Islay, the southernmost island in the Inner Hebrides, is probably best known for its whisky production - but, for golfers, it will always be associated with the iconic Machrie Links on Laggan Bay, a course that was originally laid out back in 1891. In fact, this may well be the Scotland of your dreams - enticing, captivating, enthralling and perhaps even maddening at first, with too many blind shots to list! Recent upgrades notwithstanding, the course retains as much of a premium over sheer power now as it did over a century ago when designer Willie Campbell proclaimed “This place was made for Gowf”.
Machrie also remains unique amongst links courses. While most alongside the dunes, The Machrie however weaves wildly in and out of the dunes, resulting in an imaginative routing that combines the very best of a historic links course from a previous age, with a modern approach. You will practically feel the ghosts of Harry Vardon and James Braid, who played in the 1901 Machrie Open for the then-largest purse in history, £100! “Keep Your Temper” warns the motto of the resident Islay Golf Club to enjoy the difficulty, the mystery and the privilege to play holes of the sort you may never see the likes of again!
SPECIFICATIONS
- Year of Opening - 1891
- Designer - Willie Campbell, DJ Russel
- Par - 71
- Holes - 18
- Length - 6309 Yards
