Hosting Walker Cup at Dumbarnie Links would be 'dream come true'

As the 51st Walker Cup takes place at Lahinch in Ireland this weekend, the biennial bout between the top male golfers in Great Britain & Ireland and the United States is high on a list of possible events in the future at an ever-flourishing Dumbarnie Links. “I think a Walker Cup down the road would be a dream come true,” admitted David Scott, the Fife venue’s general manager.

Clive Clark, who designed the course, played in the 1965 match in a team that not only included Sir Michael Bonallack but also Scottish trio Ronnie Shade, Gordon Cosh and Sandy Saddler as well. Clark was the only undefeated player in his four matches on either side, including a second-day foursomes win alongside Bonallack. In the last singles session, he finished 3-3-3, holing a 33-foot putt on the final green to tie his match and secure a draw at Baltimore Country Club in Maryland.

Clive Clark tees off at the Dumbarnie Links, the course he describes as his “jewel in the crown” | Contributed

“That would be a great event for us to have here,” echoed the Englishman, who was delighted to see Dean Robertson use Dumbarnie for a get-together for his players in preparation for this week’s clash in County Clare.

In rapid time, Dumbarnie, which only opened in May 2020, staged the Women’s Scottish Open, with American Ryann O’Toole winning the 2021 edition by one shot from Lydia Ko. In addition to a Walker Cup, what other events might be a possibility there in the future?“There's been talk of a Scottish Open possibly coming here after 2030 maybe,” said Scott. “Quite a few of the players who play in the Dunhill Links have played here and said they loved it and even asked why we haven’t got involved in the Dunhill. Well, if we got an approach from the DP World Tour, then we would be delighted to have that conversation.”

It’s a big call for any course but, in particular, one that relies solely on daily green fees to generate income to commit to a tournament that effectively closes it for a week. “With the right tournament, we would be delighted to host it,” declared Clark, who, in addition to his Walker Cup appearance, also played in a Ryder Cup in 1973. “If we close down for a week, we are losing several hundreds of thousands of pounds whereas in a member's club you have people paying their subscription 52 weeks of the year,” added Scott. “So, financially, it’s something that we would have to think seriously about. We recently hosted a Scottish Golf event for 32 players, so we do try and give back. But to donate the golf course for a whole week would be something significant.”

Clark was speaking during a summer visit to Scotland. Though sitting with his back to it in the clubhouse, there was a distinct glow in his eyes as he chatted to The Scotsman about the course he created between Leven and Elie after being alerted about its potential by Malcolm Campbell, a former Golf Monthly editor.

Clive Clark was undefeated in his four matches in the 1965 Walker Cup at Baltimore Country Club | Contributed

“I think this is the jewel in the crown for me,” confessed Clark. “Look, I’ve designed some good courses. The first one I did in the States - Belgrade Lakes - went to No 1 in Golf Digest when it opened in Maine. I did the same at Lake Winnipesaukee, which started at No 2 in New Hampshire then went to No 1 the following year. I did a number on the west coast as well, including The Hideaway Golf Club, a high-end private club in La Quinta, California, Eagle Falls Golf Club in Indio, California and the renovation of The Celebrity Course at Indian Wells Resort. “I’ve been very fortunate in life as I have been paid to do a hobby,” he added with a smile.

At Dumbarnie Links, the odd tweak, including the removal of some mounding at the front left of the green at the par-4 fifth and the addition of a fairway bunker to stiffen up the par-4 12th, was carried out last winter. “It has turned out pretty much how I expected it to be,” said Clark, smiling, and feeling equally pleased that the venue employs close to 40 full-time plus an additional 40-ish seasonal staff from April through to October and 100 caddies on top of that.

“We have in excess of 25,000 rounds per year here,” said Scott, one of the best general managers in the business and gearing up to captain Great Britain & Ireland in The PGA Cup at The K Club in a few weeks’ time. “It’s higher than most courses in that seven-month period we are open.”

As an example of the recognition Dumbarnie is now receiving, it was recently named as one of Golf World magazine's ‘Top 100 X Factor Courses’. “Oh, they are - it is quite amazing,” replied Clark to being asked if people over in the States, where he lives, are now familiar with the Dumbarnie name. “That is good. We’ve had several international firsts already and there is nothing better than being in the ‘Top 100 in the World’, regardless of whether it’s the official ranking from golf.com or Golf Magazine or not. It’s the first step on the ladder to get in the ‘Top 100 in the World’, which was our aim from the day I started to sketch this golf course.”

Dumbarnie Links was recently named as one of Golf World magazine's ‘Top 100 X Factor Courses’ | Contributed

With The Open being held at St Andrews next year, lots of the other courses in Fife will get a nice spin-off. “We are 75 per cent full for Open week already and Thursday, Friday and Saturday we are full,” reported Scott. “Where we get most of our success would be from tour operators. We are on their itinerary and we provide what they describe as a seamless experience through all the touchpoints we deliver seven days a week.

“The golf course is always in great order thanks to a great team led by Grahame Taylor. There’s a consistency that tour operators enjoy. They want to be assured that when they drop off their guests here that they are going to have a great day.”