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Mike_Sweeney

Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« on: March 06, 2006, 04:57:59 PM »
At Machrihanish on the Argyll peninsular in west Scotland, approval has been given for the creation of a new links course running through the coastal dunes.

There are very few natural dune sites in the world where development of any kind is permitted. These valuable habitats for coastal protection and specialised wildlife are protected by international agreements that prevent any change to their use. But at Machrihanish, with the full support of Scottish Natural Heritage, a new links development has been given the go ahead on land designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Full Article
http://tinyurl.com/e8oag


So I have yet to make a trip to Machrihanish (only 1 quick trip to Scotland :'(). Will a second course start even more courses in this remote area?



Andy Hughes

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2006, 05:01:37 PM »
Mike, I have to think that if there is good land available, then yes.  The issue for me, and most others I assume, when I made my trip was bang for the buck--was it worth all the travelling when there was only one good course at the end of the road. I am still not sure I made the right choice by not going, but if there had been 2 really good links courses (or more) it would have been a different choice for me.
Glad you posted this.
"Perhaps I'm incorrect..."--P. Mucci 6/7/2007

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2006, 06:15:32 PM »
Mike -

I posted an item on the pending development of this course in either June or September of last year. I also recall posting relative to a housing/condo/timeshare development underway in the immediate vicinity of the Machrihanish courses (existing and planned). If it becomes anything, let's hope Machrihanish becomes the next Bandon and not the next Hilton Head!    

DT

Tom Huckaby

Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2006, 06:19:48 PM »
Very interesting - Machrihanish is one of those places that eats at me, having never been there...

My take on this is more that I want to go NOW, before it turns into the next anything.  From all I've heard it's difficult to go to (I made the same choice as you Andy - just couldn't work in the logistics), but MORE than worth it once you're there.  While another course does sound cool, well... I want to see Mac BEFORE it gets that way....

TH

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2006, 06:57:32 PM »
My other recollection from reading about this development last year is that it is going to be very upmarket, similar to Doonbeg. I am guessing this will NOT be a club you can join for 200 pounds a year!

Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2006, 07:11:57 PM »
Mike, this is one of the great places on earth for golf. My trip and 4 rounds there were just thrilling from beginning to end. The area is beautiful but the creature comforts are in relatively short supply. The land adjacient to the course on the north side would make a great site. Behind it is a military base if my memory serves me right. I am thrilled about this news, except I hear Kidd got the job. We all should go thrre and often. I think we should without a doubt have a Buda Cup there.

hick

Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2006, 11:42:03 PM »
Mike , I just looked at going to Machrihanish in the fall,and not sure that you can draw people as you would to bandon as i think it is more remote. $225 sounds good for a weekly pass but for most people they need more than what that town has to offer. One has to wonder if some places can handle more tourists, and that in itself can make a place that special loose its charm. I hope to make it sooner than later.

Mark_F

Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2006, 02:40:47 AM »
If any other course is half as fun as the first, they wouldn't need to build anything else.

I don't find it to be that difficult a journey.  If you come from the South and have to go through Glasgow it's a bit of a drag.

Far better to come down from the North, then it's a lovely drive along roads that twist alongside some stunnign lochs.

Don't know why anyone would want to fly there. :)

Sean Walsh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2006, 03:10:31 AM »
I haven't been but definitely plan to.  If it's to be a club like Doonbeg I'm thinking I'd rather go before it gets off the ground.  To me such a course in the area as it has been described to me seeems abhorrent..

I just wonder what the long term affects of uch a club would be on its neighbour.  Would the money corrupt (over the long term)?

Mike_Sweeney

Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2006, 06:09:00 AM »
My other recollection from reading about this development last year is that it is going to be very upmarket, similar to Doonbeg. I am guessing this will NOT be a club you can join for 200 pounds a year!

From the full article,

"Steve Isaac, Assistant Director - Golf Course Management at The R&A, has visited the site. "This is an impressive project, a sustainable proposal for sympathetic development of the site," he said. "This is exactly the type of development we have been promoting through the work of The R&A Golf Course Committee."

David,

It will be interesting to see where it shakes out. I have not been to Bandon either, and sadly I read too much here about how it has "changed".

What is "The R&A Golf Course Committee". or more importantly, what do they do?

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2006, 07:34:53 AM »

What is "The R&A Golf Course Committee". or more importantly, what do they do?


Mike,
the committee now provide a very interesting service for anyone (used to be only Golf Club maintenance professionals) on all aspects of practical management.

For budding Architects everywhere:
https://www.bestcourseforgolf.org/

FBD.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Sean Walsh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2006, 08:30:32 AM »
FBD,

From that link this question arises.

How does a new exclusive club positively contribute to the social environment of Machrihanish?  

I may be wrong but I understand that Kingsbarns offers Fife residents (or is Scottish Golf Club members) cheap access a imited number of times a year.  Is this correct?  If so would this be how backing for such aproject could be leveraged from the R&A?


ForkaB

Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #12 on: March 07, 2006, 08:39:50 AM »
Sean

Fife residents can play Kingsbarns for £50 (I think).  R&A members (under a separate agreement) pay about as much as it costs for a special donner kebab (if R&A members ever deigned to eat a donner kebab......). :)

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #13 on: March 07, 2006, 09:06:39 AM »
FBD,

From that link this question arises.

How does a new exclusive club positively contribute to the social environment of Machrihanish?  

I may be wrong but I understand that Kingsbarns offers Fife residents (or is Scottish Golf Club members) cheap access a imited number of times a year.  Is this correct?  If so would this be how backing for such aproject could be leveraged from the R&A?



Sean,
as I see it, the unemployment in the Campbletown area has been going thru the roof since the demise of all the local distilleries (except Springbank). I'd imagine the local populace would relish the prospect of some nice golf club work (both during construction and afterwards, obviously!)



Sean

Fife residents can play Kingsbarns for £50 (I think).  R&A members (under a separate agreement) pay about as much as it costs for a special donner kebab (if R&A members ever deigned to eat a donner kebab......). :)

Rihc,
I believe the offer is open to all SGU member Club members (eh?).
Also, I think it is still a four-ball tee time which if I remember correctly has gone up to £240 (£60 a heid).
More like a nice luncheon at Peat Inn perhaps!?!?

FBD.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

ForkaB

Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #14 on: March 07, 2006, 09:18:41 AM »
FBD

Up ta £60 a heid the noo?  Much as I love Kingsbarns, I think that a boozy lunch at the Peat Inn followed by a quick 9-holes at Anster to burn off the foie gras and spring lamb is looking more and more attractive!

Darren_Kilfara

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #15 on: March 07, 2006, 10:20:51 AM »
As a Machrihanish member and a former Campbeltown resident, I understand that Machrihanish members should be able to play the new course for a reduced fee. Last time I checked - which was six months ago, although I'm going to Kintyre in a week-and-a-half and will report back if I hear anything - it's not going to be a Loch Lomond-type exclusive course but rather a high-end resort-type course, a la Bandon. I could be wrong, but I think David Kidd was at the head of the list of proposed architects. And the land is indeed supposed to be rather good...

Cheers,
Darren

Darren_Kilfara

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #16 on: March 07, 2006, 10:22:48 AM »
Oh, and Mark: you'd want to fly to Machrihanish because it's one of the most beautful flights you may ever experience. It flies below cloud cover and gives you stunning views of Arran and much of the rest of Argyll...it only takes 25-30 minutes, but I rather wish it took a bit longer!

Cheers,
Darren

RSLivingston_III

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #17 on: March 07, 2006, 01:11:46 PM »
Here is the view north when I was there in May. You can make out stakes that are supposed to be for routing.


And here's the new first tee:


"You need to start with the hickories as I truly believe it is hard to get inside the mind of the great architects from days gone by if one doesn't have any sense of how the equipment played way back when!"  
       Our Fearless Leader

Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #18 on: March 07, 2006, 01:53:11 PM »
lol and the pro shop next to the 1st tee is really a great one as well. OMG what a golf course it is. I cannot wait to be there again.

Tom Huckaby

Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #19 on: March 07, 2006, 01:56:07 PM »
So a question for you Machrihanish veterans:

See it now before it becomes a tourist destination
with the new course; or

Wait until the new course gets built, to get more
bang for the travel buck/time?

I'm leaning heavily toward the former, although we'll
see what life realities will allow.

But any and all opinions are welcome.

TH

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #20 on: March 07, 2006, 04:11:12 PM »
Anyone looking to acquire a wee cottage in Machrihanish should check out:

www.soundofkintyre.co.uk

Also, it appears there will be a ferry (a car ferry, I presume) running twice a day, 3 times a week (Mon, Wed & Fri) this summer from Troon to Campletown. The voyage will take about 1 hour. Read this article for more info:

www.soundofkintyre.co.uk/ferry.html
or
www.kintyreexpress.com

Looking at the 2nd website, it appears to be a passenger ferry only.

Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #21 on: March 07, 2006, 05:39:41 PM »
Tom, Big Mac is a come early come often course. The remoteness of the area will hopefully keep the dockers crowd to a minimum for years to come. Naturally, remoteness has not kept people from Royal Dornoch. However, this is even more remote with very few alternatives and ways to get there. I think we are safe for five more years at a minimum. It is in the same club with TOC. Royal Dornoch, Turnberry, Muirfield/N Berwick and Cruden Bay for me.

Voytek Wilczak

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #22 on: March 07, 2006, 07:08:36 PM »
...a boozy lunch at the Peat Inn followed by a quick 9-holes at Anster to burn off the foie gras and spring lamb is looking more and more attractive!

And what happened to the famous Argyll smoked salmon?

You guys ain't eating right... ;D

jeffwarne

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #23 on: March 07, 2006, 10:16:34 PM »
Tom,
DEFINITELY the former
How else will you be able to have the chance to do both? ;D

My preference would be no new course.
Machrihanish was and is great, but our party had an equally good time at Dunaverty 10 minutes away and Carradale,conveniently on the road to the ferry to arran.
Then there's shiskine on arran before the ferry to the mainland. 57 (18,18,9,12) of the most charming holes to be found anywhere.

My fear is another "destination " course would bring out the slightly higher maintenance crowd that's so prevalent at Turnberry,Troon, etc.
Both glorious places in a glorious region, but nothing compares to the remoteness and charms of the Machrihanish area.
"Let's slow the damned greens down a bit, not take the character out of them." Tom Doak
"Take their focus off the grass and put it squarely on interesting golf." Don Mahaffey

Darren_Kilfara

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Machrihanish - The Next Bandon??
« Reply #24 on: March 08, 2006, 03:33:03 AM »
Guys, Machrihanish will *never* be a "tourist destination" as such. The locals would love it if it were, but it ain't gonna happen unless the new course turns out to be worth a 9 or 10 rating on the Doak scale. (The land is good, but I doubt it's THAT good.) So Tom, it doesn't really matter which choice you make, IMHO.

As for the Sound of Kintyre apartments, they consist of refurbished military housing for the airbase - the houses themselves look nice enough on the outside, but they're surrounded by barbed wire fences and are nowhere near the golf course (rather, they're quite near to the 9th hole of the current course, but you have to drive nearly all the way back into Campbeltown and then along the road to Machrihanish to get to the clubhouse). Caveat emptor and all that...

Cheers,
Darren