Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club (above) and soon-to-be renovated hotels are providing more reasons to visit the Kintyre Peninsula on Scotland golf vacations.
It looks like the remote Kintyre Peninsula is making a serious play to draw travelers on Scotland golf vacations.
Previously home to only one truly great course, Machrihanish Golf Club, in July, it welcomed Machrihanish Dunes, the “true links” designed by David McLay Kidd of Bandon Dunes and St. Andrews’ Castle Course fame.
Now comes word that Machrihanish Dunes owner Southworth Development is addressing what Golf Odyssey’s editors called, a “dearth of first-rate accommodations in the Machrihanish/Campbeltown area,” and local economic development groups are smartly kicking in funds, too.
From The Press and Journal:
[Southworth Development] is refurbishing two local hotels at a cost of £7.4 million to provide high-quality accommodation and facilities.
Funding of £1.12 million towards the project has been approved by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) with a further £744,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Ugadale Hotel at Machrihanish overlooks the famous Machrihanish Golf Course…The completed hotel will comprise 21 rooms, a malt whisky bar and seafood restaurant.
The Royal Hotel, located in the centre of Campbeltown…will be comprehensively refurbished to provide 23 rooms, including three suites, a bar and an oyster and seafood restaurant.
Southworth aims to complete the projects by spring 2011.
Getting to this remote region while on Scotland golf vacations is much easier now, too. It used to require a four-hour drive from Glasgow on spectacular, but tortuous, lochside roads frequently blocked by herds of sheep, but as Golf Odyssey reported two years ago, there are now better options, including faster ferry service (Kintyre Express) and charter air service (Loch Lomond Seaplanes). The decision to open up the local airport to commercial use has also enabled golfers to arrive at Machrihanish via a 25-minute flight from Glasgow or a one-hour flight from London.
Did you know? Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey are the world’s only golf publications that conduct “secret shopper” site inspections and do not accept advertising from golf courses, resorts or restaurants in order to provide you with expert, unbiased, and trusted advice.
Not already a subscriber to Golf Vacation Insider? Use this link to stay in the loop with our free tips and expert advice on which golf courses, golf resorts, discount golf vacations, and golf vacation packages are truly worth your time and money. As a bonus, we will send you a free copy of Planning the Ultimate Golf Vacation, a 40-page book filled with some of the best golf travel secrets from the editors of Golf Odyssey.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Glad to see that some of the lesser known parts of Scotland are getting some much-deserved attention and that local groups there are getting behind the improvements. To the extent they keep their wits about them, economic improvement is on the way. This area isn’t quite as hard to get to as it once was, but it is definitely worth the trip if you like unspoiled beauty.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Scott. We agree – there are few places on earth that feel as remote and are as charming as this. Now that there are more options for great golf and soon-to-be-improved lodging, we could see an uptick in visitors compared to years past.
As a member of a Southworth Development course in Massachusetts where they are headquartered, The Renaissance Club, I can attest to the quality of this organization. They have provided all that they have promised, provide absolutely first class service and I can not wait to visit the Kintyre peninsula. One of the benefits of membership at one of their clubs is reciprocity at other private clubs that they own or significantly discounted rates for lodging and greens fees.
Amazing concept, isn’t it? Actually doing what you say you’re going to do. Nice to hear that Southworth is one of the good guys.