Glen:
Ardell House overlooks the Machrinhanish course and you can walk to the clubhouse and 1st tee from there; run by a guy (Mr. Baxter, I believe) very knowledgeable about golfing and golfers.
There is little in Machrinhanish proper for eating; couple of pubs and the clubhouse does serve basic meals. Campbeltown is the best bet for evening meals. Take Gene's advice about Springbank -- a great distillery. Eaglesome, a store in downtown Campbeltown, has a great collection of single malts.
A nice late-afternoon/early evening round can be had at Dunaverty, about 15 miles south of Machrihanish -- sporty, not long, but some good holes and great views on the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula. Carradale, up the road a bit on the eastern side of the Kintyre, is nine holes of funky, sporty fun again with some great views. Machrihanish, the old links, is worth at least two rounds. Haven't played the new Dunes course.
Machrie is real old-fashioned links, lots of blind shots, but it takes a bit of scheduling to make the ferry runs between Kennecraig and Islay. Getting to Machrie and playing the old links there is a 2-or-3-day endeavor, given the length of the drive up to the ferry port at Kennecraig, and the trip over. Probably need to book ahead if you're taking a car on the ferry.