Scotland's Machrihanish Dunes A Must Play and Stay

Hole No. 6

A visually stunning and challenging links course on the Kintyre Peninsula on the extreme west coast of Scotland, Machrihanish Dunes, designed by David Mclay Kidd, has been a hit with golfers and course ranking wonks since it debuted in May 2009.

Kidd amazingly altered only seven of the 259 acres on which the course sits and the routing of the course's tees and greens were dictated, much like the days of Old Tom Morris, by the lay of the land.

Quite simply, if you're looking for a modern day links experiences that compares favorably with Kingsbarns in St. Andrews, I recommend Machrihanish Dunes.

Better still, the Machrihanish Dunes experience is getting even better.

Hole No. 14

On May 12, 2012 in Campbeltown, about 5 miles from Machrihanish Village, The Royal Hotel will make its debut providing golfers with a luxurious accommodations option. The fully restored 23-room property will feature guestrooms with harbor views, the Black Sheep Lounge and Harborview Grille. Accommodations already available on-site for Machrihanish Dunes players include the 22-room Ugadale Hotel and the eight Ugadale Cottages, which overlook the Atlantic Ocean and the opening hole.


For a wee nip after the round, The Old Clubhouse Pub is a few steps away from the Ugadale Cottages.


Back to the course. Kidd's masterful design is an environmentally sensitive wonder. Almost no heavy machinery was used in the course's construction and shaping was only done on the greens and tees. No chemicals or irrigation on used on the fairways. Mowing? Black Hebridean Sheep are used in the off-season to help keep fescue grasses in check.

Luxury golf tour operators bullish on Machrihanish Dunes include Haversham and Baker and PerryGolf.

Hole No. 16

THINGS TO KNOW


Location: The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, Machrihanish, Argyll, Scotland, PA28 6PT

Machrihanish Golf Cottage

Air Access: You fly directly into Campbeltown Airport via connections from Glasgow and Prestwick. There are  flights daily from Glasgow with a 25 minute flight time.


Land Access: Machrihanish Village is a three-hour drive from Glasgow.


Developer: David Southworth and Joe Deitch, partners and owners of Southworth Development. A highly respected company based in Newton, Massachusetts, Southworth Development's other properties include Meredith Bay in New Hampshire, Renaissance in Haverhill, Massachusetts, Creighton Farms in Alie, Virginia and PGA Village-The Bahamas.


Website: www.machdunes.com


Email: info@machdunes.com


Phone: +44 01586 810000