Stewardship

The World’s Most Natural Golf Course.

Enjoy golf the way it was meant to be –a game played against the natural challenges of the land itself. Machrihanish Dunes is the only course ever created on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSi). Because of the fragility of this pristine coastal environment and in order to preserve for all time the unmatched natural beauty of the site, the course was built and is maintained with the lightest touch possible. Of the 259 acres on which the course sits, only seven – yes, seven – were disturbed during the construction of the course. Only the tees and greens were shaped. The fairways upon which golfers tread are just as they were found, only mown, shorter and optimized for golf. If you see any Hebridean black sheep wandering about, just know that they are there to help us keep the rough in check.

In 2011 – and again in 2014 – Machrihanish Dunes received Golf Environmental Organization (GEO) Certification for creating and maintaining a sustainable golf agenda, while fulfilling GEO’s required assessments for maintenance and management practices at the most comprehensive eco-levels. Machrihanish Dunes was the first 18-hole golf course in the U.K. to achieve this prestigious certification.

GEO conducts a rigorous application and judging process, with a focus on assessing a club`s policies on the use of fertiliser and irrigation water, their waste disposal, commitment to the support of local businesses, protection of indigenous flora and fauna, and many other aspects of the business. Our parent company, Southworth Europe, is committed to protecting the stunningly diverse natural environment that it has inherited from previous custodians, and was therefore incredibly proud to be continually recognised by the Golf Environment Organisation for our commitment to maintaining our golf course, maintenance facility, and clubhouse in a sustainable and environmentally sensitive manner.