So, the Vostinaks are in Scotland and wanted to experience the majesty that is 'The Big Mach'.

The new 'Kintyre Express' ferry service is now operating from Troon and it was unanimously decided that, as earnest, trustworthy members of long-standing here at GCA, we would offer ourselves as willing guinea-pigs for the common good of everyone here. (Despite the obvious threat to life, limb and golf swing).

Here attached a brief photo-journal of the grand day:

The jolly sailors about to 'christen the new sloop' (or embark). No sign of potential sea-sickness, lack of sea-legs or other land-lubberly weaknesses here!).

l to r: La Nancy, your correspondent, The man of Redan, the Lady of Redan



the skillful skipper -


- neatly threads the mighty beast between Ailsa Craig:


and the Isle of Arran:


(please excuse poor compostion skills but at 25 knots and over a nice heavy swell this is as good as it gets!)

To arrive unscathed and swinging well at the majesty of Mach..





Having now fully recovered from the rigours of our passage, we can now happily and heartily recommend this mode of transport to all our GCA comrades. BTW, costs approx. £55 for trip (you might be able to haggle!) and £35 for green fees (a fiver off as Kintyre Express users!)

'The Redans' are now in Dornoch with your other Scottish reporter...more later from Bill I assume!

FBD.

http://www.kintyreexpress.com

Basically Monday-Wednesday-Friday and it takes an hour.

So Huck, when do we leave? I've got my black shoes and socks ready...

Well now sure Brent, I could have exerted some effort and looked it up....

 

Thanks.  Interesting the timetables are pretty much the same as the airplane schedules... boat is a bit cheaper... in any case it is great to have this alternative.  My next big Scotland trip - if such does ever occur - we factor this in without a doubt.

TH

Martin - seems to me that once word gets out about how simple, nice and easy this is, it's not just PerryGolf who's going to use it... basically all the American and other tour groups will.  The main reason NOT to do Mac to date has been that it's a very long day either driving or flying, and since the flights go from Glasgow the logistics didn't work all that well into a grand Scotland tour, at least not as a day trip.  The way you just described that it may as well just be day 5 of a 7 day trip, with the travel logistics not much different than taking the motorcoach to one of the more distant courses on one's rota.

So I advise you as a local - do it now and often before we descend.

 

How'd you get Pat Mucci to drive the boat?

 

What a great adventure! Thanks for sharing!

I remember the drive from Turnberry to Machrihanish like it was yesterday - beautiful but long.

Surely one of my favorite places in this world to play golf.

Does one have time for a whiskey at the Argiel Hotel prior to the return?

 

Interesting look the redanman is sporting there...no doubt black socks will be sweeping the west of Scotland.

BillV
I'm a little surprised someone in your party didn't mention this to you...but you aren't wearing any pants.

Perhaps I'm not up on local tradition. Is golfing in your boxers a little-known Kintyre tradition?

fashion consultant to aisle five please . . .  I always new that Bill was a substance over form guy but those socks and dress shoes are too much  

Its funny, BillV is so much larger than anyone else, that
looking at the picture again, I just assumed that was his arm
wrapped around "La Nancy" and not FBD's.  

This same company will let you charter their boat and take you to Machrie.  Now thats an adventure.

Ciao
Sean

Ahh !!   Machrie,  wonderful sporty layout; great fresh mussels at hotel, single malts, and a few blind shots.  Great fun Machrie.

Phil,
this is indeed a new first tee (since I was last there anyway).
It sits about three feet below and left of the medal tee. In some ways it's an even harder shot than the medal. Nearer sea level; more ocean/beach to cross; psychological effect of higher tee adjacent. Great fun though!

Tony,
Dr V is indeed a gentleman of large proportion. Those size 14 shoes were looking favourite for employment as liferafts had the ship foundered!

Note for fashionistas:
Bill is now the proud possessor of a black lambswool sweater adorned with the delightful Oystercatcher logo of the Mach. Quite the dapper Dan!

Prizes for the first correct guess as to the source of the FBD chapeau...

FBD.

PS The Mach is the one reason why I WISH we had already perfected 3-D cameras and screens (we have to wait until 2042 for that). The internal contouring and blending with exterior humps and hollows is truly exquisite but cannot be conveyed meaningfully in photos (or words!).

Martin:

I tended to like the (1999 -- when I was there) original version a bit better -- less of a direct challenge than simply crossing the Atlantic. The one up by the pro shop, although not all that further to the right, gives the visual impression of allowing more options off the tee -- a small bite of the beach, a complete bail-out to the right, or a running draw that bites off a good chunk of the beach and avoids the traps on the right side of the fairway. Most nervous I've ever been on a tee, surrounded by a dozen or so waiting golfers and watchers. Absolutely nailed it, dead center of the fairway. I tend not to confess too often that I pulled the next one on to the beach!

And I agree on how current photography simply fails to do justice to the humps, hollows, contours and whatnot of Machrihanish. I have a few photos of the 5th -- probably the single best golf hole I've ever encountered -- that don't do it any justice whatsoever.

The FBD Chapeau  - I guess CPC.

James B