Machrihanish,
Cambeltown, Argyll PA28 6PT
Office
+44 (0)1586 810 213Pro shop
+44 (0)1586 810 213Fax
+44 (0)1586 810 221Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Jennie Dunn (PGA Head Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Old Tom Morris
Also at Machrihanish GC is the nine-hole Pans course (par-34; 2,376 yds from medal tees).
55.423809
-5.729457
5 miles W of Campbeltown
Follow the A83 through Kintyre to Campbeltown. From Campbeltown take the B842 (then B843) direction Machrihanish. After approx 6 miles golf is on your right (car park and clubhouse are on your left).
Machrihanish
Machrihanish Golf Club: Rare indeed to find anyone who has played Machrihanish and not fallen under its magical spell. The initial tee-shot alone is one of the most memorable you'll play, requiring a drive over a beach to find the safety of the first fairway. Ahead of you lies a wonderfully natural links golf course that majestically weaves its way through impressive sand dunes. Machrihanish Bay, the hills of Kintyre and the more distant Inner Hebridean islands of Islay and Jura provide a constant backdrop as you journey round.
On the course, towering sand dunes will also capture your attention and dictate your shot making. With many elevated tee-boxes you'll get a good view of the hills and hollows over which the rolling tumbling fairways meander. The generally good-width and firm landing areas may provide some confidence from the tee, but deep rough and excellent pot bunkering, especially around the greens, will need to be avoided.
There's one or two blind shots to be made, which increase in number if your game becomes too wayward. Greens nestle down amongst the dunes, while others present more elevated targets. Mischievous pot bunkers protect many greens, but there's also a premium on keeping the ball close to the ground around the putting surfaces. A chip and run game will serve you well, versus attempting too many Mickelsonesque lob shots.
Turning the clock back to the club's beginnings, it reputedly took all of 21 days between selecting this site for the course, and holding the opening tournament. Inclement weather explains why it took so long to mark out the course and prepare the playing surfaces! With this in mind, it's easy to leave the stresses of the modern world in the car park, and enter a golfing environment that has changed little from those early days in 1876.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Must be aged 12 or over to play on Championship course.
Contact club for full details, discounts, day & week tickets, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Players generally walk this course.
Good
Not far from the golf course is Campbeltown Airport, formerly RAF Machrihanish. Although still available to the Royal Air Force this is now in "Care and Maintenance" status, and is used as a civil airfield and temporary training ground for military units.
Scotland's 18th best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 38th best course (Golf World, 2024).
World's 97th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24) and 61st best public access course (Golf World, 2023).
Stewarton, Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6PH
+44 (0) 1586 551 551
Visit websiteA Grade 2 listed Georgian country house, Oatfield House is both a family home and a welcoming bed and breakfast. Comfortable, fully en-suite Bed & Breakfast accommodation is offered in a country house setting, just outside Campbeltown, by the Mull of Kintyre. Oatfield House was originally built in 1780 for the Laird of the Achachoirk and Garvachy Estate.
No
Machrihanish; Machrihanish Dunes
No
The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, Machrihanish, Argyll PA28 6NU
+44 (0)1586 810 000
Visit websiteThe Ugadale Cottages were joined in 2012 by the completely refurbished Ugadale Hotel. Both cottages and hotel are located across from the first tee of the renowned Machrihanish Golf Club and adjacent to the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club. Each cottage has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and lounge. The seven cottages are luxuriously appointed with all the amenities one would expect to find in world-class accommodation. The Ugadale Hotel, with 22 guest rooms, has been restored to its former glory and now serves as the centerpiece of The Village at Machrihanish Dunes.
Machrihanish
Machrihanish Dunes
No
The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.
Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.
Attahya Thitikul: also known as “Jeeno”, the Thai golfer won the LPGA Tour’s 2024 CME Group Tour Championship … and an eye-watering $4 million, the richest first-prize in women’s golf.
Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
