Golf course

[Tom B]

Machrihanish & Machrihanish Dunes will be on the itinerary, and presumably stopping over on the loch next summer for this exclusive British Open related tour......

"Will there be another sentimental journey like the one Greg Norman took at Royal Birkdale when the 2009 Open Championship moves to Turnberry? Or maybe a three-peat from Ireland's major star Padraig Harrington? And what might Tiger Woods, who presumably will be walking on two good knees by then, have to say about all that?

It's not too early to begin making plans to be at the 2009 British Open. PerryGolf (http://www.perrygolf.com) will introduce a new vessel to its small ship luxury golf cruise options for the 2009 British Open by Sea, which starts at the home of golf and concludes at Turnberry, site of the 138th Open Championship.

PerryGolf's exclusive charter of the MS Andrea, a 105-passenger expedition-style ship, begins in St. Andrews with golf at Kingsbarns and sightseeing in the historic town and continues with golf at Royal Aberdeen, Royal Dornoch, Machrihanish and David McLay Kidd's new design, Machrihanish Dunes, before moving on to Turnberry for the final round of the Open Championship at the Ailsa course.

Golf historians and fans of mano a mano golf remember the 36-hole battle staged between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson on the Ailsa course in the summer of 1977 (won by Watson on the 72nd hole) as one of the game's most dramatic duels.

"With the sea by your side, that famous lighthouse in the distance and all that Open history, there are few places in the world that can match Turnberry for beauty or excitement," said PerryGolf president Gordon Dalgleish.

Among the tour's highlights for golfers will be the opportunity to play Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes on the opposite side of the River Clyde from Turnberry. Machrihanish Dunes is the first true links course built on Scotland's west coast in more than 100 years. Previously a challenging location to reach, Machrihanish is now accessible via a 60-minute trip on a Kintyre Express ocean taxi. PerryGolf is also offering access to the Ailsa Course on the day it officially reopens following the final round of the Open Championship.

PerryGolf's 2009 British Open by Sea golf cruise July 11-20, 2009, is priced from $7,995 to $9,395 and features an extensive touring schedule, including St. Andrews, Aberdeen, Crathes Castle, Glenmorangie Distillery, Inverewe Gardens and the fishing village of Tarbert on the shores of Loch Fyne.

The tour is part of the expanded Golf Cruising by PerryGolf program recently announced. The schedule includes 17 cruises in 2008 - 2009 to golf destinations as diverse as Scotland, South Africa, France and the Mediterranean.

Established in 1984, Wilmington, N.C.-based PerryGolf offers the travel industry's most prestigious and diverse selection of luxury golf tours and lifestyle experiences to the British Isles, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and China. In addition small-ship and river barge golf cruises visit the Mediterranean, France, Scotland, South Africa, the Great Lakes and Canada. PerryGolf offers customized golf tour itineraries as well as escorted programs featuring land tours, small-ship charters and luxury train travel. The company's exclusive online trip calculator -- Plan Your Own Tour™ -- allows travelers to generate immediate quotations for trips they create entirely online. For more information on PerryGolf, please visit http://www.perrygolf.com or call a PerryGolf travel specialist at 800-344-5257."

more - http://www.pr-usa.net/index.php?option= ... &Itemid=34

[Tom B]

any developments?

[elainemck]

I've not heard of anything. The workers building the houses in front of the beachcomber (now blocking it's view) are working round the clock and are coming on fast but there doesn't seem to be much work done to ugadale, if at all yet.

They might build some lovely houses for sale but no-ones going to want to buy them beside an old falling apart hotel with only promises to go on. Were we not promised the Royal up and running long ago? That would do great business I'm sure.

Also, noone wants to join a golf club when there isn't a clubhouse or any accommodation for them?

I heard from a Machrihanish resident that they were promised an investment to get a new shop and a new play park but have heard nothing in over a year.

[myself]

I am just wondering how the present global crisis will affect the ambitious plans for the new golf course. Is work going on as usual? Has anybody heard anything?

[jowett63]

The two websites for the course and property http://www.thewaygolfbegan.com/ and http://www.thekintyre.com/ have the latest info. These sites say the 8 "cottages" currently being being built are due to be finished in December and the new course is scheduled to open in May 2009. There is now a large sign at the entrance at SOK which says just that and having walked the course a few times recently it is certainly starting to look handsome.
Interestingly the brochure for sale of timeshares has a picture on the front that shows what the Ugadale site will look like once it is developed and all the "cottages" built. Sadly the Beachcomber/Old Clubhouse is demolished on it to make way for phase 2/3....so here is hoping the first phase takes some time to sell so this fine hostelry has a stay of execution for as long as possible, although speaking to the employees there I understand that all but a couple of the first phase "fractions" are sold. Don't forget the company has also had a fair load of grants etc so I don't think the opening of the new course etc will be in doubt and lets face it in these hard times the local economy needs a boost. One of the articles say the green fees will be £100 a day, so squarely aimed at golf tourists and birthday treats, though no doubt there will be concessions for folk on the bru and OAPs lol!

[bill]

http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/Golf/News ... =EPI-24629

The following is an extract from the above link to "TodaysGolfer" dated 25th September.

"Winners of a free prize draw will play The Carrick on the shores of Loch Lomond, the world famous Machrihanish Golf Course, Shiskine on the Isle of Arran... and be among the first to tee off at the opening ceremony of Machrihanish Dunes on May 2, 2009."

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Any updates on the couse, Ugadale, Royal Hotel, clubhouse, etc??????

[smiles]

"Any updates on the couse, Ugadale, Royal Hotel, clubhouse, etc??????"

Not sure about other developments but I walked over the course at the weekend with my wife and was hugely impressed with the course. In fact it is stunning. The greens are amazing.

Along with Machrihanish and Dunaverty Kintyre could soon be a golfer's dream.

[maganru]

What a plug! Terry Wogan mentioned the new golf course on his show this morning! Not sure if you can listen again to it but it was on just before 8.40 while I was driving to work. Hopefully golfers will now be planning their next golfing holiday in Kintyre.

[Mary G]

Terry Wogan mentioned the new golf course on his show this morning! Not sure if you can listen again to it but it was on just before 8.40 while I was driving to work.

Just after 1:06 - worth listening to again, if you get a minute:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... 27_04_2009

Glad to read that you are tuning in to a better breakfast show ... and how worthwhile was that

[maganru]

You've been converting my son every time he stays at his Aunty Mary's!

[Mary G]

Excellent! A boy of sound taste and judgement, if I do say so myself.


Back to the golf course ... any word of famous folk taking part in the opening in May? Was it a 'soft launch' or some such term used in the Courier, signifying that it will have a proper opening later in the year? Just curious ...

[RMcC]

The 'soft' opening is an informal one to let people preview and play the course, there is an official opening on July 21st as far as I know

Was on course last week and it certainly is looking good.

[Ags]

The word around here is that despite having bookings for May, neither the course or the accommodation will be ready until June. Is that just a Machrihanish rumour? Does anyone have an update? There is certainly plenty work going on at Ugadale.

[Pans Lass]

The word around here is that despite having bookings for May, neither the course or the accommodation will be ready until June. Is that just a Machrihanish rumour? Does anyone have an update? There is certainly plenty work going on at Ugadale.

There sure has been alot of movement at Ugadale over the last few months... the place is so busy with workmen it looks like busy wee ants working round the clock obviously trying to meet some sort of deadline. Heard from the Head Greenkeeper the new course open day has been moved to end of May instead of the beginning. Was up looking at the 14th Green on Saturday whilst on my daily walk over the beach and the greens were looking good ,not that I am a golfer or anything , but I have been following the changes since the beginning and there has been lots of progress .

Not heard when the accomodation will be ready but by the looks of things May is out !

One good thing for me is that I have got a great view now they have knocked that part of the Ugadale away ...enjoying it for the time being as I know once more chalets are built it will be blocked again .