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Another Place The Machrie
Year Established
1891
Designed by
Willie Campbell
Location
Isle of Islay
Address
Machrie Hotel, Isle of Islay PA42 7AN
About Another Place, The Machrie
Set on the wild Atlantic coast of the Isle of Islay, The Machrie Links delivers one of Scotland’s most dramatic and evocative links golf experiences. With sweeping dunes, endless ocean views and ever‑changing winds, it is a course that rewards imagination, strategic thinking and a true appreciation of traditional links golf.
A Brief History
- Golf is first played on the Machrie dunes in 1891, with the original course designed by Willie Campbell, who famously declared: “This place was made for gowf”
- The Machrie gains international attention, hosting a famous exhibition match in 1901 featuring Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor and James Braid
- The course undergoes several changes throughout the 20th century, while remaining the home of Islay Golf Club
- A major redesign by DJ Russell brings the course up to modern championship standards while preserving its wild links character, in 2018
Featured hole – Hole 8
The par‑3 8th hole epitomises golf at Another Place, The Machrie. Played across dune‑shaped terrain with the Atlantic never far from view, this short hole demands precise distance control and nerve, especially when the coastal winds are up. It is a hole that looks benign at first glance but can quickly punish indecision - classic links golf at its very best.
Known For: Creative Shot‑Making by the Atlantic
Another Place, The Machrie is known for its dramatic championship links layout, played across sweeping Atlantic dunes on the Isle of Islay, where wind, firm turf and coastal conditions shape every round. The links course rewards strategic thinking and inventive shot‑making rather than power, with contoured greens, revetted bunkers and running fairways that encourage creativity. Its remote island setting, expansive views across Laggan Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and outstanding practice facilities, including the Hebrides putting course, the 6-hole 'Wee' par‑3 course and covered driving range, all combine to create one of Scotland’s most distinctive and memorable links golf experiences.
