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About Machrie

The Machrie is one of the few examples anywhere in the world of a great traditional links course which has been preserved for 120 years in its purest form. Anyone who loves golf must play this historic links. Every visitor will enjoy the ever changing nature of the challenge offered by this acclaimed layout. The links turf on which the course was built is among the finest in Scotland, and the setting on a dramatic sand dunes has few equals. The Machrie, a work of nature and a legacy of golf's golden age, is lovingly maintained by Simon Freeman and his team.

No mere golfer deserves it, this extraordinary combination of beauty, solitude, and freedom.

James Finnegan
Author of "Where Golf is Great, the Finest Courses of Scotland and Ireland"

Course History

The Machrie was the stage for the richest prize in the history of golf in 1901 when a first prize of £100 was offered for the Islay Open. The Great Triumvirate of J.H. Taylor, James Braid and Harry Vardon competed. J.H. Tayor won the title, narrowly from Braid. Between them the Great Triumvirate won 17 Majors - and the Islay Open.

Explore our Past

The Future

The Machrie is now under new ownership. The owners are committed to preserving all that is best and unique about the golf course, while upgrading the accommodation, restaurant and golfers' facilities as soon as practicable. The golf course and the Islay Golf Club will continue to operate as usual throughout.

Our plans for Machrie

Reviews

Planet Golf says the course is a mix "of raw dunes and romance". Welcome Scotland says the top ten courses to play in Scotland are Carnoustie, St Andrew's, Kingsbarns, Gleneagles, Nairn, Turnberry, Royal Dornoch, Boat of Garten, Cruden Bay...and the Machrie.

What Others Have Said