Another Place, The Machrie

A links that dates back to 1891, rebuilt by DJ Russell and paired with a relaxed, well-run hotel on the Isle of Islay. Expect wide fairways, firm turf, big Atlantic views and some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries a short drive away. Getting here takes some effort, and that’s a big part of the appeal.

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Proper Island Links on Scotland’s Whisky Coast

The Machrie sits on the south-west corner of Islay, a few minutes from the island’s airport and about three miles from Port Ellen. The dunes and seven-mile beach of Laggan Bay are on one side and open peat moorland is on the other. Golf has been played here since 1891, when Willie Campbell laid out a course known for blind shots, 17 of them at one point. Former European Tour player DJ Russell rebuilt it between 2013 and 2018. He kept the holes that cross the dunes but removed most of the guesswork, and raised several holes onto higher ground so you see far more of the sea, especially on the front nine.

The hotel joined the Another Place group (also behind Watergate Bay in Cornwall and The Lake on Ullswater) in 2024. It has just under 50 rooms, suites and lodges, ranging from compact Classic rooms to the four-poster Islay Room. Some ground-floor rooms open straight onto the course. Away from the golf, the main things to know are:

18 Restaurant: first floor, vaulted glass roof and a terrace over the final green and Laggan Bay. Expect local seafood, Loch Gruinart oysters and a solid full Scottish breakfast.
After your round: outdoor sauna and hot tubs, a small spa, a gym and a screening room.
Nearby: Laphroaig, Lagav

at a glance

Isle of Islay, Scotland

Luxury Resort

Championship Links

Golf & Spa

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Key Information

There’s one championship course on site, backed up by good practice facilities:

The Wee Course: a six-hole par-3 layout, good for a warm-up or a fun evening knock
A driving range and short-game area
Indoor Trackman bays
A putting green shaped like the Hebrides

Conditions are firm and fast for most of the season, and the wind decides how hard the course plays on any given day. Mid-handicappers will enjoy the width off the tee. Better players will be tested by the greens and by having to keep the ball low.

The course has real history. In 1901 it hosted a match between James Braid, J.H. Taylor and Harry Vardon for a £100 prize, said to be the biggest in British golf at the time. These days it hosts the Machrie Team Championship each autumn. Islay Golf Club members also play here, which gives the place a local, lived-in feel.

The atmosphere is relaxed and unstuffy. Staff are on first-name terms quickly, and the bar fills up with golfers, walkers and whisky tourists in roughly equal measure.

Really easy to deal with...

Really easy to deal with, quick responses to my questions and helpful advice. Highly professional and stress free booking. Just hope the weather is as good when we go!

Easy way to book your Golf trip

3rd Year running we have booked with the Golf Travel Centre and will probably continue to do so, they always provide what we required at a good price and has managed to sort out any bumps in the road.

Very Helpful...

Very helpful and resourceful. Quick and friendly replies.

UK Golf Trip...

Just wanted to say thank you to Ian for all your work in planning our golf trip to Forest of Arden in September 26. your efforts are much appreciated.

Excellent service all round...

Excellent service all round. Phil found a great price for our budget and it delivered for the group too! Would highly recommend

Outstanding

Easy, really polite and helpful. Will defo use again!

How to get what you want for your holiday

Very prompt response to our initial enquiry about our golf holiday. Came back later on the same day with a range of options. Lots of information, which made it so easy for us to make a group decision about all aspects of our holiday. Phone calls returned and polite, sociable and courteous staff.

Great company...

Great company. Billy listened to our requirements and preferences and tailored the trip to suit us. He bared with us whilst we changed things around with no hassle! Great communication throughout! Would recommend.

Great service from Olly...

Great service from Olly… Very responsive and excellent attention to detail. Great price also.

Great service & very knowledgeable

Second time booking very helpful and good knowledge

Resort Gallery

Why Stay at The Machrie?

The simplest reason is that there’s nowhere quite like it. You’re on a Hebridean island with a little over 3,000 residents, a genuine links outside your window, and whisky distilleries closer than most clubhouses are to the M25. The pace is slow, and that’s the point.

Since Another Place took over, regular guests have noticed a lift in service and atmosphere. The hotel feels more relaxed and sociable than a traditional golf hotel. The food gets consistent praise, especially the seafood and breakfasts, and the dining room views over the 18th are hard to beat. The outdoor sauna and hot tubs make a good end to a windy round, and on clear nights Islay’s lack of light pollution gives you proper dark skies. You might even see the Northern Lights.

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