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From Hollywood celebrities to rock stars, the Dunhill Links Championship has it all. Throw in Storm Amy, a Scottish winner and the random appearance of Justin Bieber, and the 2025 event can perhaps rightfully be called one of the quirkiest golf tournaments ever.
Taking place over the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie simultaneously, it’s been on the go since 2001 - and is set to continue now until at least 2030 after an extension was agreed with the DP World Tour - but never ceases to surprise.
Where else, for example, can you stand mere metres away from a ‘Ghostbuster’ and a Ryder Cup winner, all on the same green? Or watch Sir Andy Murray shanking his ball in a bunker?
Where else, indeed, can you spot Bieber standing outside a chippie, taking selfies on the street? Whether or not he’s a salt n’ sauce man is still to be verified.
The Dunhill is one of those sporting occasions that, for journalists and spectators alike, is a smorgasbord of celebrity indulgence.
The amateurs - made up of film stars, sporting legends, musicians, entertainers, and lots of mega-rich folk - play alongside the pros over a three-day period. Day four sees the professionals hunker down for a final day of reckoning. At stake? Over $800,000 for the winner, and, indeed, a DP World Tour title.
Justin Bieber looks like he's enjoying himself in St Andrews last weekend
Movie legend Michael Douglas is a regular at the Dunhill Links Championship
Likewise, his wife Catherine Zeta Jones is pretty handy with a golf club
So far, so enticing.
But what’s it really like behind the scenes and what do the locals think about the annual rock n’ roller, which crashes into town every autumn?
Firstly, let’s start with all the fun stuff. The celebrities.
Think Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Kathryn Newton, Bill Murray and you’ve basically got the gist. This year, the Douglas family were all the rage. From Zeta Jones’ golfing attire, to the couple’s enduring romance, the media just couldn’t get enough of it.
I caught up with the actress after her opening round at Carnoustie. The encounter lasted seconds, but that’s what you get for door-stepping a movie star on her way back from the fairways.
How was it? I ask.
‘It was excellent,’ she beams. ‘The course at Carnoustie is really challenging, but I like all of the courses here.’
Can we expect to see you here again in the future?
‘I will definitely be looking to come back here again,’ she smiles
‘It’s wonderful to be back here with Michael. It’s a real favourite time for us.’
Instantly, I get big licks from the kids around the ropes. I’m slightly intrigued as to how they knew her. Did they even watch the Darling Buds of May?
Of course, it then dawns on me; they recognise her as Morticia Addams, from the Netflix series ‘Wednesday’. It’s amazing how these celebrities cross the generations.
Douglas was delighted to play with Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood
As she disappears into the clubhouse, I spot Michael Douglas.
‘We had a wonderful day today,’ he says.
‘I’m glad to get ‘Car-nastie’ out of the way before the weather really comes in. Playing with Tommy Fleetwood was such a treat.
‘I always love this event, its a great time and nice to be here and catch up with old friends. It’s nice to be here with Catherine. She’s a very good shot. She always loved golf, her folks in Wales and everyone there is into golf.’
It’s easy to forget that Douglas is 81 years old. He charges around with vigour. Standing watching him on the 18th at the Old Course on his final round of the tournament, it’s a reminder, perhaps, of the significance of this historic course. Everyone says the same thing. Playing here is just ‘special’.
Indeed, ask the locals, and they’ll tell you how much they adore living next to such hallowed turf. But in reality, there is more to it than that.
St Andrews has largely escaped the crisis seen on many of our high streets. It’s constantly busy, filled with tourists, and has a thriving food and drink culture. Most of that is thanks to its students, and yes, to golf; which brings in millions to the local economy.
The Russacks Hotel's perfect views of the course unsurprisingly attract the stars
It’s one of the reasons the Marine and Lawn Hotels and Resorts group bought up Russacks Hotel a few years back. The historic venue, which overlooks the 18th hole, has been transformed since their acquisition in 2019. Phillip Allen, president of the company, tells me: ‘We had Spiderman (Tom Holland) here last year. I think he enjoyed himself.’
So far so good, then, in terms of accommodation. The partying, meanwhile, is also a big draw.
A private do for the players is always a raucous affair. In what can only be described as sporting showbiz on steroids.
Imagine, if you will, the likes of Murray, Tommy Fleetwood, Kevin Pieterson, Michael Vaughan, Piers Morgan and co, all being serenaded by their very own rock stars?
A clip on social media this year showed Zeta Jones belting out a little number by Adele. In the past, Huey Lewis has also performed. Time, perhaps, to give Mr Harry Styles an invite?
Elsewhere, fashion plays its part, too. The players’ ‘swag bags’ are one of the most coveted items for those competing, with some saying these alone are worth the trip. How much they’re ultimately worth is a closely guarded secret, but they’re known to be laden with expensive goodies.
In the town itself, there are pubs, chip shops and eateries galore. T-squared, the new sports bar owned by Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake enjoys a ‘soft opening’, with fans already lapping up the virtual darts.
Auchterlonies in St Andrews is very popular with golfers... with Andy Murray also visiting
Elsewhere, golf shops teem with visitors, with Auchterlonies a must visit for anyone looking for kit.
‘It all started back in 1895. There were six brothers, the Auchterlonies,’ says Bobby Millar, owner of the shop.
‘They were all very good golfers. Two of them won majors. Willie won the Open in 1893 in Prestwick and Lawrie won the US Open in 1902. Auchterlonies evolved from club-making into retail as well.
‘This week we’ve already had Bubba Watson in, Dustin Johnson. Tony McCoy. Andy Murray was in yesterday. Sir Sean Connery was always a good customer. He was a favourite to get repairs done. He didn’t like changing his clubs too much. ‘
Of all the big names and celebrities on show, it was Sir Andy Murray who stole the amateur headlines this year.
Playing in his first Dunhill Championship, he stunned spectators with his golfing prowess. He shook hands, signed multiple hats, and allowed a number of fans to get selfies. It’s little wonder St Andrews affectionately became known as ‘St Andy’s’ for the duration.
The level of security, however, is always a risk. According to one of the ‘personal detail’ assigned to certain golfers, ‘professional’ autograph hunters are a constant bugbear.
They are, I’m told, a very ‘organised’ affair, with ‘gangs’ of them coming up from England, to gather celebrity swag. They have a clear modus operandi; bring out multiple items to be signed, bag them up, do it again, and then sell them all on sites such as Ebay.
When they’re found out, they then send in children to do their dirty work for them. In truth, these activities may not be illegal, but they’re not particularly tasteful; and they take away the opportunity for true fans to get autographs from their heroes. Not a good look.
Away from the cameras, the golfers themselves are generally relaxed and easy to speak to. For the professionals in particular, there’s still a lot to play for, with the winner’s prize of over $800,000 a tasty little bonus.
This year, there was added spice to the event, with the return of many of our European Ryder Cup winners - including MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick and Fleetwood.
Murray got to play in the same group as Scotland's top golfer Bob MacIntyre
After his efforts at Bethpage Black in New York, nobody could have predicted that Scotland’s MacIntyre would still have the stamina to take the top prize, after three stunning rounds of six-under-par 66.
It was a fairytale ending for the organisers to see the Oban star lift the enormous trophy, and a thrill for the fans who had come out to cheer one of the brightest young talents to come out of this country for many, many years. That he won in such inclement weather made his achievement all the more incredible.
That’s not to say that Storm Amy wasn’t a major annoyance. With play suspended on the Friday, it was almost inconceivable that the courses would be playable the following day. Play started nonetheless, only to be suspended and then cancelled entirely a short while later.
‘It should never have f*****g started today,’ one player told me, as we discussed the decision to forge ahead with the day’s proceedings.
In the end, of course, it still went off with a bang, with the event being reduced to 54 holes. Fireworks rained over the Old Course, Bob got his victory at the home of golf, and Andy Murray became, yet again, a sporting hero for those who’d come to watch him.
And there was a home winner as MacIntyre wowed the crowds by winning the championship
Away from the cameras, three-time DP World Tour winner, Nicolas Colsaerts said goodbye to professional golf, as he retired from the sport after 25 years in the business. I ended up beside him on the Saturday, as he hit balls with his playing partner, Kelly Slater, and his four-year-old son, Olliver.
It will forever be an enduring memory. A dad, having fun with his kid, with one of the biggest names in surfing.
As Colsaerts’ mini-me whacked the ball with skill and gusto, I couldn’t help but think this was a lad with a whole heap of talent under his belt. He is, by the look of it, a real prospect in the making.
More than that, however, it was a moment that defined the very ethos of the sport, and perhaps, the very nature of the Old Course.
History, friends, family, health, enjoyment. And nobody could ask for much more than that.
