Machrihanish Golf Club Review: Golf as It's Meant to Be
GolfMagic visits Machrihanish, a remote and world-class links golf course that remains surprisingly affordable. Originally founded as The Kintyre Golf Club in 1876, it expanded from a 12-hole layout to 18 holes three years later when Old Tom Morris was brought in to redesign it as new land was added.
Historical Significance and Course Design
The 1st hole stands out as one of the great opening holes in golf. The course lies about 20 miles from the Mull of Kintyre, near where Sir Paul McCartney filmed a music video on a nearby beach. The challenging journey to reach Machrihanish is rewarded with a course ranked within the top 40 in Great Britain and Ireland, and among the top 20 in Scotland.
Old Tom Morris described the land here as "specifically designed by the almighty for playing golf."
Tom Doak wrote that it is "the only course in Scotland that still seems just as raw and natural as the first time I was there 35 years ago."
Course Evolution
In 1914, JH Taylor made some adjustments, and the final design updates were done by Sir Guy Campbell in the 1940s. Despite these changes, the course appears as if it was never artificially designed but fits naturally into the landscape.
Additional Golf Opportunities
- Machrihanish Dunes
- Dunaverty
You can enrich your stay by playing rounds at nearby Machrihanish Dunes and Dunaverty before returning from this unique experience.
Summary
Machrihanish offers an authentic, naturally integrated links golf experience that rewards those willing to make the journey with top-tier golf in a stunning, unspoiled landscape.