7 Things to See at Machrihanish Golf Club Discover an Old Tom Morris Gem in Kintyre The Machrihanish Golf Club is the kind of place that the American golf traveler usually visits after they’ve checked the marquee destinations in Great Britain and Ireland off their list. For some, it can take a while to…
Machrihanish Dunes
Photos courtesy of Machrihanish Dunes
Course Guide
- Course Founded: 2008
- Par 72
- 6349 Yards
- Designer: David McLay Kidd
- "The World's Most Natural Golf Course"
- Pro Tip: Practice lag putting from the fairway before your round
Nearby Courses
Course Description
On the heels of his acclaimed debut at Bandon Dunes, David McLay Kidd was asked to return home to Scotland for a project unlike any other. What was to become Machrihanish Dunes was also Europe’s first golf course built within a Site of Specific Scientific Interest - a designation given to environmentally sensitive areas, such as coastal dunelands. The location, and its accompanying restrictions, would be a monumental test of Kidd’s architectural talents. Yet the opportunity to build a course next door to the historic club where he caddied in his youth was one dream he could never pass up.
Given the environmental constraints of the property, when ground was broken at Machrihanish Dunes it was self-described as the "world’s most natural golf course." In reality, there was very little ground to be broken at all. Of the 259 acres on which the course sits, just 7 were touched by the blade of a shovel. The tee boxes and greens were the only areas shaped by man, while the fairways were left as they were and simply mown shorter. The result is a course that rarely yields a flat stance, but supplies intriguing rolls and bounces at every turn.
Although it is a far cry from the opening hole next door, the 1st makes a fine start to the round, rolling downhill towards the sea and a punchbowl green tucked against the dunes. From here the course tumbles and rolls its way over the untouched terrain, serving a number of blind shots and puzzling challenges to the short game along the way. The highlights culminate at the final four holes which combine for a rather strong closing for links golf - particularly the consecutive par-3s found at the 15th and 16th.
After the course opened in 2009, it seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of another Kidd design: the Castle Course at St. Andrews. Like its colleague at The Home of Golf, opinions on Machrihanish Dunes were as divided as they were many. The cynics decried it as too big and too unpredictable; labeling the severe green complexes and heaving fairways as too unfair. On the other hand, the fans of Machrihanish Dunes praised the course’s raw and natural features as golf the way it was meant to be played, while rebutting the claims of the naysayers with a simple question… When has golf ever been fair?
Like Mother Nature itself, Machrihanish Dunes has continued to evolve in the years since it debuted. Greens have been eased, the rough has been dialed back in places, and previously hidden bunkers have been reshaped or removed altogether. What remains is still the most natural course in golf, as well as one that is sure to inspire a lively debate. For that we suggest a visit to The Old Clubhouse Pub after the round, where they’ve mediated such disputes since 1876.
Ready to Experience Machrihanish Dunes and Golf at its Finest in Scotland?
Download Your Complete Guide to The Home of Golf
The Complete Guide to
Scotland Golf Travel
What's covered in this free 40+ page guide:
- The best regions for golf in Scotland.
- Old Course at St. Andrews tee times.
- Where to enjoy the Good Life between rounds.
- Lesser known courses you should play.
Plus links to over 50 additional guides and resources.
By downloading up you agree to receive marketing communications from Haversham & Baker and have read our privacy policy.
Learn More About Machrihanish Dunes and Kintyre Golf Trips
10 Tips for a Stress-Free Golf Trip Across the Pond
1o Tips for a Stress-Free Golf Trip Across the Pond How to Keep Your Golf Trip in the Fairway After weeks, months, or even years of stressing over the details and reading countless tips for planning your overseas golf trip, the time has finally come to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.…
How to Choose the Right Golf Travel Company
How to Choose the Right Golf Travel Company Tips for Deciding Who to Trust for Your Journey So you’ve been appointed to the rank of Captain for your upcoming golf trip. In the time since, perhaps you’ve scoured the internet in search of answers to your numerous questions. Seeing that you’ve landed on our…
7 Things to See at the Machrie Golf Links
7 Things to See at the Machrie Golf Links Golf and the Good Life on the Isle of Islay Over the last few years, the Machrie Golf Links on the Scottish isle of Islay has gone from a far flung destination to one with a rapidly growing appeal for Scotland golf tours. The explanation for…
The First-Timer’s Guide to Golf in Scotland and Ireland
The First Timer’s Guide to Golf in Scotland and Ireland Essential Tips for your First Golf Trip Across the Pond Few things can match the excitement of putting your first golf trip to Scotland or Ireland on the calendar. But before any golfer gets to that point, there’s first a lengthy list of decisions, reservations,…
How to Plan a Golf Trip to Scotland – 12 Important Decisions
How to Plan a Golf Trip to Scotland 12 Important Decisions for Your Journey There’s a good chance you’re here because you’ve asked a common question: How do I plan a golf trip to Scotland? Getting your trip from the idea phase to firmly on the calendar requires navigating a series of important decisions. Some…
Scotland’s West Coast Off the Beaten Path
Off the Beaten Path Golf on Scotland’s West Coast Less Heralded Courses that Belong on Your Itinerary When it comes to exceptional courses and the heritage of the game, the lineup runs deep for golf trips to the west coast of Scotland. This is the birthplace of The Open Championship. The Champion Golfer of the…
Discover More of Golf at its Finest with H&B