Machrihanish by Sea

There are a number of golf courses in the world that everyone has heard of, but not so many have actually played. With many of these famous layouts, the reason is exclusivity and a small member list that reads like the Forbes 100; but with Machrihanish this couldn't be further from the truth. It is one of the most welcoming golf clubs you are likely to find. The answer in this case is it's geographical location. Machrihanish sits nestled on the southern tip of Mull of Kintyre. As the crow flies, its not too far from many of the championship courses in the west of Scotland, but it is a full 165 mile drive from Glasgow by road. This distance may not sound like a lot if you were cruising up I-95, but the quality of roads in this part of the country leave a lot to be desired. Fine for leisurely Sunday sightseeing, but not conducive to getting somewhere in a hurry. Helicopter is the ideal form of transportation on this occasion (a 15 minute journey), but for many golfing tourists this isn't financially feasible.

Two years ago, Wilson Smith and his son Robin came up with the novel solution of moving golfers there by chartered speed boat. This exciting new service takes only an hour from Troon Marina. When docked at Campbeltown, a chauffeured vehicle then completes the 10 minute journey to the first tee. I was very kindly invited to experience the transfer for myself last Spring. The 'Kintyre Express' is an 11 metre Redbay Stormforce R.I.B., with a centrally heated fully enclosed cabin. The craft holds 12 golfers comfortably in large aircraft style seats. I was taken aback by how smooth the journey was for such a relatively small boat. Skipper Wilson is a very affable character, and his great story-telling ability makes the sailing seem like no time. The views from the boat are incredible. With Arran on the right, and the Ailsa Craig viewable to the left (apologies for my lack of nautical terminology), everyone had their cameras at the ready. Porpoises, dolphins, minke whales, and basking whales have all been spotted by Wilson and Robin, and the boat is a registered spotter for the Sea Search Foundation.

Machrihanish itself is a wonderful golf course. It is world renowned for having one of the best opening holes in golf. The best line from the back tees requires a 200 yard carry over the Atlantic Ocean. The layout isn't overly long, but it is a shotmakers course. Doglegs right and left, along with challenging short par 4's that require some real thinking on the tee. The mid to high handicapper may want to bring a few spare Titleists because the rough here is genuine links rough - rugged, and just like it should be. If it were not for the club's location, I have a feeling Machrihanish would feature much higher on the lists of many people's favourite courses. Perhaps the Kintyre Express will go a long way to making this beautiful links course more accessible for many travelling golfers.