Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club

THE WAY GOLF BEGAN.

In Scotland, true links golf courses are not created, they are born of the land. More than 130 years ago, “Old Tom” Morris recognised the potential for great golf here in this rugged, romantic corner of Scotland. The site of Machrihanish Dunes featured 23 “natural holes”, defined as those which fit so well into the natural landscape prior to construction that only minimal effort is required to ready them for play in terms of grading and shaping work. Of the roughly 275 acres on which the course sits, only seven - yes, seven - were disturbed during the construction of the course. Only tees and greens were shaped. The fairways on which golfers tread today are shaped exactly as they were the day building commenced.

The course’s routing, as well as positioning of tees and greens, was dictated by the lay of the land and presence of several endangered species of flora and fauna. Walking paths meander at times to avoid these ecologically sensitive areas. The course flows effortlessly to, from and along the sea, inviting you to step back in time to the days when “Old Tom” Morris laid out Machrihanish Golf Club and Willie Campbell plotted The Machrie Golf Links on the nearby island of Islay - visible from Machrihanish Dunes.

This is the true essence of the game at its most basic: golfer against the elements, golfer against himself and golfer against a course that is never stagnant. The joy of the game in its oldest and purest form – links golf – is adapting to the precise conditions of the moment. The ever-changing Machrihanish Dunes gives you a rare opportunity to create and craft golf shots you might have never attempted, much the way they did hundreds of years ago. Machrihanish Dunes encourages thought, creativity and imagination. For the golfer who accepts the invitation, the reward is a truly unforgettable experience.