Machrihanish Golf Club in Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, United Kingdom | Golf

Welcome to Machrihanish Golf Club, Campbeltown, Scotland. 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. It is a tough start, particularly into a breeze.  The course is set in wonderful dunes in the small village of Machrihanish, which is situated on the western side of the remote Kintyre Peninsula, Campbeltown; this is where the sky is big, the sunsets are dramatic and the air has been warmed by the Gulf Stream and its relative inaccessibility has saved it from becoming more commercialised.

It is a joy to play and, most of the time, very quiet, allowing the visitor to relish the ups and downs of the fairways and the tussle with undulating greens. There are also arresting views across to the islands of Jura and Islay, which provide a delightful backdrop on an idyllic summer’s day with the firm Machrihanish turf underfoot, the majesty of the dunes, and wheeling seabirds providing the only sound.

It is a varied test for the competent Golfer, the layout is not just a predictable nine out, and nine back. The classic links holes  are the 5th, another par four with its fairway like an elephant’s graveyard, the 10th, a clever dogleg par five and the 15th, a one shotter with real difficulty if the elusive green is missed from the tee.  Golf had been played at Machrihanish before the formation of the club as far back as 1871, but it wasnt until 1876 that the club officially formed. During the first year of the club formation no less than forty-one people had became members.

With this popularity came expansion, as the course was enlarged from 10 holes to 12 with the advice of Charles Hunter from Prestwick. Monumentally in 1879 the club sought the expertise of Old Tom Morris, he won the Open Championship no less than four times in his professional Golfing career and was a knowledgeable Golf professional. Old Tom Morris, assisted Machrihanish Golf Club extending from the then 12 hole course to a full 18 holes when new land was secured, where the first hole was moved to its current position, and now recognised as 'the' if not one of the best opening Golf holes in the world.