Machrie golf course, Golf course on Isle of Islay, Scotland
Machrie Links is a golf course on the Isle of Islay that stretches across natural sand dunes with changing elevations and bunkers placed throughout the layout. The facility includes a covered driving range, a short game practice area, and the Hebrides putting course.
Willie Campbell designed the original course in 1891, establishing one of the oldest golf courses in this region. The layout later hosted significant matches that drew leading players from that era.
The name Machrie comes from the Scottish Gaelic word machair, which traditionally describes coastal grassland in Scotland. The way the course sits within this landscape shows how golf and the natural terrain shape each other here.
The site can be windy and unpredictable, so players should expect changing conditions and adjust their approach accordingly. The natural dune landscape requires careful navigation, especially for visitors unfamiliar with the layout.
The seventeenth hole, called Mount Zion, cuts directly through the dunes rather than running alongside them. This design creates a playing experience that stands apart from the rest of the course.
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