The Machrihanish Golf Club

One of the 100 best in the world, there are courses whose opening holes have become the talk of the town. The 1st hole on this course has inspired excitement and curiosity in countless golfers with its spectacular sight of a ball soaring over the Atlantic Ocean. However, when you set foot on the land, you will find that the 1st hole is just a prelude to the course's centuries-old history, and the classical design elements have become more and more glittering under the baptism of time. From the 4th hole onwards, the holes in the dunes reveal their true charm.

A golfing gem on a desolate peninsula: the course is situated on a remote and inhospitable peninsula, 3.5 hours from the nearest major city. This isolation means that the course is far from the hustle and bustle of the world and is sparsely visited, retaining an aura of untouched and natural tranquillity.

Simple beginnings and spectacular starts: just a few steps from the simple and rustic Pro Shop is the terrace of the 1st hole, the famous trans-Atlantic tee shot. The opening three holes are relatively flat, offering golfers a chance to get into the swing of things. But then the course suddenly shifts into an area of massive dunes, with fairways and greens displaying nature's exaggerated undulations, dramatic changes in terrain that may have been sculpted by hand but, after a century of natural erosion, are barely noticeable.

Harmonious coexistence of nature and design: Although the undulations of some of the greens are so great that they seem to go beyond the norm, they blend harmoniously with the natural environment, making it impossible to have any complaints about them. The design of these greens is both a test of the golfer's skill and a perfect illustration of the designer's philosophy of harmony with nature.

Dramatic undulation of the greens: The holes in the dunes have greens that undulate so dramatically that one often wonders when stepping onto them. These highly exaggerated undulations present a dramatic putting challenge that tests the golfer's skill and judgement.

Balance of Speed and Slope: Despite the impressive slopes of the greens, fortunately the speed of the greens is reasonably controlled. This balance is a fine art in course design, ensuring that the fun is extremely challenging, yet the course is playable and avoids excessive difficulty.