Re. Machrie
We used to go to Machrie in the 90's and early 2000's for our University Golf Team reunions every year during Masters weekend, and it was a joy as Machrie was largely unknown and grossly under-visited. Special times and long weekends together.
Usually the flight LoganAir was from Glasgow in a Britten Norman Islander (flying caravan) and fortunately the pilots (having balanced the plane by moving us and our clubs around to do so, and giving the pre-flight briefing by simply turning around as there was no cockpit) managed not to make the error that (the then) Prince Charles famously made in landing downwind and overshooting the runway in a BAE jet!
Had the place pretty much to ourselves, and the course in its previous guise was unique and magnificent in having c.13 or more blind shots, and of course none were truly "blind" second time you played them.
In fact the abiding memory was even on first play it was very clear from the surrounding dunes where the line over such blind carries were. It was an anachronism but far better for being a precious and rare example of being so.
Great fun having course amost as our own, 36 or 54 a day, occasional 8 or 12-ball one-club short loops after drinks, great food and of course Islay Malts. Then drinking games watching the events unfold at Augusta. Norman's collapse under the inexorable pressure of Faldo was one of the more memorable ones.
The "8 before 8" challenge in tasting all 8 Islay Malts was a favourite, followed by great steaks and sticky toffee pudding!
For the abstemious and/or healthy, not many of those in our Team, early morning walks or runs along the incredible beach added to the weekend's charm.
Thanks for the great routing plans and image of "Mount Zion". Brought it all back, many holes are still engrained deep in the memory.
The property itself and adjacent land was, we understood, held by some serious Financial owners.
The Farm and surrounding land (where Mount Zion sat) was we believe owned by Bruno Schroder of the Schroders Banking firm.
Not sure if it still is in that family, but would expect so (they were not prone to selling assets) We heard it was largely a shooting estate.
The Hotel and Course was, as reported widely, bought by Gavin Davies (formerly of Goldman Sachs and UK Treasury)...there's certainly money in them thar dunes...
So still conceptually possible to renovate that great old hole, but would need both parties to acquiesce.
We have not returned since the new ownership and remodelling by David J. Russell, so cannot fairly comment or take a view.
But do understand from reports/press etc. that a great deal of the previously mentioned complete (or penal) blindness has gone and he has strived to look for strategic partial blindness which I'd love to return to see for myself.
Regardless of how good it is now, and I hope it retains a great deal of its previous charm, it is a bit of a shame as so few examples of consistent penal blindness across the majority of a course, like it was before echoing the "Victorian" age, remain.
But the course and Hotel did need to attract more visitors and perhaps the full-on "quirky" nature was a block to some...I think a great many on here would have loved it for what it was (but we are small compact bubble on here).
I'd be interested in the views of any who have played it more recently.
Cheers!