In the late 1960's, course architect David McLay Kidd already knew Machrihanish was a special place. While he was just a child at the time, Kidd's parents would take him on holiday to their summer home near the Machrihanish Golf Club. Kidd immediately came to love the pristine beauty of the rolling dunes at the ocean's edge. It is here, he says, that he has his earliest childhood memories, running on the broad, sandy beach and hiding in the steep dunes at Machrihanish.
Toward the end of the 1980's, Kidd had become interested in golf design, and he and his father discussed the virgin dunes around the bay from Machrihanish, wondering at the possibility of creating a second course there. With this thought always at the back of his mind, Kidd spent most of the 1990's developing his career, completing projects such as the famed Bandon Dunes in Oregon. With an impressive array of courses in his portfolio by the early 2000's, Kidd tried to garner interest amongst developers to fund a new course in Machrihanish.
While Kidd looked for potential investors, another group had begun to take interest in the same site. As far back as the 1970's, photographer Brian Morgan had seen the property, and was instantly drawn to it. After becoming close with developer Brian Keating towards the turn of the century, Morgan brought Keating to see the property. Keating loved the idea, and the two friends decided it was the perfect setting to create the world's next great links course. In 2001, Morgan and Keating approached the Barr family, the owners of the land in question, and struck a deal to work on the property. As primary backer of the endeavor, Keating took charge of the project. He planned to move forward and hired course architect Kyle Philips.
By that time, Kidd had decided to develop a new course in Machrihanish with his own funding, and was shocked to find that someone else had gotten to the land first. Realizing that his childhood dream was about to be fulfilled by someone else, Kidd was determined to join the project as course architect. Kidd discovered that the contract with Philips had not been cemented, and immediately put together a presentation for Keating and Morgan. Upon meeting Kidd, it quickly became obvious that he was the perfect fit to fulfill Keating's vision and the crucial role of course architect was entrusted to Kidd from that day.
With a development team in place, the real challenges and rewards began to accrue. Scottish Natural Heritage, tasked with protecting the natural beauty of Scotland, was wary about allowing course development on a Site of Specific Scientific Interest; Scotland's most highly protected land. This particular parcel is under scrutiny as the home of five rare types of orchid, two of which are especially rare.
It was only after the developers clearly demonstrated how the golf course would actually help the land flourish that construction was allowed to begin. In an effort to respect the land, minimal shaping of the course was undertaken. While greens and tees were slightly molded, the rest of the course was simply "uncovered" and mowed down by hand. For the course, Kidd identified 23 natural holes of which he chose the 18 that best suited the overall layout. To limit disturbance, areas that suffered from rabbit damage were used as bunkers, just the way bunkers originally evolved on courses hundreds of years earlier. Gentle hand mowing was done to expose the fairways that had essentially existed there since the dunes were formed countless years earlier. The project moved along smoothly, with most work being done by hand. No heavy machinery was allowed to be used, and only a backhoe was utilized to shape the greens and tees. Euan Grant, Keeper of the Green at St. Andrews, joined the project in 2007, helping to ensure an excellent grow-in phase. After a very successful stint at Machrihanish Dunes, Grant was given the honor in 2009 to prepare Turnberry for the 2009 Open Championship. His first assistant, Keith Martin, stayed on at Machrihanish Dunes, taking over as Keeper of the Green, and will be responsible for overseeing the course's maturation over the coming years.
Today, the course is open and excitement abounds. Southworth Development has taken the helm at Machrihanish Dunes, and has several corresponding projects underway in the area. Striving to offer the utmost in quality, the team has opened the first phase of Ugadale Cottages overlooking the Machrihanish Golf Club. They are building more, and are also restoring both the Royal Hotel in Campbeltown and the Ugadale Hotel in Machrihanish, adjacent to the world-famous opening hole at Machrihanish Golf Club.
Pristine and beautiful, Machrihanish Dunes is an experience that won't be forgotten, and one that only promises to get better in years to come.
