ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

Downfield Golf Club

A sheltered Dundee parkland framed by more than 100 tree species.

ST ANDREWS Location
PARKLAND Course type
18 HOLES Holes
PAR 73 Par

Beyond the Scorecard

Course established: 1932
Course designer/s: James Braid and C.K. Cotton
National ranking: #55 in Scotland
Known for: Birthplace of the inaugural Scottish Open
Defining feature: Water hazards influencing seven woodland holes

Where Davy Jones Waits Among the Trees

The golf course at Downfield Golf Club traces its modern story to 1932, when the club was re-established and James Braid laid out a new 18-hole course. Dundee's expansion later forced a major reshaping in the early 1960s. Five Braid holes survived, while C.K. Cotton advised on the layout that followed.

Rather than open linksland, the course runs through mature woodland on the city's edge. Tree-lined corridors reward straight driving, while ditches, ponds, and changes in elevation make club selection matter. From the back tees, the test extends beyond 6,800 yards, yet position remains as important as length.

The strongest sequence arrives at the 11th, 12th, and 13th. The middle hole is the par-three "Davy Jones's Locker", a favourite of Gary Player, set within the course's wooded surroundings.

Downfield's tournament history carries its own weight. Paul Lawrie qualified here for The Open in 1999 before winning at Carnoustie, and the club returned to qualifying duty for The Senior Open in 2024.

Why Add This Course to Your Golf Experience

Downfield offers something valuable within a St Andrews-centred experience: a genuine change of scenery without sacrificing tournament pedigree. Its sheltered inland setting can provide welcome relief from the exposed coastal links, while the tree-lined routing asks for a different style of control from tee to green.

For golfers who enjoy variety, it brings parkland strategy, wildlife, and a quieter rhythm to a region dominated by seaside golf. Kinfern can include it as a contrasting round between the area's better-known links courses.

Course Facts

Country: Scotland
Region: St Andrews
Item type: Golf
Course type: Parkland

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