Machrihanish Dunes, welcomed its first flock of Hebridean sheep as part of its ongoing commitment to managing the course through environmentally friendly maintenance practices. Native to the west of Scotland, Hebridean sheep are a breed of small black sheep which are hardy and thrive on the rough grasses found amongst the dunes.They're often used as conservation grazing animals to maintain natural grassland habitats and are particularly effective at scrub control, having a strong preference for browsing, and are able to thrive on grazing that would be considered poor quality for other breeds.
The sheep will play a key role in thinning out the rough and maintaining other areas of the course where mowing is not permitted due to environmental restrictions on the SSSi site. "The Hebrideans arrived without incident last week and have adjusted beautifully to their winter home here at Machrihanish Dunes.," said Keith Martin, Keeper of The Green. "This is no ordinary golf course and the sheep are proof of that as they provide a useful tool in conservation management as we continue to maintain a sustainable and natural golf course."
Hebridean sheep were once widespread in the west of Scotland. They were gradually replaced with modern breeds such as the Scottish Blackface and Cheviot; they died out on the mainland and eventually also on the Hebridean islands themselves. However, flocks of black Hebridean sheep survived as ornamental animals on various estates in England and Scotland, and these were identified in 1973 by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as being in need of conservation. Since then the breed has been revived, and is no longer regarded as rare; it is kept in many parts of the world.
Machrihanish Dunes is located on 259 acres of pristine links land in Machrihanish, Scotland. Machrihanish Dunes is the first championship links golf course built in Scotland on a Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSi) in over 100 years. In July, Machrihanish Dunes celebrated its Grand Opening with rave reviews of the golf course and its breathtaking natural layout. To view recent articles please visit, www.thewaygolfbegan.com.
They dont look very friendly . 
