Machrihanish Golf Club

Machrihanish,

Cambeltown, Argyll PA28 6PT

  • Office

    +44 (0)1586 810 213
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1586 810 213
  • Fax

    +44 (0)1586 810 221
  • Golf pro

    Jennie Dunn (PGA Head Professional).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland.

  • Designer:

    Old Tom Morris

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6462
5971
5497
Par
70
70
72
SSS or slope
72
69
72

At the same location:

Also at Machrihanish GC is the nine-hole Pans course (par-34; 2,376 yds from medal tees).

Location

Latitude:

55.423809

Longitude:

-5.729457

How to get there:

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 Golf Club

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.

Est. 1876

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.

List of courses: Scotland - South

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance. Must be aged 12 or over to play on Championship course.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season (April thru' Sept): £120 (all days). March & Oct: £95.

Contact club for full details, discounts, day & week tickets, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Players generally walk this course.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

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.

Published ranking

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).

Where2Stay

  • Oatfield House4-star B&B

    Stewarton, Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6PH

    +44 (0) 1586 551 551

    Visit website

    A 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.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Machrihanish; Machrihanish Dunes

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      No

  • Ugadale Hotel & Cottages4-star

    The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, Machrihanish, Argyll PA28 6NU

    +44 (0)1586 810 000

    Visit website

    The 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.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Machrihanish

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Machrihanish Dunes

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      No

Find a course

Or

Tournaments

124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.

79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).

Who's Who

Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.

Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

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.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

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

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