Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club

[Niall C]

A very enjoyable three hours. Of course the roads are fine........

Meaning beautiful, but quaint roads or "dual carriageways" and high average speed?

Anything worthwhile stopping at on the way or keep moving until you get to Mach?

Also, do you recommend anywhere to stay near Mach Old and Mach Dunes?

Niall

Great name by the way. Machrihanish is a one pub town. There are a row of substantial sandstone townhouses which overlook the old course, several of which have been turned into B&B's. If you go on the club website they should give you details.

Niall

[Niall Hay]

So is there a great pub in this one pub town?

[Aidan Bradley]

If you enjoy driving on roads that have more curves and elevation changes than Jessica Simpson, then you will have a blast. If your idea of fun is to sit behind the wheel of some large vehicle and drive straight for three hours on a four lane highway, you will be disappointed.

Several delightful villages along the way to stop, stroll around and have a bowl of soup and a sandwich. You can sit and watch soccer with the locals (and a few foreigners) in the (one) pub. It also has very fine food a nice selection of whiskey from near by Cambelltown.

[Niall Hay]

If you enjoy driving on roads that have more curves and elevation changes than Jessica Simpson, then you will have a blast. If your idea of fun is to sit behind the wheel of some large vehicle and drive straight for three hours on a four lane highway, you will be disappointed.

I like all options above so we should be in for a treat!

[Aidan Bradley]

If you stay in one of the B&B's eluded to earlier, this is the view you may have. The 18th at Machrihanish with the first fairway in the background. You may have to pay extra for the sunny day......

[Niall Hay]

If you stay in one of the B&B's eluded to earlier, this is the view you may have. The 18th at Machrihanish with the first fairway in the background. You may have to pay extra for the sunny day......

Wow, looks awesome!

[Ross Tuddenham]

Tom

Hey

I know it is not up to you to decide the commercial route of the course but with a £40000 joining fee in these times you have to wonder what will happen to the place.  If, as you say, you want to build more in Scotland then surely the best way to get picked for a project is to get known for your great work.

I just think that the exclusive club mentality is usually on to a loser in Scotland and to build a course that would never fall into such hands would put you in a much more favourable position.

What excites you more the Machrihanish dunes or Muirfields equally reclusive neighbour. 

If I play one of your courses it would of course be Pacific Dunes.

I don't mean to sound like having a go it's just I always imagine an architect would consider the relevance of the course within it's setting both historically and politically.

But food on the table and all that, can't argue the Scottishness of that ay?

[Adrian_Stiff]

These pictures are awesome, where did you get them? When were they taken?

Some of these look impossible to putt on. Some of these new Scottish courses are getting the 'thumbs down' because the greens are too heavily contoured, it's a mixed bag some love it some hate it.

[Niall Hay]

Has anyone out there putted, played or been to the course in recents weeks/months?

[Niall Hay]

Anyone know of any hotels, B&B's, especially good pubs or restaurants in or near Machrihanish?

[Jeff Doerr]

If you stay in one of the B&B's eluded to earlier, this is the view you may have. The 18th at Machrihanish with the first fairway in the background. You may have to pay extra for the sunny day......

OK, so I looked at the routing and this is am optical illusion to me.

The picture gives you a sense of starting at The Old Course, wide open, but then off to the mystery beyound.

[Andy Levett]

This article by Paul Kimber on creating the course is very interesting and seems to answer many of the doubts expressed on this thread:
http://www.machrihanishdunes.com/dynamic-content/csArticles/uploads/96/GolfArchitecture_MachrihanishDunes_2009.pdf

Apart from upward pressure on green fees at old Mach I can't see too many downsides to this, though that great drive down the peninsula would have less charm behind a convoy of Perry Golf coaches.

[Garland Bayley]

This article by Paul Kimber on creating the course is very interesting and seems to answer many of the doubts expressed on this thread:
http://www.machrihanishdunes.com/dynamic-content/csArticles/uploads/96/GolfArchitecture_MachrihanishDunes_2009.pdf

Apart from upward pressure on green fees at old Mach I can't see too many downsides to this, though that great drive down the peninsula would have less charm behind a convoy of Perry Golf coaches.

A five page PDF file with four pages containing large pictures from Aidan. The fifth page contains a vastly inferior large picture. It just goes to show how lucky we are to have Aidan as a member of this site sharing his pictures.

[Niall Hay]

This article by Paul Kimber on creating the course is very interesting and seems to answer many of the doubts expressed on this thread:
http://www.machrihanishdunes.com/dynamic-content/csArticles/uploads/96/GolfArchitecture_MachrihanishDunes_2009.pdf

Apart from upward pressure on green fees at old Mach I can't see too many downsides to this, though that great drive down the peninsula would have less charm behind a convoy of Perry Golf coaches.

Thank you Andy!

[Steve Salmen]

I'm thinking of going for a long weekend down to Machrihanish/Dunes some time around the Open.  Let me know if somebody can meet up for a game.

[Niall Hay]

This article by Paul Kimber on creating the course is very interesting and seems to answer many of the doubts expressed on this thread:
http://www.machrihanishdunes.com/dynamic-content/csArticles/uploads/96/GolfArchitecture_MachrihanishDunes_2009.pdf

Apart from upward pressure on green fees at old Mach I can't see too many downsides to this, though that great drive down the peninsula would have less charm behind a convoy of Perry Golf coaches.

A five page PDF file with four pages containing large pictures from Aidan. The fifth page contains a vastly inferior large picture. It just goes to show how lucky we are to have Aidan as a member of this site sharing his pictures.

Agreed, it's apples and oranges!

[Dave McCollum]

Anyone know of any hotels, B&B's, especially good pubs or restaurants in or near Machrihanish?

It's been a few years ago, but I stayed in nice old hotel in Campbelltown, 8 miles east of Mach.  Big rooms, high ceilings, etc.  Don't rember the name.  Very adequate and inexpensive.  Didn't visit any pubs, however remember spending a pleasant hour or so in the clubhouse chatting with members and guests.  Very friendly.  The drive down the Kintyre Penninsula was very enjoyable and the old course will always be one of my favorites.  One bit of conversation that I remember was a comment by a guest about his "long" journey from his home south of Glasgow.  I though it was amusing because I put 1200 miles on my rented car the previous week driving virtually around the entire coast of Scotland and playing 6 great courses and looking over many more.  Magnificient country.  My wife, a non golfer but avid walker, preferred Brora over Mach for the scenery.  I didn't but admit all those little spring lambs at Brora are irresistably charming.       

[Phil McDade]

If you stay in one of the B&B's eluded to earlier, this is the view you may have. The 18th at Machrihanish with the first fairway in the background. You may have to pay extra for the sunny day......

OK, so I looked at the routing and this is am optical illusion to me.

The picture gives you a sense of starting at The Old Course, wide open, but then off to the mystery beyound.

Jeff:

The picture shows the 18th green at Machrihanish, the original course. It's the least distinguished hole on the course. The fairway is to the right. Just to the right of the little brown hut is a tee for the short "ladies" nine -- mainly played by youngsters -- that runs alongside portions of the old course. You can see a few of the white stakes that note the boundary between the 18th fairway and the junior course. The fairway of the famous 1st hole at Machrihansih lies beyond the green shown, toward the ocean; the 1st green is near the far middle-right of the picture. It's a true out-and-back course -- the 9th hole is the farthest hole from the clubhouse, and you turn at the 9th green to come back home.

I believe this is taken from the front yard of Ardell House, one of several B&Bs in Machrihanish proper. The guy who runs it knows golf and caters to the traveling golf crowd that seeks out Machrihanish. Dining in Machrihanish is limited; I think they serve some meals in the clubhouse, and there is a pub or two. But dining is down the road in Campbelltown -- the whiskey houses are better than the dining.

[Bill_McBride]

Joel:

Your friend is apparently missing the whole point of golf in Scotland.  I think another golf course over there, built on a very modest budget, could do terrific.  Putting a bunch of money into 5-star condos and hotels as the developer plans is a different story ...

I was thinking the same thing as I read the new club's web page on accommodations: http://www.machrihanishdunes.com/accommodation/

This is not going to be a casual, moderate cost adventure.  Bandon will look affordable unless I'm reading this web page incorrectly!

One of the things I've loved about golf in Scotland is the wide range of accommodations, from Greywalls and Rusacks to the small B&Bs.  Bad news here for budget travelers planning a trip to Macrihanish.

[Niall Hay]

If you stay in one of the B&B's eluded to earlier, this is the view you may have. The 18th at Machrihanish with the first fairway in the background. You may have to pay extra for the sunny day......

OK, so I looked at the routing and this is am optical illusion to me.

The picture gives you a sense of starting at The Old Course, wide open, but then off to the mystery beyound.

Jeff:

The picture shows the 18th green at Machrihanish, the original course. It's the least distinguished hole on the course. The fairway is to the right. Just to the right of the little brown hut is a tee for the short "ladies" nine -- mainly played by youngsters -- that runs alongside portions of the old course. You can see a few of the white stakes that note the boundary between the 18th fairway and the junior course. The fairway of the famous 1st hole at Machrihansih lies beyond the green shown, toward the ocean; the 1st green is near the far middle-right of the picture. It's a true out-and-back course -- the 9th hole is the farthest hole from the clubhouse, and you turn at the 9th green to come back home.

I believe this is taken from the front yard of Ardell House, one of several B&Bs in Machrihanish proper. The guy who runs it knows golf and caters to the traveling golf crowd that seeks out Machrihanish. Dining in Machrihanish is limited; I think they serve some meals in the clubhouse, and there is a pub or two. But dining is down the road in Campbelltown -- the whiskey houses are better than the dining.

Phil, this is great insight, thanks!

[Jeff Doerr]

Thanks Phil.

Is there a ferry from Campbeltown to Ireland?

[Phil McDade]

Jeff:

There has been intermittant ferry service between Campbelltown and Northern Ireland, but I don't think it's operating anymore. There is a lot of ferry service on the western coast of Scotland, operated by the Cal-Mac ferry service (incredibly reliable; you can set your watch to their schedules, they are so on-time), but it stays in Scotland. A good way to get to the outer Scottish isles, like Islay and the wild and crazy Machrie links and its incomparable whiskey.

[Philippe Binette]

I doubt you go to Machrihanish for fine dining...

I stayed in Campbeltown when I was there... don't remember what I ate, there was a couple of pubs in town.. (probably fish and chips or just beer) 

Surprise to see the crowd in the pubs at midnight, either 14 years old or 42... strange.

[David_Tepper]

There is passenger ferry service between Troon and Campletown:

www.kintyreexpress.com

[Niall Hay]

There is passenger ferry service between Troon and Campletown:

www.kintyreexpress.com

If you take the ferry how do you then get to the actual course without a vehicle?