"Golf on steroids" was how the course was billed by Graeme A.K.A Cub Golf... and he wasn’t wrong – although there is nothing unnatural about this place.
When choosing the location for our first shoot we wanted the course to match our style of clothing; traditional yet modern and I think this is what course designer David McLay Kidd has achieved here.
Is Machrihanish Dunes the best golf course you will ever play? Maybe not. Is it the most manicured? Most certainly not. Is it the most fun you will have on a golf course? Quite possibly.
The views of the Atlantic, are at points on the back nine, breathtaking. The fairways are rugged, almost unkempt but it’s this natural untouched feel which makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve just seen Old Tom Morris walking out the pro shop – it’s a transportation back in time and an experience you will struggle to find at other more commercialised resorts.
Akin to many of the best links’ courses, the opener is a warm handshake measuring only 345 yards from the back tees with the blind tee shot just a glimpse of what’s to come. In fact, without the guidance of a Caddie, it would be a mean feat just to play the holes in the correct order!
Luckily, we had a local legend in Willie Macmillan shepherding us for the day and what a treat it was. Residing in in Southend, Willie was the greenkeeper for over 40 years at Dunaverty Golf Club – another of Scotland’s hidden gems. As someone who grew up caddying, it was interesting to see from the other side the value a caddie can add to a golfer’s round.
He elevated the whole experience , helping us navigate the blind tee shots, somehow reading the complexity of the greens with ease and all while combining it with his witty humour (cue the video of him telling me my trousers are too tight).
Some would call the greens unfair - I would argue they are about as much fun you can have without taking a trip to the Himalayas in St Andrews... The surfaces themselves are as true as you will find and the perfect speed for the severeness of the slopes.
Much like McLay Kidd’s richly acclaimed design at Bandon Dunes, the course here is not built for stroke play – it’s a proper match play course and if you can view it from this perspective, it starts to all make sense.
After a fantastic stretch along the coast the finishing hole - with its approach to an elevated green is something of a crescendo (a particularly painful one when you miss a three-footer to win the match).
Overall, I'd highly recommend the whole experience - it's not just about the golf course, it's the perfect place to switch off from the world and enjoy time with friends (the lack of phone signal helps). With plans for a third course in motion and Dunnaverty only a short drive away, I can only see the resort becoming more popular for the avid golfer.
If I was to provide two tips for those taking the trip here, the first would be to request Willie in advance - a caddie is a must!
It’s a hell of a walk so my second would be to book yourself in to the Ardshiel Hotel in Campbeltown and hydrate on one or two of their 700 malts. Don't worry if you’re not a whisky drinker, the staff are extremely knowledgeable and will fit one for your palate! Cheers!
