Machrihanish (Championship)

Overview: Machrihanish’s Championship Course is a traditional out-and-back links beside Machrihanish Beach on the Kintyre peninsula. The opening tee sits beside the Atlantic, while the holes then move through rolling dunes and return over more inland ground. Wind, uneven lies and the relationship between fairway and beach make this a course where a good plan matters as much as a good strike.

History: The club began as the Kintyre Club in 1876, with an initial layout of ten holes. Charles Hunter extended it to twelve, and Old Tom Morris completed the course to 18 holes in 1879, moving the opening tee to its present position. J.H. Taylor made later changes in 1914, followed by further work after the Second World War.

Did You Know? The opening drive is played from a tee beside the beach, with the line of play taking the golfer across a strip of sand before the fairway. It is one of the clearest examples of a links using its natural coastal edge as a strategic feature rather than scenery alone.