Machrihanish Golf Club

Machrihanish — the remote Kintyre links with one of golf’s boldest opening shots

The course is located near the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula, on the edge of Machrihanish Bay. The journey is long, the landscape open, and the natural dunes remain largely undeveloped.

The club was founded in 1876 on an initial ten-hole course. Charles Hunter first extended it to twelve, then Old Tom Morris created an eighteen-hole course in 1879. J. H. Taylor and Sir Guy Campbell subsequently made adjustments.

The opening hole demands a carry over a portion of the bay from the tee, immediately setting the tone. The rest of the course utilizes modest dunes, firm fairways, and greens that are integrated into the terrain rather than merely placed upon it.

The layout unfolds as a coastal out-and-back, where the available width varies significantly. The holes can appear straightforward without wind and become severe when the Atlantic stirs.

Machrihanish offers a destination experience, featuring a historic club and a local community that remains central to the venue.

The Round selects it for its authenticity: the journey, the opening shot, and the simplicity of the terrain combine to form an experience impossible to artificially replicate.

Club founded in 1876; extended to eighteen holes by Old Tom Morris in 1879; world-famous first hole; Kintyre Peninsula course.