In addition to knowing that The Dunhill Links is one of the raddest events in golf, there are also things that any self respecting golf fan should know about The Dunhill Links. The tournament takes place on 3 legendary Scottish links courses and there are 7 things that you must be aware of. I have listed them below.
7. Doggos Rule The Dunhill.
Sure there are tons of celebrities and executive types at every turn, but the real bosses are the Dunhill doggos. You are wise to do as the say and bring plenty of treats for them to enjoy.
Brother Sister matching outfits are so hot right now.
The King of Kingsbarns gives me the stink eye.
Dunhill weiner dog
Fans are encouraged to bring their furry friends and these guys love their golf action. At times it can feel like you are in a dog park with all of the canine companions enjoying their time on the links.
An excessive streak of pars lulled this Dunhill doggo to sleep.
Cooper is not impressed with Padraig’s drive on #5
Max watches Fleetwood save par on #14
“What sort of dog is that?”
Milo rushes to keep up with Mcilroy at Carnoustie
Charlie watches Ahmad Rashad tee off on #11
6. Stars: They are just like us!
Every year, the Dunhill Links rolls out a new lineup of celebrity guests. Some are new and some are old, but they all have one thing in common, they love golf just as much as you do. The casual fan might find it hard to identify with Rory Mcilroy’s driver trajectory, but you can certainly identify with Bill Murray’s ability to slice one into the North Sea.
Piers Morgan poses on the Swilcan bridge.
Kelly Slater signs autographs and chats with fans.
Kathryn Newton had her mind set on playing in the 2012 US Women’s Open. Unfortunately, she received the lead role in Paranormal Activity 4 and had to withdraw from the sectional qualifier. I don’t understand choosing demon possession over golf, but the whole acting career thing appears to be working out well for her.
5. Bill Murray Will Keep You Entertained.
Years ago, I had a chance to play the Old Course with Bill Murray and I can assure you that there is no better entertainer in golf than Carl Spackler himself. The one liners flow freely with Murray and the golf fans hang on his every word.
Bill throws his ball to the fans of the Dunhill.
Bill Murray is here at the @dunhilllinks He just made a birdie on his 18th hole, did a zombie dance and threw his ball to the crowd. #golf
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) September 29, 2022
The Bill Murray birdie zombie dance
If you follow Bill long enough, you will realize that he isn’t just here for a couple of laughs, he is here because he truly loves to play golf. The good shots make him smile and the missed putts and opportunities bring a familiar wave of pain across his face. His frustration with the game never lasts long as Bill quickly finds a friendly face or a fan to carry on with. He wisely uses humor in order to diffuse the ups and downs in his game. A bad shot never lasts long and the celebrations are always bigger when you are Bill Murray.
Even on a rain filled day, Bill stops to admire the beauty of Kingsbarns.
4. Carnoustie Isn’t Always That Carnasty.
Even though it still earns the title as the toughest golf course in the Dunhill rotation, when the weather lays down, Carnoustie can actually be very playable. We caught Carnoustie on one of those days. The pros still needed to manage the barry burn and stay out of the bunkers, but with ideal conditions Carnoustie prevents a fair test of championship golf.
Kathryn Newton putts for birdie.
Rory got his Dunhill off to a nice start with a smooth 68 at Carnoustie.
In additional to the good looking scores, I managed to catch Carnoustie looking good as the sun went down.
3. It Will Rain
When I looked at the weather forecast for the week of the Dunhill, it said rain everyday. I immediately knew that was a lie, I was certain that it was going to rain, but I was also certain that the weather forecast in Scotland is always wrong. We ended up with rain on just 1 of the 6 days that I was there.
In order to prepare for this weather, you need to “Be like Bill” from the picture above. Please note that Bill does not have an umbrella. An umbrella will blow out of your hands immediately and inevitably wind up broken and in the garbage. Secondly, Bill has on a classic rain bucket hat, this keeps the drips from falling in your peripheral during the golf swing. Lastly, you will find the Gore-Tex rain suit that keeps you dry and warm. If you manage these items, you will find that golfing in the rain can be quite enjoyable.
2. The Old Course is Still Undefeated
Try as they might, the other golf courses in Scotland simply aren’t able to match the mystique of the Old Course. Perhaps it’s the history, or maybe it’s the spirit of Old Tom Morris, but there is something about these ancient links that stir the golf soul.
The undulations on the 11th and 7th green on a Sunday sunset.
The finishing two holes on the Old Course is the most spiritual 1,2 punch in the world of golf. Taking on the road hole with a Sunday pin location will challenge even the finest of players. A par here will be worth mentioning to your golf buddies. The tee shot on the 18th hole is an even mixture of beauty, fun, and religion. Pounding your drive towards St Andrews is an experience like none other.
Out of bounds right on the home of golf.
The aptly named road hole.
The media gets the chance to play the Old Course on the Monday after tournament play concludes. It’s a glorious opportunity to capture a slice of Dunhill action. I took full advantage with a smooth 73 that included a par on the road hole.
1. A Champion Will Pose on the Swilcan Bridge.
Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, and Tiger Woods have all raised trophies on the Old Course. Joining this esteemed crew is a dream for every competitive golfer. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship provides that opportunity.
The field was full of hopefuls on Sunday and no one had a better look than Richard Mansell with a four shot lead. Unfortunately, that lead evaporated quickly on the front nine as Rory Mcilroy decided to step on the gas. The energy went up a notch and the crowd started to swell as Rory poured in several birdie putts. For a moment Rory owned a share of the lead.
Much to the dismay of the crowd, McIlroy would run out of steam down the stretch. A missed putt on 14 and a bogie on 17 took him out of contention as Ryan Fox settled into the pole position. Before everyone knew it, Fox was just a par away from victory.
The 18th hole at St Andrews is not a difficult par but with a golf tournament on the line, par becomes a world class score. You could feel the tension on the tee box as Fox teed up his 3 wood. A smooth stroke down the right hand side of the fairway calmed the nerves. After a nicely played wedge, two putts for the victory was merely a formality.
Tight quarters on the winners stage.
Serious photo op! @ryanfoxgolfer is your @dunhilllinks champion. pic.twitter.com/1ApfTM4aWx
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) October 2, 2022
As the sun went down over the old course, the newly crowned champion thanked his family, fans, and everyone that makes the Dunhill so special. It was clear that this victory meant a great deal to Ryan Fox. According to tradition, everyone headed down to the Swilcan Bridge for the week’s final photographs.
