Portpatrick (Dunskey) - Credit Visit Scotland.
Machrie
There’s no doubt that part of the remarkable Machrie experience
begins long before you reach the course itself. A ferry brings you
to the island of Islay, and such remoteness has its own rewards.
This is a breathtaking location that now boasts a revitalised classic
links (designed by Willie Campbell in 1891). The original links was
renowned for its many blind shots over cavorting dunes of all shapes
and sizes beside the Bay of Laggan… but the new design has rerouted
holes so that most of these blind shots have been removed. Greens
have been changed too, although some old green sites were reused.
Golf course designer DJ Russell has exploited the potential of this
revered old site to turn an old classic into a modern tour de force…
and one that contains but a handful of bunkers. And remember, the
island of Islay promises some of the best whisky in the world. The
club’s hotel will open in 2018.
Powfoot
Tucked away in the south west of Scotland, Powfoot overlooks the
Solway Firth. It is a course which owes much of its design to James
Braid, combining links and parkland holes. Gorse cloaks the edges
of fairways inland and the rough proves mischievous, especially on
the links holes… so this is no place to go wild or Powfoot will gobble
you up. The land is relatively flat which can prove deceptive off the
tee, especially with careful bunkering, and the wind is guaranteed
to tease you all day long. The course begins with links holes and it
is not the easiest of starts as OB awaits on the right of the first four
holes. And mind the 9th – named Crater – where a German bomb
has created an interesting hazard.
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Portpatrick (Dunskey)
Combining rolling moorland and seaside heath, Portpatrick’s
Dunskey course splashes gorse across an open terrain. It has many
links-like attributes and an affinity with links skills will always prove
useful given the wind whipping