The back nine at Machrihanish isn't quite as strong as the holes
going out but it's still pretty impressive.
...and looking
back from behind the green:
12th is another par 5. If you decide to go for it in two, better be long than
short, as this series of pictures show:
Closer, showing
yet another drunken fairway:
...you
don't want to be in these bunkers:
13th is a cracking hole. Depending on the wind, pin position and your inclination,
either a low running second up the bank or flying all the way onto the top can
work:
The green from the right:
15 and 16 are back to back par 3s. 15 is shorter at 160 yards but if you do
miss the green it's easy to keep going from one side to the other:
16th, like so many holes here, will play differently every time depending on
the wind:
Pure golfing gold at the end of this rainbow:
17 and 18, on flatter terrain, aren't up to the standard of the rest of the
course and there's talk of combining them into a monster par 5 finisher and
building another short hole somewhere out in the dunes.
But there are bigger changes than that afoot. The planning process is well-advanced
for another 18 hole course, designed by
David
Kidd.
Members are apparently very supportive of this, as they will have playing priveleges
and the new course and associated 'resort' will boost the local economy.
However, green fees at the new Kidd course are bound to be much higher and this,
along with the increased visitor numbers the new resort is likely to attract
to both courses may make the 'old' Machrihanish experience less special and
more expensive.
So go now! The drive down the Kintyre peninsula is spectacular and was a significant
part of the whole experience for me but
Loganair
also offer direct flights from Glasgow.
The official website is
http://www.machgolf.com/main.htm
and there's a good write-up on
GolfClubAtlas
