Machrihanish and Machrie Logistic advice???

[hammergolf]

Doing the preliminary planning for my solo Scotland trip in October. Have most of it pretty well laid out except for Machrihanish and Machrie. Easy to get to either one via cheap and quick flight from Glasgow. However, looking like a nightmare getting from one to the other. There is no direct flight from one to the other, only a connection that goes back through Glasgow and takes 8.5 hours which basically wastes a day. I’ve looked at taking a ferry from Port Ellen to Campbeltown but struggling to find a rental car at Glenegedale and drop off in Campbeltown it vice versa. Anyone have any advice?

 

Heres the tentative itinerary:

DAY 1 ARRIVE IN EDINBURGH

 

Play Gullane #1

Stay the night in Gullane.

 

DAY 2

Play North Berwick

Drive to St. Andrews and spend the night

 

DAY 3

Do the walk up for TOC

If that doesn’t look good, play The New

Spend the night in St. Andrews

 

DAY 4

Play Panmure or Montrose (Haven’t made my mind up yet…)

Spend the night in Aberdeen OR Cruden Bay

 

DAY 5

Play Cruden Bay

Drive to Nairn or Inverness (Depends on if I decide to play Nairn or Castle Stuart)

 

DAY 6 

Play Nairn or Castle Stuart

Drive to Dornoch

 

DAY 7

Play Royal Dornoch

Drive to Glasgow or Ardrossan (Depends on what I can figure out for Machrihanish and Machrie)

 

DAY 8

Play Machrihanish 
Stay in Machrihanish 

 

DAY 9

Play Machrihanish Dunes

Somehow get to Glenegedale????

 

DAY 10

Play Machrie

Somehow get back to Glasgow or Ardrossan

Stay in Troon or Ayr

 

DAY 11

Play Turnberry Ailsa (Really interested in seeing the changes that were made)

Stay in Troon or Ayr

 

DAY 12

Play Prestwick

Stay in Troon or Ayr

 

DAY 13

Play Western Gailes

Drive to Edinburgh and stay by airport

DAY 14 

FLY HOME

 

I may add two or three days because there are a couple other courses I would like to add like Royal Aberdeen, Trump Aberdeen, Dundonald, and Dumbarnie,  but I have time for that. Biggest thing is trying to figure out the logistics of Machrihanish and Machrie. Any advice on those would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

[CraigLester]

Hammergolf

 

Not a bad schedule

 

To get in Machrie I would try the following

 

Day 7 play Dornoch

Drive to Oban

 

Day 8 play Machrihanish 

catch ferry from Kennacraig to Islay

 

Day 9 play Machrie

catch ferry back to Kennacraig stay Machrihanish

 

Day 10 play Mach Dunes

Drive to Ayr

 

Hope this gives you some ideas

Craig

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, CraigLester said:

Hammergolf

 

Not a bad schedule

 

To get in Machrie I would try the following

 

Day 7 play Dornoch

Drive to Oban

 

Day 8 play Machrihanish 

catch ferry from Kennacraig to Islay

 

Day 9 play Machrie

catch ferry back to Kennacraig stay Machrihanish

 

Day 10 play Mach Dunes

Drive to Ayr

 

Hope this gives you some ideas

Craig

Thanks for the advice! I had looked at the map but didn’t realize I could drive from Oban. Makes a lot more sense. 

[Chanceman]

And while you are at Oban you might want to arrange to play their highly rated Glencruitten course designed by James Braid. Oban is a beautiful little town with an excellent whiskey distillery. 

[Ralphyboy84]

Honestly think this trip is absolutely wild and far too much travel. Royal Dornoch down to Machrihanish would make me lose the Will to live!

[Chanceman]

1 hour ago, Ralphyboy84 said:

Honestly think this trip is absolutely wild and far too much travel. Royal Dornoch down to Machrihanish would make me lose the Will to live!

Disagree. It's a beautiful trip along Loch Ness. You can see Ben Nevis, stop at Glencoe and Oban is a lovely town. You will feel really alive.

[Quebec Club Ho]

No advice to give but WOW that's a great trip hammergolf!! I hope you will have awesome time!!

Reminds me of my trip. Arrived in Edinburgh.  Started in Dundee area (Carnoustie), up to the highlands (Dornoch), down to Ayrshire (Troon, Prestwick Turnberry), across to Gullane (Gullane and North Berwick) and finally to St Andrews to finish. But I did it in a month! 

[hammergolf]

On 1/6/2022 at 2:00 PM, Quebec Club Ho said:

No advice to give but WOW that's a great trip hammergolf!! I hope you will have awesome time!!

Reminds me of my trip. Arrived in Edinburgh.  Started in Dundee area (Carnoustie), up to the highlands (Dornoch), down to Ayrshire (Troon, Prestwick Turnberry), across to Gullane (Gullane and North Berwick) and finally to St Andrews to finish. But I did it in a month! 

That’s a great trip! What was your favorite of the courses you played. I would love to be able to take off a month but at this time it’s just not possible. However, it’s def on the list to do it.

[Quebec Club Ho]

On 1/7/2022 at 4:15 PM, hammergolf said:

That’s a great trip! What was your favorite of the courses you played. I would love to be able to take off a month but at this time it’s just not possible. However, it’s def on the list to do it.

I did fall into the 'Rota trap' and played mostly the 'big' courses, but at that time, I thought it was going to my 'once in a lifetime' trip. Circumstances have changed and I am lucky to be able to plan more trips in the future. After covid finishes messing up everyone's world I will be back. I will say this, try to play each course twice because you won't remember much - seeing as that you have such a big list, at least try.

The courses I played

Carnoustie (4 rounds)

Dornoch (4)

Troon (1)

Turnberry (1)

Prestwick (2)

Gullane (1)

North Berwick (1)

Crail (1)

Castle & Kingsbarn (1)

Jubilee (1)

New Course (1)

Old course (6)

It would be unfair to pick one as my favourite but I will say that the courses I was lucky to have played more than once, I can still visualize all the holes. And sadly the ones I only played once, I can barely remember more than a few holes, it's like I never played them😞 As for the Old course, I did the waiting in line at 2am, hence the 6 rounds. My next trip, I will be getting a membership and play out of one course. I have no desire to do 'drive by' rota courses anymore. The old course will also hold a special place in my heart because of the history, but the place is so busy (not complaining because that spirit is amazing) I'd rather blend into a city/town. The plan for the following summer is the be at Murcar and from there explore the northeast and maybe head back down to Fife. 

Those are just my thoughts. Again, your trip sounds AMAZING because there are some 'off the grid' courses - Machrie and Machrihanish. I'd look at those two and perhaps even Askernish on the following trip.🙂 

 

 

[Chanceman]

On 1/9/2022 at 4:02 PM, Quebec Club Ho said:

I did fall into the 'Rota trap' and played mostly the 'big' courses, but at that time, I thought it was going to my 'once in a lifetime' trip. Circumstances have changed and I am lucky to be able to plan more trips in the future. After covid finishes messing up everyone's world I will be back. I will say this, try to play each course twice because you won't remember much - seeing as that you have such a big list, at least try.

The courses I played

Carnoustie (4 rounds)

Dornoch (4)

Troon (1)

Turnberry (1)

Prestwick (2)

Gullane (1)

North Berwick (1)

Crail (1)

Castle & Kingsbarn (1)

Jubilee (1)

New Course (1)

Old course (6)

It would be unfair to pick one as my favourite but I will say that the courses I was lucky to have played more than once, I can still visualize all the holes. And sadly the ones I only played once, I can barely remember more than a few holes, it's like I never played them😞 As for the Old course, I did the waiting in line at 2am, hence the 6 rounds. My next trip, I will be getting a membership and play out of one course. I have no desire to do 'drive by' rota courses anymore. The old course will also hold a special place in my heart because of the history, but the place is so busy (not complaining because that spirit is amazing) I'd rather blend into a city/town. The plan for the following summer is the be at Murcar and from there explore the northeast and maybe head back down to Fife. 

Those are just my thoughts. Again, your trip sounds AMAZING because there are some 'off the grid' courses - Machrie and Machrihanish. I'd look at those two and perhaps even Askernish on the following trip.🙂 

 

 

 Playing 4 rounds at Dornoch - where can I sign up for that little slice of heaven? Unfortunately on all these trips I find time is of the essence, especially as you get older. So you almost inevitably move on to the next course and try to enjoy that while the memory of the course just played is still percolating. But I do agree that playing a good course twice is ideal. If I was to return to Scotland I would want to replay The Old Course, Dornoch and Carnoustie. And North Berwick.

[hammergolf]

40 minutes ago, Chanceman said:

 Playing 4 rounds at Dornoch - where can I sign up for that little slice of heaven? Unfortunately on all these trips I find time is of the essence, especially as you get older. So you almost inevitably move on to the next course and try to enjoy that while the memory of the course just played is still percolating. But I do agree that playing a good course twice is ideal. If I was to return to Scotland I would want to replay The Old Course, Dornoch and Carnoustie. And North Berwick.

My all time bucket list is to play TOC on the original routing. After my recent Ireland trip I think I have a newly found Dune fetish.. lol Really want to get to Cruden Bay now and compare.

[Quebec Club Ho]

36 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

My all time bucket list is to play TOC on the original routing. After my recent Ireland trip I think I have a newly found Dune fetish.. lol Really want to get to Cruden Bay now and compare.

Hammergolf...what about Carne!!! 😮

Chanceman....agree 100%. Briefly, that trip was 28 days. I was 40. I trained physically and mentally for months, so the @1000KM of driving didn't bother me. Nor did the 28 rounds - a couple of days I played 36 (travelling took an entire day for some legs of the journey). Dornoch was 2 x 36. One of my second rounds I played with the caddie I had for the first round and he invited me over for dinner after! Although I was there for only 3 days, that place is really special. I hope you can get your 4 rounds there! 🙂 

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Quebec Club Ho said:

Hammergolf...what about Carne!!! 😮

Chanceman....agree 100%. Briefly, that trip was 28 days. I was 40. I trained physically and mentally for months, so the @1000KM of driving didn't bother me. Nor did the 28 rounds - a couple of days I played 36 (travelling took an entire day for some legs of the journey). Dornoch was 2 x 36. One of my second rounds I played with the caddie I had for the first round and he invited me over for dinner after! Although I was there for only 3 days, that place is really special. I hope you can get your 4 rounds there! 🙂 

Carne is a definite on the next Ireland trip.

[Chanceman]

5 hours ago, Quebec Club Ho said:

Hammergolf...what about Carne!!! 😮

Chanceman....agree 100%. Briefly, that trip was 28 days. I was 40. I trained physically and mentally for months, so the @1000KM of driving didn't bother me. Nor did t he 28 rounds - a couple of days I played 36 (travelling took an entire day for some legs of the journey). Dornoch was 2 x 36. One of my second rounds I played with the caddie I had for the first round and he invited me over for dinner after! Although I was there for only 3 days, that place is really special. I hope you can get your 4 rounds there! 🙂 

Ha Ha - very solid effort, that! When I was 68 (not so long ago...) me and a mate drove 21 days around Ireland and played 21 courses.  We wuz nackerd!! Funnily enough I do remember every course in some way although, to be sure, I wished we had played County Down, Portrush, Lahinch and Ballybunion twice to confirm impressions. But then I may have required hospital treatment.

[Quebec Club Ho]

16 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Ha Ha - very solid effort, that! When I was 68 (not so long ago...) me and a mate drove 21 days around Ireland and played 21 courses.  We wuz nackerd!! Funnily enough I do remember every course in some way although, to be sure, I wished we had played County Down, Portrush, Lahinch and Ballybunion twice to confirm impressions. But then I may have required hospital treatment.

Awesome!!😂