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Marty Bonnar

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The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« on: August 05, 2019, 05:48:08 PM »

So, after a three and a half hour drive across some of Scotland’s most scenic majesty, one must deny the urge to carry on to Machrihanish and turn into the car park at the small ferry port of Kennacraig.
Luckily, the ferry is just arriving and, a few minutes later, you are aboard and enjoying the phenomenal weather, glassy sea and glorious views of Jura and it’s wonderful paps.




Arriving into Port Askaig, the weather remains promising for the next day’s assault on The Machrie!





Fuelled by some of the local produce (in this case, Laphroaig)





One retires to bed armed with a little light bedtime reading to further ignite the spark!






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

Mike Sweeney

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2019, 06:37:43 PM »
Damn you!!  ;)


I am all ready to settle into an Irish golf lifestyle, and then the Patron Saint of Dornoch passes, and now FBD post late night from The Machrie. Well done!!




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Sweeney#MacSweens_of_Scotland

In the 13th century the MacSweens controlled lands across central Argyll, extending as far north as Loch Awe and as far south as Loch Fyne. Their principal seats included Lochranza Castle on the Isle of Arran, Skipness Castle and Castle Sween at Knapdale, which may be Scotland's oldest surviving stone-built castle.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2019, 06:42:59 PM by Mike Sweeney »
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"One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us."

Dr. Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

Daryl "Turboe" Boe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2019, 06:43:09 PM »
Jealous!!!   Not only for the Laphroaig, but The Machrie as well.  You can always stop over at Laphroaig and check on my property. As a Friend of Laphroaig I own 1 sq ft of property there.  If you don't already "own" a piece of Islay, I highly recommend it...


One of the highlights of my 2011 trip.  The place was in some transition at that time.  And I will never forget walking through the courtyard filled with maintenance vehicles in various states of disrepair how my playing partners were looking at me with some doubt.  But when we stepped through the little hole in the wall onto the 1st tee all doubts went out the window.


I might just pour a glass of Laphroaig 18yr old tonight in honor of the memories...
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Instagram: @thequestfor3000

"Time spent playing golf is not deducted from ones lifespan."

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2019, 06:49:13 PM »
There’s my plot!:

Picked up my ‘ground rent’ while we were there!
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2019, 06:50:40 PM »
Quote from: Mike Sweeney on August 05, 2019, 06:37:43 PM
Damn you!!  ;)


I am all ready to settle into an Irish golf lifestyle, and then the Patron Saint of Dornoch passes, and now FBD post late night from The Machrie. Well done!!




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Sweeney#MacSweens_of_Scotland

In the 13th century the MacSweens controlled lands across central Argyll, extending as far north as Loch Awe and as far south as Loch Fyne. Their principal seats included Lochranza Castle on the Isle of Arran, Skipness Castle and Castle Sween at Knapdale, which may be Scotland's oldest surviving stone-built castle.


I’m calling you MacSween from now on!
 ;D
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2019, 02:03:25 PM »
The next morning arrives. Sunny, warm, calm. The old clubhouse hides a secret. The interior is super-modern with a stylish extension for bar and dining.



Quick visit to the Pro Shop for checking in and collecting the obligatory swag (which is very nice, btw!)



Nice recycling of the local indigenous materials!:



And we arrive at the first tee. A look I love! That swaying fescue with the playing areas simply mown:


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

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2019, 02:08:15 PM »
FBD -
Are you staying at the Machrie Hotel or are you in more modest accommodations?
DT
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Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2019, 02:12:27 PM »
Quote from: David_Tepper on August 06, 2019, 02:08:15 PM
FBD -
Are you staying at the Machrie Hotel or are you in more modest accommodations?
DT


I’m back home, David. We had an Airbnb between seven of us. A big house in Port Ellen, which needed some TLC, but was plenty comfy enough and handy for pubs/dining.
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2019, 02:32:16 PM »
The opening holes are a very gentle handshake indeed. There’s a good indication of how many bunkers you’re going to encounter out there!:



The second green sits in a nice bowl framed by the burn, which has been in play down the left side:
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2019, 02:41:18 PM »
And here endeth the gentle handshake. A bloody hard uphill par3 all carry over a shedload of long grass to a horizon green, which looks to have little bailout:



Until you get up there and see there’s loads of space. This from behind the green:
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Daryl "Turboe" Boe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2019, 03:32:11 PM »
.
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Instagram: @thequestfor3000

"Time spent playing golf is not deducted from ones lifespan."

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2019, 05:50:01 PM »
For my money, this is where the excitement levels starts to really ramp up. Terrain, fun, detailing, woohoo!: the 4th.



Note that’s Nancy middle of the fairway as usual and that’s her brother, Jim who, for fun, is caddying for me. More on that later...this is the 5th.
« Last Edit: August 07, 2019, 03:45:03 PM by Marty Bonnar »
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Pete_Pittock

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2019, 07:35:23 PM »

Marty,
They must have made some changes to the routing since I was there. The 3rd was a straightaway blind par 4. 4th looks similar at the end of the hole. Found a cow vertebra in the left front bunker of #5.
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Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2019, 03:39:18 PM »
Quote from: Pete_Pittock on August 06, 2019, 07:35:23 PM

Marty,
They must have made some changes to the routing since I was there. The 3rd was a straightaway blind par 4. 4th looks similar at the end of the hole. Found a cow vertebra in the left front bunker of #5.


P,
Here’s the current routing:
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #14 on: August 07, 2019, 03:56:24 PM »
5th green from behind. Lovely rolling fairway...



And the genius of the 6th. Those two bunkers (scars?) are 50 yards apart. The left one much farther away:
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

David_Tepper

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Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #15 on: August 07, 2019, 03:59:32 PM »
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James Brown

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Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #16 on: August 07, 2019, 09:05:51 PM »
This is a very tempting thread!
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Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #17 on: August 08, 2019, 03:36:06 PM »
The 7th - drivable, so they say! - plays over a huge Leven-like mound on the right side:



And the 8th. Playing up this lovely vale:



To this wonderful green perched in a saddle beyond a deep gully punctuated with one of the few bunkers out there:


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

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #18 on: August 13, 2019, 03:41:09 PM »
The 9th. Charming par3 out to Sea!



At the 10th, some bright spark suggested giving the “caddies” a swing. Nancy’s brother Jim takes my driver, gives it the mahoosive arsehole-winder and promptly lets the club go, spiralling it beautifully into the Machrie Burn. After a few minutes of rolling-about uncontrollable laughter, we realise it’s sailing off to the Atlantic and he has to get in to retrieve it.
Bloody Caddies!:
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #19 on: August 13, 2019, 03:56:08 PM »
11 is a cracking short par4:



Played to a brilliantly simple green:
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #20 on: August 13, 2019, 04:06:00 PM »
Interesting how a common design vocabulary can work on a par5 or a par3:

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

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #21 on: August 13, 2019, 04:14:10 PM »
There’s a good number of holes which play over and across BIG diagonal hazards. This was a beauty at 15.
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #22 on: August 13, 2019, 04:18:42 PM »
16 plays through one of my favourite ‘proscenium’ features!



To an Alwoodley green!  ;D :
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #23 on: August 13, 2019, 04:26:55 PM »
18 was probably my least favourite hole. Although I did play it appallingly, so that may have clouded my judgment!



On the upside, the bar is splendidly adjacent:



So, that’s The Machrie. Quite a major trip required to get there, but well worth it for the golf, the food, the whisky and the craic! An xXx on the Bonnar Amended Arblesque Scale!


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

Niall C

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: The Marvellous Machrie, Islay, Scotland!
« Reply #24 on: August 14, 2019, 07:38:33 AM »
FBD


Wonderful tour, very enjoyable. How playable was the course ? It might have been the angle of someof the photos but some of the carries looked intimidating and there also looked to be some gunch up against a few of the greens. Other than that it looks superb.


What course(s) would you readily compare it to in terms of similarities/quality ?


Niall
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