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5.0
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4.9
Value
4.9
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.9
Pace
5.0
Amenities
4.6
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Style Links
Par 70
Length 6473 yards
Slope N/A
Rating N/A

Machrihanish Golf Club has become well known in the last few years, mainly because of its exceptional first hole, which requires the round's opening shot to carry the Atlantic. At 436 yards, it is a tough start, particularly into a breeze.

The par-70 course is set in dunes in the small village of Machrihanish, which is situated on the western side of the remote Kintyre Peninsula. There are also views across to the islands of Jura and Islay.

Machrihanish Golf Club, which stretches out to 6,473 yards from the blue tees, was ranked the No. 39 course outside of the United States by Golf Digest in 2005, and the first hole is often rated as one of the best opening holes in the world. The classic links holes, after No. 1, are the fifth, which is another par 4 with its fairway like an elephant's graveyard, the 10th, a clever dogleg par 5, and the par-3 15th, a one-shotter with real difficulty if the elusive green is missed from the tee.

The golf club was founded in 1876 as the Kintyre Golf Club. It had 10 holes before the club officially existed, and was quickly expanded to 12. In 1879, Tom Morris was brought in to redesign and expand the golf course to the full 18 holes, including today's first hole. J.H. Taylor made some modifications in 1914, and in the 1940s, Sir Guy Campbell brought the golf course to its current configuration.

Course Details

Year Built 1876

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed Soft/steel spikes
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper attire is required.

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Great Britain & Ireland (2020 #24)

Reviews

5.0
19 Reviews (19)
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Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Grand old lady

Always wanted to make a pilgrimage to play Machrihanish…and it was well worth it. We played a twilight round after 4pm on a glorious day with a gentle breeze to keep us honest. Take your photos of the drive over the beach on the 1st (it’s now OB) and move inland to even more spectacular holes in the dunes. Very Irish for a Scottish links! The fairways are comfortable to walk on and play off and greens are creatively undulating. All in all a wonderful links experience - up there with Royal Dornoch as one of my all time favorites.
Shame the clubhouse is members only, but there’s a welcoming pub at the Ugadale.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A classic links you must play

We played on a Monday had the course to ourself and got great weather for first 9 holes and horrific weather for the final 9. All in all what a fabulous experience and if you enjoy links golf this will be right up your street. Value for money was excellent and it gave me memories I will never forget, ie playing from the beach on the first, having to use every club in the bag to driving the green on the 6th and missing the eagle putt. A championship course that makes u just love the sport of golf

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Incredible.....

Always had an ambition to play the course ever since it was recommended by a friend many years ago. It is a long drive but absolutely worth it. The course delivers on every level from setting, condition, views, design, playability and challenge. A classic links not to be overlooked. The only sadness is the clubhouse suffered a devastating fire in December 2018 so facilities are restricted but the new clubhouse looks as though it is nearing completion and we’ll be very impressive.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Unmissable if you’re around

I’ve played it many times but not for a little while after three cancelled trips over the last year. Having played well on Mach Dunes (fabulous, and getting better every year) the day before and on a perfect September day, addressed the most famous first shot in golf on one of my very favourite courses - now in front of the impressive new Clubhouse.
Nothing has changed about MGC since I was last there, and that’s perfect for me. The quality of the turf is as good for golf as any course I’ve been on, and quite lush this year with the wet and cold Summer. The greens were smooth and true, as always, allowing confidence even when a little longer than some years.
The lack of off-course facilities isn’t really a factor as I was staying in the Ugadale Hotel, but the Professional gave me a warm welcome - something MGC has lacked in the past.
All in all, my round was the treat it always is. A blistering front 9 was gradually paid back by the 18th but no matter, It’s memorable very time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

What a wee gem

I was working down this way so decided to have a game at machrihanish golf club, what a gem of a course, beautiful greens, fairways and tees, pretty hard as well, undulating greens takes some putting, pro shop staff was very helpful and courteous, only downside was no clubhouse at moment, new one should be ready by early next year and oh yes I played well on day from the white tees :)

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Long time wish

I have wanted to play Machrihanish Medal for some years. Now I have, and it lived up to expectation. Staff welcoming, good start. We can’t choose weather, but I played on a sunny and calm day. I’ve now driven a ball across the Atlantic. I found holes two to eight difficult, the ninth onwards though challenging, I found easier. The fairways are wide enough, the challenge for golfers of my standard is to find them as the rough is ball munching. But I had a smile on my face all afternoon. The scenery and setting are second to none. I was around in 3 hours, the course being quiet I was on my own the whole way round (and that included time looking for balls). Greens spiked, but to be expected, fairways are immaculate. All in - I want to come back!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great experience on a true links course..

My first time playing a links course and it was fabulous. We had the wind and one hole with some showers. Greens were a little slow but ran true. Great course.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

Enjoyed round bit windy but conditions were fine nice course recommend at least play it onceif your a golfer

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Christine

Great course good price with tee off
Would play again as then know where to hit shots

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Walked

Scottish Gem

Distant as it is, Machrihanish is perhaps my favorite Scottish Links course. Always available, nicely priced, quick pace of play, challenging conditions (always wind, often drizzle, but so what: it is Scotland). Will be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Thank you to the members of Machrihanish for sharing your wonderful golf course. Great fun and challenge, we were blessed with gorgeous weather. You need to be straight off the tees but the course is very fair and playable. Look forward to returning.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great seaside links course.

We both really liked the course, but it was not lady friendly. At least three holes had carries of more than 180 yards just to reach the fairway. We spoke to the pro, and she acknowledged it was a problem, but it was being addressed by the construction of ladies tees that would fix the issue. These tees were not yet finished. We would definitely play it again with the new ladies tees.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 08/04/2018

You will be happy to hear the problem of long carries off the Red Tees with no bail out areas has been addressed as the Pro promised you. The course is now a delight from the Red Tees and can be enjoyed by all. The Red Tees are not Ladies Tees. They can be enjoyed by all for casual golf games. Ideal for senior men also. The changes affect only a handful of holes but make a world of difference. Well done Machrihanish Golf Club.

Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

Bucket list golf course

Finally got to scratch this one of my bucket list. With the Dunes just up the coast these 2 courses make the long drive worth it. Macrihanish is a great layout with some elevations changes. A gorgeous links. Very wet and windy the day I was there after the wettest summer on record so there was not a lot of roll to the fairways. After the spectacular opening hole it quickly starts challenging you, doglegs, blind shots, and carries (not too long). Members were great in letting my caddy and I play through. A tremendous day on the links

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

This course is a must play

Although not he easiest place to get to, this course is really worth the journey. Although there is a lot of rough, the fairways are quite generous, but try to avoid the bunkers. The fairways had a lot of run when we played, so you had to think what you were hitting off the tee (driver not always necessary). The greens are quite large and undulating and took a bit of getting used to. Overall, this is an excellent course and a must play.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 100
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
Denver Advisor
First Time Playing
Average weather
Walked

Natural Beauty on the Edge of Earth

Used a day ticket at Machrihanish (one of the best values in Scotland at only $150, while 1 round at some places is double that) and what a place to spend a day. The weather this last summer in Scotland was wet, and it rained for about 27 of the holes. 3 club wind all day. Unlike other clubs in Scotland, Machrihanish will let you choose your tees so if you are a serious stick, play from the back. The wind will give you plenty of challenge as will keeping your focus away from the beauty that is the Mull of Kintyre.

The staff is second to none and this club is about as unstuffy as you can get. Pace of play, like most of Scotland, was 3 hours per round. The Mull of Kintyre is remote and Machrihanish is not a course full of American or Continental tourists. Have lunch in the clubhouse, the view is great, staff is friendly and the food was some of the best in Scotland.

The golf is outstanding. Despite being 1 par 3 and 8 par 4s, the front nine is among the best in Scotland. The opening hole plays along the Atlantic and you choose how much of the ocean you cut off. The beach is in play so you might as well take a risky line. The rest of the nine has an uphill second hole, holes/greens that are sunk into valleys, blind shots and the joy of playing the ball for the bounce; you don't have to aim at the flag and are best to use the contours. This might be Old Tom Morris' best set of greens in Scotland; well contoured as set in places that nature itself dictated. The back nine is not quite as great as the front but has quality holes and 12-16 might be as good as the front. Overall, you will enjoy the setting and the options presented by links golf. Hope for a 1-2 club wind and this place is hard to beat. With Machrihanish Dunes right next door, Campbeltown nearby and plenty of non-golf activities, going the extra mile is well worth it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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