Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club
About
Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, which opened in 2009, is the first golf course to be built on a Site of Special Scientific Interest since the days of Scottish golfing pioneer Tom Morris. The golf course is also the first 18-hole links course to be built on the west coast of Scotland in 100 years
Machrihanish Dunes' site, set against the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, featured 23 "natural holes,” and golf course architect and Scotsman David McLay Kidd, who is internationally acclaimed for his design of Bandon Dunes in Oregon and the Castle Course at St. Andrews, chose his 18 favorites. Basically, only the tees and greens were shaped. The fairways in between and almost all of the rest of the site remain just as nature made them.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
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Black | 72 | 7082 yards | 74.9 | 131 |
White | 72 | 6349 yards | 70.7 | 121 |
Yelow | 72 | 5835 yards | 69.2 | 119 |
Yelow (W) | 72 | 5835 yards | 70.2 | 119 |
Red | 72 | 5076 yards | 66.1 | 111 |
Red (W) | 72 | 5076 yards | 67.1 | 113 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 74.9/139 | 345 | 480 | 592 | 307 | 165 | 134 | 461 | 620 | 435 | 3539 | 397 | 375 | 178 | 417 | 332 | 419 | 555 | 455 | 415 | 3543 | 7082 |
White M: 71.6/133 | 294 | 421 | 546 | 247 | 165 | 134 | 397 | 559 | 378 | 3141 | 369 | 335 | 160 | 387 | 332 | 364 | 500 | 396 | 365 | 3208 | 6349 |
Yelow M: 69.1/127 | 260 | 373 | 510 | 216 | 130 | 134 | 351 | 517 | 354 | 2845 | 341 | 335 | 151 | 368 | 304 | 329 | 474 | 364 | 324 | 2990 | 5835 |
Red W: 70.9/126 | 220 | 373 | 491 | 181 | 115 | 95 | 269 | 461 | 322 | 2527 | 303 | 274 | 101 | 334 | 240 | 257 | 417 | 338 | 285 | 2549 | 5076 |
Handicap | 12 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 12 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Locker RoomsAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Great Britain & Ireland (2020 #11)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u303168444 on 01/29/2023
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Photo submitted by u314163664593 on 01/28/2023
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Photo submitted by u1150557 on 12/02/2022
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Photo submitted by u1150557 on 12/02/2022
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Photo submitted by u1150557 on 12/02/2022
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Photo submitted by XxDeMxX on 06/11/2022
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Photo submitted by u314161540739 on 06/19/2021
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Photo submitted by u314160837723 on 10/20/2020
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Photo submitted by u314160837723 on 10/20/2020
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Photo submitted by mcpherson35 on 07/30/2020
Mach dunes
The greensand tees on the course are first class but the fairways are poor compared to when I last played the course in June this year .I believe that there may have been some kind of disease affecting the fairways and did intend asking the staff at the end of our round but heavy rain meant we packed up quickly and left.The real problem for me at this course is not the length of the playing surface ,but the extremely long distances from green to the next tee,which leads to a round taking four and a half hours plus.It’s a shame that buggies are not allowed except when driven by their staff.I am aware of the excuses offered ie the protection of the conservation areas and the difficult terrain.However the conservation areas are well signposted and the terrain is no more difficult that that of the old Machrihanish course .I may also add that the dog walkers are not as well educated about the conservation areas than the golfers.I believe that the course is under used because of the lack of buggies.(that Saturday morning only 10 cars in the car park,including our car and probably at least one staff car.Not many other courses on a Saturday morning are reflected in these kind of numbers )
Peter the starter was such a great host and very informative
Truly an Amazing experience
What a course one of the best I’ve played really lucky with the weather sunny and not too much wind.
Course was truly amazing seriously impressed if you haven’t been there you need to get there and have a couple of rounds layout great but the views take your breath away just wanted to take photos on every hole..
Winter Dunes
Beautiful natural golf course. The environment and layout make for a unique adventure.
The greens and tees were in very good condition especially given the time of year. Great to play of grass tees in January and play of fairways as in the summer. With no mats or lift and place in the rough.
Finding your way to the correct tee at times could be difficult Leading to more time and walking. The flags were also wrapped which made it harder to see them. Both of theses issues most likely related to it being the winter.
The cost of the round was only £25 which was great value. Would definitely recommend playing the Dunes.
Cracking Course
Best course I've ever played, I was blessed with some nice weather and thoroughly enjoyed my round! Would recommend to anyone!
Superb day
Met by Andy who went above and beyond in his hospitality to us, course was stunning, tricky but not too tricky! Greens had just been sanded so a little slower than normal but did not diminish our round..
Unique, challenging and long
Unfortunately we thought we were playing the main course so we’re a little disappointed. The deal quoted was not as good as thought as only £80 to play round and had been led to believe it was £99 so not such a good deal as promised. That said course was a one of and once got used to crazy layout was a fun if arduous game
Fantastic golf course!
Challenging golf course for every level of golfer! most 'natural' golf course I've played with the slopes on and off the greens providing a challenge on most shots and character to each hole . Plenty of practice facilites to warm up before your round including a short game area and driving range before you head up into the dunes. After your round in probably the smallest clubhouse I've ever seen you will be able to get a bite to eat from frendly staff before setting off home.
Battered but fun
The newer of the two links courses at Machrihanish it’s quite a walk, especially when the wind is up. A few treks between greens and tees but some glorious sights to behold. Generous fairway, large greens and not-too-penal bunkering make this a most enjoyable challenge….and a welcome addition to its older neighbor. Play both!
Too many blind shots and hidden greens.
Many holes had blind tee shots and greens were not visible from fairways. Poorly designed.
Golfing nirvana
Played on a beautiful warm relatively windless day-on arrival starter was helpful and informative.
Course itself was excellent, decent fairways and unbelievable undulating greens, absolutely loved them.
After round, sandwiches capped off a tremendous day and back to the Isle of Arran, our accommodation.
Truly one of the best golfing experiences of my life and can't wait to come back having wanted to play this course for yrs.
Loving the Machrihanish Dunes
Enjoyed the windy weather even though it was challenging.
The course was in very good condition greens were very nice.
The sheep were very welcoming around the clubhouse
there was a small downpour when we were on the 9th and the course wasn't busy so we popped in
for a soup it was nice after 9 holes and continued on lovely views from the 10th mind the electric fence to the right.
All in All very happy with experience
Definitely going to return.
Fantastic experience
This venue is a must for golfers of all levels
The full experience was even better than expected
Interesting but conditioning poor
This is an interesting and challenging layout, with significant undulations and long walks between holes, reflecting the design ethos and environmental considerations in building the course. I have heard good things about the venue but sadly the quality was not great. I understand there have been some green keeping staffing challenges over the last six months, which was evident from the course conditioning, most notably the fairways. There are many, many blind tee shots, and approach shots into hidden greens, so if that is not your thing, this course might not be for you. There is a very small "clubhouse", with a few tables for basic food (soup, sandwiches, snacks) and toilets, but that's all. Would be interested to play the course in good condition.
Great design
We were pleased to get a great deal through golfpass, as paying full price would not have been nice, as they have only had a head green keeper for 3 weeks after not having one for 6 months. As you can expect the course was in poor condition. The design is fantastic and the lady was very friendly in the clubhouse.
Condition issues , a value for money issues
I have played this since it’s opened, it’s a good layout and normally ok conditions, this time greens were almost a joke , grass was longer than the fairway,spoiling a good day putting was pointless, 1 green was not in use , I think what makes it feel worse is the £90 green now being asked , even at the golf now discounted rate it not good, sorry Dunes you have try harder for increased revenue, even Carradale had better green condition , I am seriously disappointed Dunavaty the following day, showed it to me a dunes issue not an area problem
MachDunes
Superb location and layout.
Condition is needing attention and hopefully this can be addressedss weather improves.
Really enjoyed the round and would play again.
Best Course
Loved every minute of playing on the Dunes course.