History of Machrihanish Golf Club - 7th Apr 2004

Machrihanish Golf Club Mull of Kintyre, Scotland: The warm ocean currents of the Gulf Stream leave the eastern shore of Florida not far from Seminole Golf Club (in Florida), enwrap Bermuda within sight of The Mid Ocean Club, and proceed northeastward to the shores of Great Britain and Ireland.

In Scotland, the southwestern corner of the Mull of Kintyre ("ken-tire"), near Machrihanish ("macra-hanish"), receives these waters from the open Atlantic. Seminole to Mid Ocean to Machrihanish. Machrihanish has never been easy to reach, and therein lies a great measure of its magnetism and eclectic following.

In 1876, Queen Victoria was named Empress of India, golf writer Bernard Darwin was born, the Toronto Golf Club was incorporated and the Kintyre Golf Club was formed. By 1888, Kintyre was felt too dull a name for such a special course and it was changed "in consequence of some members preferring the sonorousness of the word Machrihanish."

Visitors travelled by sea to Campbeltown, then made their way across the peninsula by hired car or railway thereby providing the essential holiday elements of escape and isolation. Previous to World War I, Machrihanish ranked "almost with North Berwick as the most socially acceptable golfing resort in Scotland," according to the magazine Scottish Field.

Most notables of the game found Machrihanish during these early years' including Old Tom Morris who is said to have remarked that "Providence assuredly designed this part of the country as a special earthly Paradise." In the recent book "To The Linksland," author Michael Bamberger with native help, makes the translation, "The Almichty maun hae had gowf in his e'e when he made the place."

Whatever, the course has always been admired for occupying charming and particularly romantic linksland made more beautiful by its enigmatic isolation - as spectacular linksland always is. For specific course description, we refer you to the able and enthusiastic pages of "To The Linksland."

Suffice it to say that Machrihanish offers a series of fourteen holes the likes of which you will find nowhere else. These include a multitude of intriguing blind shots across the most appealing undulations, to immaculate greens kept by a crew of four and the nurturing temperate winds of the Gulf Stream. Writing about Machrihanish has caused us more reflection than perhaps any course we have ever described. This is due to the fear that such a special place should perhaps be left alone.

However, it will not be left alone. More frequently it is finding its way onto travel pages and into tour guides. Machrihanish will become to the 1990's what Royal Dornoch was to the 1980's: The distant, eccentric prize for those who collect golf destinations for better or worse. For this reason, and we say this with a most certain pang of conscience, we recommend a visit as soon as possible in order to experience Machrihanish's private appeal before the world descends again as they did at the beginning of the century.

Protection for Machrihanish continues to lie in its isolation. Indeed, a U.S. Navy Seal Team quietly trains here sometimes jumping from helicopters into the icy mouth of Campbeltown Loch for a three mile swim before breakfast.

From Glasgow, a journey by car takes about three hours each way; from Turnberry four hours plus. Air service is available from Glasgow (a 25 minute flight) and at various times of the year Logan Air has offered a special day trip for L50 which includes golf, an L18 value, and eliminates seven hours round trip in the car. There is also discussion about the addition of ferry service from Northern Ireland which is less than 20 miles away at the nearest points. The pluses and minuses of such a link are being quietly debated by the residents of Machrihanish.

We recommend the drive down the Mull on the A83 which emphatically forces you to slow your mind and reflect on the beauty of where you are and why you are there. The stark mountain views along Loch Fyne are clean and cold and regenerating. The road winds over the mountains and along the loch through Lochgilphead, Ardrshaig and Tarbert where you can buy fuel and have a pub meal. Then the routing switches to the western shore of the Mull and the wilder, brighter, open waters of the Sound of Jura run alongside.

As you know, golf trips often become a race to see how many outstanding courses can be packed into an itinerary. If you make the commitment to drive to Machrihanish, play a couple of rounds, spend the night at The Warren, take your meals in the Clubhouse and befriend some local members, you will leave with indelible memories which will brighten, even halt incontinent days years from now in the nursing home.

Related Links

• http://www.golf.uk.net/course/2085

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