Grant85
Head Pro
Had planned to get up to Machrihanish for a long awaited game around the famous links.
Would have liked to have made this into at least an overnight stay, but due to work and childcare we decided to go for a day trip and fit in 36 holes.
At only 3 hours drive from Glasgow, it was very much doable as a day trip and despite a cursory glance at flights - we decided driving was the most practical option.
Glad that we got a grand day for it, with broken cloud and a fair breeze that links golf was intended to be played in. Certainly part of the romance around the trip was the reward for an early start and a long journey and the course and weather played its part in that regard.
The course itself really is a work of art, which meanders through the dune system with some majestic sloping greens and firm links fairways. The 1st has a sign saying the best opening hole in the world. Personally think that's a bold claim, but it's certainly a good opening hole with the decision to make as to how much of the beach to cut off and even a good drive is likely to leave a 200 yard or so shot in.
The 2nd is a great hole, and one that would not be found on a modern course with a completely blind approach over a burn and a parapet to a sunken green. This is not the end of the blind shots, and there are quite a number of them on the course. However, they are only blind the 1st time you see them. The 4th is a devilish par 3 of only 114 yards or so. There was a swift crosswind which knocked our well struck shots well short of the hole, much to our amazement.
The course has a huge amount of charm and as I walked the fairways I found myself thinking that much of the landscape was almost exactly as it would have been when Old Tom was here over 100 years ago. And when you think of it being a remote location for a couple of Glaswegians, then in Old Tom's day - he was probably cowering in the corner of a fishing boat for 10 hours to make the trip from Prestwick.
In terms of playability - you certainly need to be launching it off the tee. A number of fairways are protected by a a few hundred metres of heavy seaside grasses in front of the tee and either side of the fairway. A mishit or a wayward shot is likely to be a lost ball.
The greens, were in the main, in good condition. We were surprised by them being a bit on the slow side, but in retrospect, that is probably the norm for very sloping greens in a windy landscape. The 3rd was the only green that was disappointing and was on the bumpy side. In reality, the greens are the star of the show. Only a well travelled links golfer will have played on similar surfaces. Huge sloping surfaces, false fronts, banks on each side... the course has it all. Indeed, there were at least 2 occasions where we had putts that you could have putted either side of the hole and used opposing slopes to feed the ball to the hole. Once you get the hang of it, a 2 putt isn't too tricky and it's all about the speed - but alas neither of us really holed much of note until the 18th - which is probably he flattest surface.
Plenty have been critical of the final 2 holes, which are rather flat and mundane in comparison to the rest of the course. In reality, they are still decent holes but they are lacking in much drama. However, 18 actually proved to be an exciting finishing hole for us on both rounds as chips were missed and putts were holed.
In the days since my trip I have pondered if the loss of courses of this type of design is a good or bad thing. Blind holes provide their own challenge, after you've played it once - you just have to commit to the line you think is best and make a good swing. But there is probably not a serious course designed this century with more than 1 or 2 blind shots, and most will have none. I'd imagine if Old Tom had been given the use of a JCB, he'd have put it to good use and a few mounds would have been moved to more playable positions. But as it is, places like Machrihanish are a throw back and I hope there is always room for courses like this and if any changes are made, they are sympathetic to the original style of design.
Would have liked to have made this into at least an overnight stay, but due to work and childcare we decided to go for a day trip and fit in 36 holes.
At only 3 hours drive from Glasgow, it was very much doable as a day trip and despite a cursory glance at flights - we decided driving was the most practical option.
Glad that we got a grand day for it, with broken cloud and a fair breeze that links golf was intended to be played in. Certainly part of the romance around the trip was the reward for an early start and a long journey and the course and weather played its part in that regard.
The course itself really is a work of art, which meanders through the dune system with some majestic sloping greens and firm links fairways. The 1st has a sign saying the best opening hole in the world. Personally think that's a bold claim, but it's certainly a good opening hole with the decision to make as to how much of the beach to cut off and even a good drive is likely to leave a 200 yard or so shot in.
The 2nd is a great hole, and one that would not be found on a modern course with a completely blind approach over a burn and a parapet to a sunken green. This is not the end of the blind shots, and there are quite a number of them on the course. However, they are only blind the 1st time you see them. The 4th is a devilish par 3 of only 114 yards or so. There was a swift crosswind which knocked our well struck shots well short of the hole, much to our amazement.
The course has a huge amount of charm and as I walked the fairways I found myself thinking that much of the landscape was almost exactly as it would have been when Old Tom was here over 100 years ago. And when you think of it being a remote location for a couple of Glaswegians, then in Old Tom's day - he was probably cowering in the corner of a fishing boat for 10 hours to make the trip from Prestwick.
In terms of playability - you certainly need to be launching it off the tee. A number of fairways are protected by a a few hundred metres of heavy seaside grasses in front of the tee and either side of the fairway. A mishit or a wayward shot is likely to be a lost ball.
The greens, were in the main, in good condition. We were surprised by them being a bit on the slow side, but in retrospect, that is probably the norm for very sloping greens in a windy landscape. The 3rd was the only green that was disappointing and was on the bumpy side. In reality, the greens are the star of the show. Only a well travelled links golfer will have played on similar surfaces. Huge sloping surfaces, false fronts, banks on each side... the course has it all. Indeed, there were at least 2 occasions where we had putts that you could have putted either side of the hole and used opposing slopes to feed the ball to the hole. Once you get the hang of it, a 2 putt isn't too tricky and it's all about the speed - but alas neither of us really holed much of note until the 18th - which is probably he flattest surface.
Plenty have been critical of the final 2 holes, which are rather flat and mundane in comparison to the rest of the course. In reality, they are still decent holes but they are lacking in much drama. However, 18 actually proved to be an exciting finishing hole for us on both rounds as chips were missed and putts were holed.
In the days since my trip I have pondered if the loss of courses of this type of design is a good or bad thing. Blind holes provide their own challenge, after you've played it once - you just have to commit to the line you think is best and make a good swing. But there is probably not a serious course designed this century with more than 1 or 2 blind shots, and most will have none. I'd imagine if Old Tom had been given the use of a JCB, he'd have put it to good use and a few mounds would have been moved to more playable positions. But as it is, places like Machrihanish are a throw back and I hope there is always room for courses like this and if any changes are made, they are sympathetic to the original style of design.
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