-314444;
website: www.paramount-hotels.co.uk/marine Thistle Hotel, Irvine. Call 01294-314803;
website: www.thistlehotels.com/irvine Auchentoshan Distillery. Call 001389-878561;
website: www.auchtentoshan.com You can also find full information of golf in Scotland by visiting the website: www.visitscotland.com
For information on train services from the North East to Scotland log on to: www.gner.co.uk | 
Golfing Destinations
