The Best Of The West Golf Tour

UGADALE HOTEL & COTTAGES (MACHRIHANISH VILLAGE)

Located in such a wonderful, secluded setting on the southern strip of the Mull of Kintyre, this boutique resort is located opposite the Old Machrihanish Links, the resort offers a combination of elegant and affordable hotel rooms, suites and spacious cottages, which are very close to the beach.

This lovely venue is a golfer’s paradise and with two great links courses to explore, the Old Course and Mach Dunes, but if you have the time, we also highly recommend you play the gorgeous Dunaverty Course located on the southern tip of the Mull of Kintyre. The Ugadale has a modest Spa Facility with massage also available. The highlight of the Resort is the superb cuisine and generous sized dishes in all 5 of the dining outlets some of which are also located at the sister hotel the Royal in Campbelltown. The Old Clubhouse restaurant is magic in terms of its ambience and the breakfasts at the hotel are notable!

OLD MACHRIHANISH LINKS

This classic old links is a masterpiece, the course is walking distance from the Ugadale Hotel, – the first 12 holes twist their way up the coastline and thread their way through beautiful dunes land, with a few blind shots on some holes, the finishing stretch are less links like and head back south to the clubhouse and hotel. A memorable test of golf and ranked in the top 50 of golf links in the UK and no 18 across all courses in Scotland.

MACHRIHANISH DUNES

Mach Dunes as it is known, is just a 10-minute transfer from the Ugadale Hotel and Cottages. The course is relatively modern, but maintained and designed with the true traditions of authentic pure links golf. The links is much longer and more testing across 18 holes than the Old Course, with many more blind tee shots and approach shots to challenge any category of golfer. The course has very good green credentials and is a magnificent challenge and ranked in the top 100 links in the UK and no 24 of all courses in Scotland.

THE MACHRIE HOTEL & GOLF LINKS, ISLAY

THE LINKS

The Machrie was revamped totally a few years ago, not just the hotel, but also the golf course, it brought the entire resort back to its very best. The course reopened in 2018 following the revamp and has received many superb accolades since then. Originally designed by Willie Campbell an Old Tom Morris disciple in 1891 over a century ago, the course has superb links holes laid out through natural sand dunes, with a good sprinkling of blind approach shots and tee shots, it is undoubtedly an absolute gem of a links and right next to the hotel. The Machrie is ranked 21 across all golf courses in Scotland.

ARDFIN ESTATE

This remarkable estate is relatively new, only being open from the start of 2020, owned by an Australian billionaire who fell in love with this outstanding site on the Island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides. We strongly believe that this venue is the most exclusive golf venue to stay at across the whole of Scotland, it is right up there with the best of the best!

It is a complete privilege to be allowed to sell the resort and we are delighted to be able to share this resort with our customers at Island Golf Holidays, as part of an exclusive golfing tour, or even as a unique one-off venue, for the most discerning of traveller.

This is the most expensive leg of our unique tour, but it is the ultimate in luxury, privilege and offers guests the most superb levels of personalised service. Enjoy staying in the Quadrangle and the Main House of Ardfin ,take in the fine cuisine and enjoy special country pursuits, involving shooting, fishing, 4×4 off road and exploring what is a wild and beautiful island, great for discovering wildlife and taking great photography, or painting.

ARDFIN GOLF COURSE

Designed by Bob Harrison this incredible golf course originally opened in 2015 for the exclusive use of the Australian Billionaire owner and his guests – it was only in 2020 that it opened up to visitors, but to play the course you have to stay on the Ardfin Estate for at least 24 hours.  Ranked no 12 across Scotland, Ardfin is a course very few people will ever get to play, not just because of its secluded location, but also because of its sheer exclusivity.

The course must be one of the most sensational designs, not just in the UK, but in the world and it is already ranked 81 by Golf Digest Magazine on the entire Planet! The shot making from holes 1 – 18 is just so exhilarating it is impossible to put it into words, but it deserves all the praise and accolades it receives, just a piece of golf course artistry and a place one will remember for the rest of one’s life. There are too many great holes to summarise, but the stretch from 8 to 16 close to the shoreline, are just wonderful, some of the carries are very challenging and a strong nerve is required all the way round. The backdrops of the Sound of Jura and the mountains inland of the Paps of Juras are just so breathtaking. Watch out for holes 8 and 9 and make sure you stop for a drink by the 11^th green, a fabulous spot.

The first 7 holes are laid out over higher land and are equally strong, but on a slightly different type of terrain.

You may well be lucky enough to see herds of deer and may well be the only people playing golf when you play, which makes the experience absolutely magnificent. We would always recommend everyone play the course twice as a minimum.

https://www.ukgolfguy.com/ardfin-golf

WILDINGS HOTEL & RESTAURANT, MAIDENS BY TURNBERRY

This is a modest tiny hotel establishment which is very well known for its fine fish restaurant and was Tom Watsons favourite dining venue during the fabled 2009 OPEN, which he should have won, this is the last optional leg of our Grand Tour of the West of Scotland.

The hotel looks out over Maidens Bay, toward the flagship National Trust property in Scotland – Culzean Castle, it is crucially only 3 minute’s drive from the Ailsa Course at Turnberry, where you can finish your trip in style with a last round of golf on Turnberry’s Ailsa course, with Managing Director of Island Golf Holidays, David Sledmere. The Ailsa Course is ranked at no 1 in Scotland and no 8 Worldwide by Golf Digest.

THE AILSA COURSE TURNBERRY

For the golf enthusiast playing golf on the Ailsa is an absolute delight, especially if you watched the several OPENS on the course since 1977! Including Tom Watsons 2009 attempt and narrow loss, which was as remarkable as his win 32 years earlier in his career. The revitalised design, which happened in 2016 saw the sand dunes on the front nine come much more into play and thus the views of the sea so much more impressive than before. Once you reach the 4^th tee you have arguably the best stretch of golf in the world, better even than Pebble Beach all the way to the 11^th green. Classic links holes running along the shore with the shelter of sand dunes, the walk from the 5^th green to the 6^th tee must be the best walk in golf along the top of the dunes, with Turnberry Beach and a view of the sea and Arran beyond! Sensational.

The top par 3 holes at 9 (by the lighthouse) and 11 where again you need a long carry over rocks and estuary, make it so picturesque and challenging.

Yet the tough holes are holes 1 to 3 and 12- 18 that’s where you have to hold on to your score!

The biggest delight of the Ailsa is the half-way house, which is inside the lighthouse and the sun terrace overlooking the sea from the cliff top. It has to be the best halfway house in the world! What a way to finish your journey of the west of Scotland.