The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is the transfer-heavy week on the Scottish calendar. Play rotates across the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Spectators, pro-am guests and hospitality groups rarely stay in one place. A private chauffeur who already knows the A91, the Tay crossing and the A917 East Neuk road is the difference between a calm day and a missed tee time at the next venue.
Championship days are 1–4 October 2026. Practice and pro-am activity fills the days either side. The 2027 edition is expected in the same late-September / early-October window; dates will be added here once the DP World Tour confirms them. We take 2026 bookings now and hold 2027 diary space on request.
Transfer plan
- Edinburgh or Dundee Airport to your hotel on arrival, with space for clubs and luggage.
- Hotel to venue each morning, timed to your tee, hospitality slot or gate opening.
- Venue-to-venue moves on rotation days: St Andrews to Carnoustie is about 30 minutes via Dundee; St Andrews to Kingsbarns is 10–15 minutes on the A917.
- Evening collections from clubhouses, town dinners and hospitality tents, then back to the hotel.
- A dedicated vehicle for the week if you are following a group across all three courses.
Travel times
| From | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Airport | 1 hr 15 min | M90 then A92 to Fife, or A90 across the Queensferry Crossing |
| Dundee Airport | 20–35 min | Closest airfield. Carnoustie is the short hop; St Andrews about 30 minutes |
| St Andrews to Carnoustie | 30 min | A92 via Dundee and the Tay |
| St Andrews to Kingsbarns | 10–15 min | A917 along the East Neuk coast |
| Glasgow Airport | 1 hr 45 min | M80 / M876 then the Forth |
| Inverness | 3 hours | A9 to Perth, then A90. Sensible as a Highland add-on before or after the week |
Typical bookings
4–5 days
Three-venue spectator week
EDI arrival, hotel in St Andrews or Dundee, daily drops at whichever course your group is on, evening dinners in town, Sunday return to the airport.
Full day
Pro-am and hospitality day
Collect from the hotel, drop at the allocated venue, wait or run a second party to lunch, collect after the last hole.
2–3 days before
Play the East Coast first
Your own golf at Kingsbarns, Dumbarnie or Carnoustie, then switch to spectator transfers once the championship starts.
Local knowledge
- St Andrews parking during Dunhill week is poor. Drop-off points around the Old Course and the R&A are the practical answer; your chauffeur holds the vehicle away from the town centre.
- Carnoustie Championship traffic backs up on the A930 through the village. An earlier departure from St Andrews or Dundee beats sitting on Links Parade.
- Kingsbarns has a proper drive-in, but the A917 is slow behind agricultural traffic. Build a buffer if you are coming from Carnoustie the same afternoon.
- Sunday's finish is usually on the Old Course. Plan the return to Edinburgh Airport with a late-afternoon or evening flight, not a tight 6pm departure.
- Many groups play Fife on the Monday to Wednesday before the event. Kingsbarns, Dumbarnie, Elie and Lundin Links are all 15–25 minutes from town.
Who this suits
- Spectator groups following a player or a hospitality package across three venues
- Pro-am guests and corporate tables who need hotel, course and dinner covered in one vehicle
- Golf travellers pairing Dunhill week with their own rounds on the East Coast
- Travel advisors and PAs who want one Scottish operator for the whole week
Questions
- When is the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2026?
- Championship days are 1 to 4 October 2026, played across St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Practice and pro-am activity usually fills the days immediately before.
- Can one vehicle cover all three Dunhill venues?
- Yes. That is the point of a dedicated chauffeur for this event. St Andrews to Kingsbarns is 10 to 15 minutes. St Andrews to Carnoustie is about 30 minutes. We plan the day around which venue your group is on.
- Which airport should we fly into?
- Edinburgh is the main arrival. Dundee is closer if you can get the schedule to work, especially for Carnoustie hotels. Glasgow works, with a longer run across the Forth.
- Do you have space for golf clubs?
- Yes. Mercedes V-Class is the usual vehicle for groups with clubs and luggage. Tell us how many bags when you enquire so we put the right car on the job.
- How far ahead should we book?
- For October 2026, as soon as you have flights and hotels. East Coast vehicles and good St Andrews drivers are allocated early in Dunhill week. We can also hold a car for the 2027 edition once dates are confirmed.
Related
Other championship weeks
Book this week
Tell us the event, dates, passenger count and hotel. We will confirm the vehicle and a chauffeur who knows the roads.
Request a quote