Just when we thought this bucket-list British golf venue couldn’t get any better…

Machrihanish Dunes is building a second championship links course

One of Scotland’s best golf courses has been given the go ahead to add another 18 holes. Here’s everything we know about the new course and luxury facilities coming to Machrihanish Dunes.

Machrihanish Dunes is consistently ranked as one of the best golf courses in Scotland, and one of the best golf resorts in Great Britain and Ireland, too. You can imagine our excitement then, when we found out that the prestigious venue had been given the go-ahead to expand their facilities.

Machrihanish Dunes is a links course designed by David McLay Kidd (the man responsible for legendary courses such as Bandon Dunes) located in Argyll, Scotland. Located on the southwest coast of Scotland’s Kintyre Peninsula, the golf course makes a feature of the rugged, natural Scottish landscape. It’s not your average manicured, ultra-trimmed golf course. The course is wild, but in the best way possible, it was designed to fit around the natural landscape rather than plowing through it.

The par 72 course, which measures at just over 7,000 yards from the back tees, opened in 2009 on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the first course ever to be built on such a site and also the first to be built on the west coast of Scotland in over 100 years. Machrihanish Dunes was also the first 18-hole course in the U.K. to earn certification from the Golf Environmental Organization, ans is consistently ranked as one of the most ecologically friendly courses in the world. The resort currently includes two historic hotels, lovingly restored to modern hospitality standards, five restaurants and pubs, and eight seaside golf cottages.

Fifteen years after it first opened, planning permission has been granted for The Village at Machrihanish Dunes to add a second championship links course to it’s facility, along with a third luxury hotel, new clubhouse, 50 new golf cottages, and a host of other amenities.

Southworth, a Boston-based private company that specializes in the development and management of golf clubs, has been appointed to lead the project. The development aligns perfectly with Southworth’s sustainability philosophy, and has already involved extensive collaboration with the local community through frequent meetings and focus groups. The goal is not only to respect the natural environment but also to enhance it by expanding the area of dune vegetation.

To promote biodiversity, Southworth will also collaborate with NatureScot on a long-term habitat management strategy, in keeping with the successful approach currently in place at Machrihanish Dunes. The aim is to not only be respectful to the course’s surroundings, but also go a step further by increasing the area of dune vegetation habitat.

A major teaching facility, which will be one of the largest in the UK, is planned for the site, featuring indoor and outdoor practice areas and a nine-acre short-game zone. In addition to the golf facilities, a new sports and racquet center will offer state-of-the-art tennis, pickleball, and football facilities.

The development will also feature an approximately 35,000-square-foot clubhouse, including a 150-seat restaurant and a spacious function room that can accommodate up to 250 guests – perfect for weddings and corporate events. The clubhouse will house indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, and a spa for members to enjoy at their convenience.

“We will ensure the pure and authentic surroundings of Machrihanish remain, while creating a significant boost to the local economy, not only through the creation of hundreds of jobs upon completion, but through utilising the skillsets of a myriad of local companies”, Southworth says.

It’s safe to say the expansion at Machrihanish Dunes will no doubt see it remain one of the best golf courses and golf resorts around, and we look forward to following the development progress.

About the author

Sarah Pyett – Deputy Digital Editor

Sarah Pyett is the Deputy Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com. She plays off a handicap of 4, and specializes in ladies’ equipment reviews, including drivers, irons, and golf balls.

After a career in a golf professional shop, and earning a qualification in golf club management, Sarah joined Bauer in 2014 as a Web Producer for Today’s Golfer. She has since worked across multiple brands in a mixture of digital marketing and paid media roles, before returning to focus on golf full-time as Deputy Digital Editor in 2024.

You can get in touch with her on email or Instagram.