Scotland is known for some of the oldest and most iconic golf courses in the world.

However, a new kid on the block is quickly becoming a favourite of golfers everywhere.

The Dumbarnie Links in Upper Largo isn’t your typical links course. Rather than a front and back nine in a loop, every hole in Dumbarnie faces a different direction. This means the course offers a unique challenge as players will face different wind conditions with each hole.

The course also offers stunning views of Largo Bay and the Firth of Forth.

The Dumbarnie course was designed by former Ryder Cup player turned course architect Clive Clark. He has designed 35 courses across the USA and Europe. 

Before it opened in 2020, Dumbarnie Links was one of his most anticipated designs. And it has more than lived up to the hype, winning Best New Golf Course at the 2021 World Golf Awards. In 2023, the course won Scotland’s Best Golf Experience at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards.

The standout holes in the Dumbarnie Links are the third, eleventh and 17th. All are designed for big hitters. However, you can’t just hit and hope, as each hole is peppered with challenging bunkers.

The 17th in particular offers a difficult choice – play safe on the fairway on the left, or play straight over the heavy rough and bunkers for a chance to land on the large green.

These are holes you’ll want to play again and again, on a course that can change how you have to play everyday.

Golf trips with Hawkswood

At Hawkswood Country Estate, we have been catering to golfers for years. 

Our luxury self catering accommodation is located just seven miles from Dumbarnie Links.

With our golf concierge service, we can help your party arrange tee times at Dumbarnie Links, or many other famous Fife golf courses.

We can transport you to the course in our Mercedes minibus. 

You can also perfect your game during your stay at Hawkswood Country Estate. You’ll have access to our driving range and short game areas to practice a wide range of shots.

You can even train with Peter Whiteford, a former European Tour professional, who has coached players of all levels.

Book a golf trip in Fife with Hawkswood Country Estate, and get ready to take on one of the newest, and most challenging, golf courses in Scotland.

At Hawkswood Country Estate, we cater to many golf trips every year.

After all, we’re located just 10 minutes drive from St Andrews – the home of golf.

But before you take on the famously challenging courses in St Andrews, you’ll want to make sure you’re at the top of your game.

These golf training tips can help you prepare for the toughest golf courses in St Andrews.

Work on your short game

If you can’t putt well, you’ll never reach your potential as a golfer.

While a good drive is important, most shots are wasted on the green. 

At Hawkswood House and The Roundel, we have short game areas where you can perfect your approach play and putting.

Each area gives you the chance to practice a wide range of shots and lies, until you’re ready to take on the most challenging holes in golf courses in St Andrews and around Fife.

Learn to drive

Not because you need to use a golf buggy, but a good drive is the foundation of a good round of golf.

All Hawkswood Country Estate, all our guests have access to our 270-yard driving range.

Here you can work out any issues with your swing and build up the power needed for the perfect drive.

Get professional coaching

While working at our short game areas and driving range can help you work on your golf game, a professional coach can help you see issues you may not have recognised.

At Hawkswood Country Estate, we can arrange coaching with Peter Whiteford, a former European Tour professional, who has coached players of all levels.

As well as being the coaching professional at Hawkswood Country Estate, Peter is the coach of the Fife men’s golf team.

He’ll help you identify and improve any problems with your golf game.

Take the stress out of golf trips

When you plan a golf trip, you no doubt want to focus on the games, and let someone else do the admin.

At Hawkswood Country Estate, our golf concierge service can handle everything for you.

We will help you book tee times at some of the most iconic golf courses in Scotland. 

We can also transport you to many of Fife’s celebrated golf courses in our luxury 16-seater mini coach. 

We can help you arrange golf club hire through www.golfgearhire.com.

So all you need to think about is playing the perfect round.

Work on posture

Your stance will affect your swing, so the correct posture is very important.

To make sure you’re in the right stance, stand with the club pressed against your thighs, bend forward from the hips, and slightly bend your knees.

Your arms should hang straight down. Grip the handle and check the club is at a 45-degree angle to your forearm.

This is the perfect setup stance.

Align your clubface

Shots often go astray because the clubface is misaligned.

To deal with this, place an alignment stick just outside the ball, so it creates a 90-degree angle with the target line. 

Align the leading edge of the club with the stick.

Improve putting accuracy

A simple but effective way to improve putting accuracy is to put something in the hole that is slightly smaller (such as a soft drink bottle).

You should then aim for the bottle. Once you can hit it consistently, remove it.

The hole will seem to be a much larger target.

Practice, practice, practice

The most effective way to improve your golf game is to play as much as you can.

Regular golf trips to Hawkswood Country Estate will give you the chance to play some of the most challenging golf courses in Scotland.

Contact us to arrange golf coaching or to book a golf trip.

Time flies when you’re having fun. And while running Hawkswood Country Estate for the past 10 years has been a challenge at times, we wouldn’t change a thing.

January 2024 marks 10 years since we opened Hawkswood Country Estate for holiday rentals. And we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our loyal customers.

So we’ve decided to celebrate our anniversary by rewarding you – our valued guests.

If you book two nights between January 1st and March 10th 2024, you’ll get a third night with our compliments. We’ll even have a bottle of fizz waiting for your arrival.

As a family, we have been working to restore the building at Hawkswood Country Estate for a long time.

We started working to restore Hawkswood House and The Roundel in 2007.

Over the years, both buildings had been used as dog kennels, a cow shed and stables. Both were crying out for restoration.

The now iconic Roundel Room had been boarded up and needed serious work on the roof. We’ve now restored the panoramic views of the Fife countryside that our guests can savour in the Roundel Room.

It’s not an overstatement to say that Hawkswood House was a total wreck back in 2007.

The first step was to evict Balaro the Belgian horse that was living in the house. The right arch window in the kitchen was formerly his stable door.

The work began to restore the house to its former glory. The house was extended by 10 metres at each end, and many internal walls had to be demolished and replaced.

We bought Bowhill House in 2016. While it didn’t quite need the same amount of work as the Roundel or Hawkswood House, it still needed a complete interior renovation.

Bowhill House opened as the third exclusive use property at Hawkswood Country House in 2022.

We are proud of the amount of work the family have put into each luxury accommodation at Hawkswood Country Estate.

So whether you are a regular guest or staying for the first time, we’d love for you to sample the fruits of our labour.

And with a complimentary third night when you stay for two nights between January 1st and March 10th 2024, there has never been a better time to stay at Hawkswood Country Estate.

Contact us to discuss your stay or to book.
*Stay between January 1st 2024 and March 10th 2024 for two nights and get a third with our compliments. New bookings only. This offer is only available when booked on the phone or with our contact form. Can be used in conjunction with other offers.

Fife is the home of golf. You’ll find iconic courses like the Old Course and the New Course in St Andrews, Fife – just 10 minutes drive from Hawkswood Country Estate.

But what about those less iconic courses? Plenty of Fife golf courses offer a satisfying challenge, even if they don’t quite have the same level of fame as the celebrated St Andrews courses.

Anstruther golf course

Anstruther golf course was first built in 1890 as a seven-hole course. It has since been extended to a nine-hole golf course that offers magnificent views of the coastline. The winds from the sea means this course holds a unique challenge.

The fact the Anstruther is home to arguably the best fish and chip shop in the country also makes it worth a visit.

Balbirnie Golf Club

Located near Glenrothes, Fife, this golf course is set in magnificent woodland. The natural contours of the ground are used in the course design. This is a great example of a parkland course.

Cluny Clays, Kirkcaldy

This nine-hole golf course is great fun to play, and offers a satisfying challenge. The River Ore runs through the course, which adds an additional challenge, while the variety of holes means you will never get bored.

Cluny Clays also offer a wide range of other countryside activities.

Scoonie Golf Club, Leven

This parkland course features short fairways – so is a great choice if you are hunting for an elusive hole in one. However, there are treacherous bunkers to add to the challenge.

Torrance Course, St Andrews

Well, we could hardly write about Fife golf courses and not include at least one in St Andrews.

The Torrance course opened in 2009 – the vision of champion golfer Sam Torrance. It is a cliff-top links course, offering spectacular views, long fairways and rolling greens.

With over 50 golf courses in Fife, you are sure to find a course that will challenge you – whatever your skill level.

Why not book our golf concierge service as part of a trip to Hawkswood Country Estate?