The course was first laid out in 1876 and extended to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris in 1879. Jack Nicklaus once called the opening hole – its tee shot played straight across the Atlantic beach – the best in the world.
In his book “The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses”, Tom Doak writes about the course designed by Charles Hunter in 1876 and later revised by Old Tom Morris: “One of my favorite destinations to get away from it all. Machrihanish has a remoteness and quality that are hard to match.” I have nothing to add to this. However, I also agree with him about the quality of the back nine. Compared with the outward holes, they are a bit of a letdown. Do I care about it? No. Would I take the «Long and Winding Road» to Machrihanish to play the course again? Yes.
