What People are Saying About Machrihanish Dunes.
Below you will find feedback we have received from some visitors to The Village at Machrihanish Dunes and the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club.
No one – I repeat, no one – needs finer golf than is presented at Machrihanish Dunes. It is inarguably in the Top 50 in the world.
– Jim Finegan – Author of 5 Best-Selling Books on Links Golf in the U.K. and Ireland
It’s well known that I like to play golf by the sea. I’d seen the pictures, read the articles, it was time to sample the links at Machrihanish Dunes. And quite frankly – wow. If other courses have taken 100 years to get where they are today, Machrihanish Dunes is there already. It had me just walking to the first tee. It’s not just the sea spray and the scenery, it’s the fact that every hole has something to offer. My friends and I begged to come back. So I have, as an owner. And so, a cottage by the sea and a fab golf course to wander await. Who needs summertime when you have a links course all year ’round at your front door?
– Ronan Rafferty – European Order of Merit Winner and Ryder Cup Team Member
I have played at 97 of this year’s (2010) Top 100 courses and Machrihanish Dunes is probably the one I would like to play, if allowed to play only one for the rest of my life.
– Jock Howard – Golf Writer, Golf World and Today’s Golfer Magazines
The Dunes spread out the game before us as first conceived in the land of its birth. It is best summed up in the famous lines from Seaside Golf by Britain’s much-loved Poet Laureate, Sir John Betjeman: …lark song and sea smells in the air, and splendour, splendour everywhere…
– Prof. David Purdie, MD – Co-author of The Greatest Game.
I have been lucky enough to play most of the great links courses in Scotland and until recently I considered my visit to Turnberry as the highlight of my golfing experiences. Following the last two days, I can say that my two rounds at Mach Dunes and one round at the (Machrihanish Golf Club) course have firmly relegated Turnberry to a distant second place.
– Andy MacRae | Edinburgh, Scotland
Magical weekend away. Machrihanish Dunes is a must for the golf enthusiast. This is a wonderful natural links course on a windswept beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. You will find helpful and friendly staff in the clubhouse, bacon butties, warm hats, good advice on hand. Greens are well kept; bunkers like you have never seen before. Use the steps to get in, to get your ball out. We arrived at The Royal Hotel in Campbeltown in the middle of the night after a long drive. There was a helpful night porter, spacious room, super comfy bed, hot showers. All spotless and very well equipped. Our second night we were upgraded to The Ugadale Hotel! Suite No 5 was one of the best rooms I have ever had in the UK. Luxury, comfort and outstanding views. Great breakfast – Scottish options available – it was nice to see smoked haddock on the menu. Staff was very attentive. Nice pub next door. If you are looking for solitude, views, luxury and golf this is the place to go. We all want to go back. Trip score? 10 out of 10.
– Karolina Pailing
The course itself is a true gem – well maintained and never short of challenges and surprises. Whilst the weather may not have been on our side, and our score cards nothing to be proud of, we left the 18th each day beaming from ear to ear.
– James, S. | Plymouth, England
Our golf pilgrimage to Scotland was something we’ve planned for years. We couldn’t wait to play links giants like Troon and Prestwick, but it was the Dunes [Machrihanish Dunes] that turned out to be by far the best experience on our week-long links journey. From the second we walked into the shop at the village, the entire experience was truly first-class.
– Jason Bartlett | Westchester, New York
From the moment we arrived at Machrihanish Dunes we were amazed by the warmth and friendliness shown by your staff, whether by our driver, the guys in clubhouse and of course our course guide.
– Rowland Stacey | London, England
The accommodation is first class and far exceeded all our expectations. We were all pleasantly surprised by the standard of all rooms and the styling of the cottages, which managed a perfect balance of comfort and luxury.
– Allan Hamilton | Reading, England
Your cottages are stunning and the course is absolutely fantastic. I’ve played most of the famous courses in Scotland and for me your course is the best design and most enjoyable I’ve ever played.
– Ryan King | Glasgow, Scotland
I was completely overwhelmed by The Dunes. The course was everything I expected and more. Adding to the greatness of the course was the welcome, friendliness and professionalism of all the staff we encountered during our visit and the stunning standard of your facilities.
– Euan M. | Dumfries, Scotland
Machrihanish Dunes looks like it has been there for over 100 years, it seems so natural, like it was meant to be there and it really does feel like golf, ‘as it was meant to be played.’ It was still golf as we knew it, but it was somehow more fun and rawer than anything we’d ever experienced.
– Ben Sargent | Surrey, England
Machrihanish is now one of the best places to play golf, the way I like to do it. For me its not only about hitting the ball, there must be other things, just look at your natural bunkers, they were there just the way it began.
– Peter Svensson | Skoghall, Sweden
I had the pleasure of playing Machrihanish Dunes a few weeks ago and oh my goodness is it a truly revolutionary golf course. It is an absolute joy and could possibly be the world’s one and only truly sustainable golf course. This course goes beyond minimalism in not only its design but also in its maintenance. I really hope that people get to experience and understand what Southworth are trying to achieve there as everyone in the golf industry could learn an awful lot from it.
– Robin M. | Naples, FL, USA M.
The cottages and Old Clubhouse were perfect for our three-day trip, and as for the golf courses…well what can I say. Machrihanish, with that first tee shot over the beach (which I hit trying to cut off too much of the corner), was a real treat, but we were all very impressed with The Dunes. The combination of the courses really does cement Machrihanish as a must-play golf destination.
– Tony Thomas | Edinburgh, Scotland
The course – challenging from the tee; very natural fairways; and the greens – it’s the most fun I’ve had for a long time. Altogether an unforgettable experience.
– Ian Milby | Cupar, Scotland
Machrihanish Dunes is a special course, a place where you can get lost in golf and that’s just perfect.
– Craig J. | Stonehaven, Scotland
