trip to Machrihanish

[Paul Dolton]

 I'm looking to make a trip to play Machrihanish , Machrihanish dunes and possible Machrie. i will be travelling alone from Oxford. Any advice on best time of year to go and getting there? Would it be best to coincide with a competition there and over a five day period how would you spread the courses out.

[Phil McDade]

If you're going during the long season, I'd recommend a short trip down to Dunaverty for a late-afternoon/early evening round that won't take very long, but is a lot of fun. Not championship stuff, but a course that's like walking into a time-warp of sorts, little changed in years. Right on the coast, views of Northern Ireland on a good day, and some fun, quirky, linksy golf that you won't find too many other places.

[Adam Lawrence]

Paul, I agree with Brian - any time from spring to autumn it's really worth going. You could get wet any day, that's just how it is up there.

I have had good weather luck in the West of Scotland in late May several times. But it is hit and miss.

Flying is quickest, obviously, and with the MD resort service you probably have less need of a car when you are there. But if you're going to Machrie as well I think you'd need wheels. There isn't a lot of difference in total time taken whether you go round the Rest and be Thankful and drive down the peninsula, or the two ferry options - via Arran or via Dunoon/Portavadie. Arran is lovely though, I recommend it.

I'm Oxford-based too - where do you play your golf locally?

Adam

[Walter Bart]

I played Machrahanish one August in the worst rainstorm imaginable.  Never would have done it at home, but I was in a tournament there and time was precious. It is really a special place.

          Would love to try Machrie

[Andrew Bertram]

The drive from glasgow to machrahanish is amazing, beautiful

I did it july and it is right up there with most rewarding drives i have done

Macrahanish in morning after staying overnight, then loch lomond afternoon

And you cannot ignore the wonder of take away black pudding, deep fried mars bar and scoth pie on the way back in lochgilphead

[jeffwarne]

I'm looking to make a trip to play Machrihanish , Machrihanish dunes and possible Machrie. i will be travelling alone from Oxford. Any advice on best time of year to go and getting there? Would it be best to coincide with a competition there and over a five day period how would you spread the courses out.

Day 1. Land in Glasgow, drive to Arran ferry (45 min), enjoy brunch? on ferry.( 1 1/2 hrs)
Play Shiskine (12 holes) catch fery to Kintyre (45 in)
Play 9 holes Carradale if time/weather/spirit permits on way to Cambeltown.

Day 2. Machrihansih x 2

Day 3  Machrihanish Dunes, Dunaverty

Day 4  Play one of above(preferably not Mach Dunes-it's big) or 9 holer Carradale if missed on way in, drive to Machrie ferry, catch ferry eat lunch on ferry(2 hrs).
Play mid-late afternoon at The Machrie.

day 5  play am at Machrie, enjoy lunch on ferry, drive to Glasgow(3 hrs),  catch evening flight to London

or reverse depending on flight times

If only doing 36 once, pair Machrihanish with Dunaverty as mach Dunes is a bigger walk.
or some combination of the above

[Sean_A]

I'm looking to make a trip to play Machrihanish , Machrihanish dunes and possible Machrie. i will be travelling alone from Oxford. Any advice on best time of year to go and getting there? Would it be best to coincide with a competition there and over a five day period how would you spread the courses out.

Day 1. Land in Glasgow, drive to Arran ferry (45 min), enjoy brunch? on ferry.( 1 1/2 hrs)
Play Shiskine (12 holes) catch fery to Kintyre (45 in)
Play 9 holes Carradale if time/weather/spirit permits on way to Cambeltown.

Day 2. Machrihansih x 2

Day 3  Machrihanish Dunes, Dunaverty

Day 4  Play one of above(preferably not Mach Dunes-it's big) or 9 holer Carradale if missed on way in, drive to Machrie ferry, catch ferry eat lunch on ferry(2 hrs).
Play mid-late afternoon at The Machrie.

day 5  play am at Machrie, enjoy lunch on ferry, drive to Glasgow(3 hrs),  catch evening flight to London

or reverse depending on flight times

If only doing 36 once, pair Machrihanish with Dunaverty as mach Dunes is a bigger walk.
or some combination of the above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqDs_M2pzvw - played a quicker pace for Jeff's tastes - tee hee

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

I'm looking to make a trip to play Machrihanish , Machrihanish dunes and possible Machrie. i will be travelling alone from Oxford. Any advice on best time of year to go and getting there? Would it be best to coincide with a competition there and over a five day period how would you spread the courses out.

Day 1. Land in Glasgow, drive to Arran ferry (45 min), enjoy brunch? on ferry.( 1 1/2 hrs)
Play Shiskine (12 holes) catch fery to Kintyre (45 in)
Play 9 holes Carradale if time/weather/spirit permits on way to Cambeltown.

Day 2. Machrihansih x 2

Day 3  Machrihanish Dunes, Dunaverty

Day 4  Play one of above(preferably not Mach Dunes-it's big) or 9 holer Carradale if missed on way in, drive to Machrie ferry, catch ferry eat lunch on ferry(2 hrs).
Play mid-late afternoon at The Machrie.

day 5  play am at Machrie, enjoy lunch on ferry, drive to Glasgow(3 hrs),  catch evening flight to London

or reverse depending on flight times

If only doing 36 once, pair Machrihanish with Dunaverty as mach Dunes is a bigger walk.
or some combination of the above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqDs_M2pzvw - played a quicker pace for Jeff's tastes - tee hee

Ciao

Sleep's for wankers ,besides it's nice tune for a single to hum as he's playing

The itinerary can of course be edited for relaxation purposes

[Sean_A]

I'm looking to make a trip to play Machrihanish , Machrihanish dunes and possible Machrie. i will be travelling alone from Oxford. Any advice on best time of year to go and getting there? Would it be best to coincide with a competition there and over a five day period how would you spread the courses out.

Day 1. Land in Glasgow, drive to Arran ferry (45 min), enjoy brunch? on ferry.( 1 1/2 hrs)
Play Shiskine (12 holes) catch fery to Kintyre (45 in)
Play 9 holes Carradale if time/weather/spirit permits on way to Cambeltown.

Day 2. Machrihansih x 2

Day 3  Machrihanish Dunes, Dunaverty

Day 4  Play one of above(preferably not Mach Dunes-it's big) or 9 holer Carradale if missed on way in, drive to Machrie ferry, catch ferry eat lunch on ferry(2 hrs).
Play mid-late afternoon at The Machrie.

day 5  play am at Machrie, enjoy lunch on ferry, drive to Glasgow(3 hrs),  catch evening flight to London

or reverse depending on flight times

If only doing 36 once, pair Machrihanish with Dunaverty as mach Dunes is a bigger walk.
or some combination of the above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqDs_M2pzvw - played a quicker pace for Jeff's tastes - tee hee

Ciao

Sleep's for wankers ,besides it's nice tune for a single to hum as he's playing

The itinerary can of course be edited for relaxation purposes

Yes, I spose many lonely golfers on death marches wank rather than sleep.  See you in March.

Ciao

[Frank Pont]

Play as much of Machrihanish as you can, play Shiskinee twice (24 holes) and skip Carradale.
Also play Ranfurly Castle Golf Club (Colt) before flying of from Glasgow (it is almost next to airport)

[Paul Dolton]

Thanks for the advice, especially naming other courses. It does look like you choose a week and just hope the weather is good to you.  Have any of you played in any competitions at the courses mentioned?

[Niall C]

Play as much of Machrihanish as you can, play Shiskinee twice (24 holes) and skip Carradale.
Also play Ranfurly Castle Golf Club (Colt) before flying of from Glasgow (it is almost next to airport)

Frank

Excellent shout on Ranfurly Castle. Its a course I've recommended on here before. Played it a number of times over the years but amazed to hear Colt had anything to do with it. There's nothing on the club website although to be fair that means little over here. How did you come to hear about it ?

Niall

[Frank Pont]

Niall,

neither did I know it was Colt when I played it the first time two years ago. It is billed as James Braid by the club. Only when Paul Turner and I were putting together the list of Colt clubs to invite for our Colt seminar did I find out that Colt listed it as one of his efforts (I seem to remember he listed it as a significant renovation, but Paul will know that for sure).

[Pete_Pittock]

Machrihanish competitions
http://www.machgolf.com/competitions.php

I can't find anthing posted for Machrie in 2013 but their gent's open has usually been in late May.


A number of years ago I played Machrihanish with Darren Kilfara. Don't know if he is still in the area. Stayed at the Argyll Hotel, which is about 15 klicks north of Campbelltown on the A83. Found out you can't play a morning round at Dornach and still make the last ferry to Islay and the Machrie. Stayed at the Machrie Hotel and had a great time samplingn their scotch collection.

[Greg Taylor]

Can I also add a +1 for Ranfurly Castle... nice track... and dare I say it a "hidden gem"... if you get the chance add to the list.

Greg

[Marty Bonnar]

Think we're going to be in mach the weekend of March 8th. Can't wait to get back. Staying at the ugadale cottages again. £69 all in golf, b'n'b.woohoo!
F