The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a 4-day golfing extravaganza that was started in 2001 when it replaced the Alfred Dunhill Cup. The tournament goes back as early as 1985, and it has continued to promote golf and the town of St. Andrews to this day. The competition is played on three of Scotland’s most iconic courses: the Old Course (St Andrews), Carnoustie Championship Course, and Kingsbarns Golf Links.

All three courses have a rich history, with St. Andrews hosting The Open 30 times. The Old Course is also called the ‘Home of Golf’ and has a special place in the hearts of fans and pros alike. Let us take a closer look at all 3 courses involved.

History of the courses at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Established over 400 years ago, The Old Course is considered to be the oldest golf course in the world. It might be the easiest of the 3 courses but has also shaped the game of golf in many ways. Records of Scottish Golf History show that in 1754, the course had 12 holes, 10 of which were played twice, making a total of 22 holes.

The course was even sold to rabbit breeders in 1799 until James Cheape laid the foundations for the modern-day course that the golfing world now knows and loves. The weather conditions massively impact the course, as witnessed in 2023 when the final round got delayed by a day due to bad weather. There are 10 courses in St. Andrews town with various degrees of difficulty.

Located near Dundee, Carnoustie is considered the most difficult course out of the three. It was voted the best golf course in Scotland. According to their website, golf has been played here since the 16th century. The natives of Carnoustie went on to establish the Professional Golfer’s Associations of America and Australia.

Aside from the Championship course, there are two other courses called The Carnoustie Burnside Course and The Carnoustie Buddon Course. It was at the Burnside Course where golf legend Ben Hogan shot 70 to qualify for the Open Championship, which he subsequently won.

Kingsbarns was a 9-hole course that had been around since the 1700s. Having been turned into farmland in 1850, the old Kingsbarns Golfing Society founded the Kingsbarns Golf Club in 1922. However, it wasn’t the only time the club lost its identity. During World War 2, it was again dug up for mining, and it wasn’t until the start of the 21st century that golf was played again.

American architect Kyle Phillips brought the course back to life with his efforts, and the course was finally opened in July 2000. The gorgeous North Sea provides the perfect backdrop for an exquisite round of golf.

Now that we know a little something about the courses, let us know about a few of the renowned holes that golfers have to play.

Famous holes at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

At 495 yards, the infamous “Road Hole” at Old Course in St. Andrews is one of the longest par 4s you’ll ever find. During the 2015 British Open, there were more bogeys (217) than pars (203), and no other hole got players to average more than 0.24 strokes above par during the event. The easiest hole is supposed to be the “Hole O’Cross Out”, which is the 5th hole.

Carnoustie is known for its challenging finishing holes, with many claiming it to be the greatest back-nines in golf. It also features some of the most challenging bunkers. The 520-yard par-5 6th hole is considered one of the best, with two bunkers in the middle of the fairway and a third bunker to the right. The “Lucky Slap,”  “Barry Burn,”  and “Island” are the 15th, 16th, and 17th holes, notorious for the challenge they present.

According to Tom Doak of The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses, the 4th and 5th holes of the upper deck are the best holes at the Kingsbarns. He also mentioned the 6th and 7th holes for their fairways that overlap each other.

What do you think of the three courses? Let us know in the comments!