GOLF IN THE SOUTH WEST
SOUTHWEST
59
Scotland's most famous poet was
born in Alloway, South Ayrshire and
is revered around the world.
The home of Robert Burns is at
Ellisland Farm near Dumfries which
is still a major tourist attraction
because it was where Burns lived at
the peak of his powers.
He moved there when he was
29 and, to many, wrote some of his
finest work while strolling alongside
the River Nith in Dumfries. There,
you can see the original writings
and possessions of Burns and visit
the inspirational landscapes that
the man himself drew such
inspiration from - perhaps you'll
even find some there yourself.
You must also visit the Burns
National Heritage Park in Alloway,
Ayrshire.
Toast the great
bard of Scotland
South of Dunure and not far from
Ayr you will find a truly spectacular
and mind-boggling attraction that
will leave you scratching your head.
The Electric Brae, known by the
locals as Croy Brae, is a gravity hill
where cars are drawn uphill
without any assistance other than
natural forces. Simply park your car
on the hill, release the handbreak
and watch as your car moves up
the hill unaided.
How? The configuration of the
land on either side provides an
optical illusion giving you the idea
that you are going uphill. Former
US Open winner Michael Campbell
visited the Electric Brae during the
Open Championship at Turnberry
last year.
Amaze yourself on
the Electric Brae M
any years ago, in 1891, the
finest golfers of their time
made the trip to The
Machrie for an exhibition match.
The idea was to attract attention
to the golf course laid out on the Isle
of Islay, which possesses such majesty
that it is certainly worth the effort to
visit. After the Open at Muirfield, the
top players made what was then a
two-day trip there to play for the first
prize of �100. Today, making a trip to
The Machrie is not so tricky, but the
course is no less of a gem.
There are other venues off the
South West's beaten track that are
just too good to ignore. Take, for
example, the majestic landscape of
Machrihanish, a course "upgraded"
by many famous names from the
world of golf design. No one person
stands as the official designer of the
course, adding a certain mystique in
line with its location on top of the
Kintyre Peninsula. But Machrihanish is
not alone as the golf of the South
West isles is truly magnificent and its
worth far more than the �100 first
prize once offered at The Machrie.
In Southend you'll find Dunaverty,
a wild natural links that has spawned
its own fascinating history, not to
mention its fair share of fine players.
A new venue has joined the list of
must-play courses in the South West
with the opening of Machrihanish
Dunes, the first course designed on
the west coast in 100 years.
The Isle of Cumbrae, meantime,
houses Millport Golf Club, where the
panoramic views will bowl you over.
The islands dotted off the coast are
also rich in golf, with Islay, Tiree, Mull
and Arran all proof that going the
extra mile can pay dividends. Amidst
typical holiday activities such as
cycling and hill-climbing, Arran offers
seven courses each one inimitable in
its own way. Take Shiskine, for
instance, which nestles below the
Drumadoon Cliffs. The easiest course
to access must be Brodick, ideally
placed for those hopping on and off
the ferry for a quick round of island
golf, while those looking to spend
more time there should sample
Whiting Bay, Lamlash, Lochranza and
Corrie. Mull, too, provides excellent
island offerings, with the nine-hole
challenge of Tobermory, while Tiree
boasts the quaint Vaul Golf Club.
So for those looking to sample
something different in the South
West, away from the attraction of the
Open Championship courses of
Ayrshire, hop on the ferry and take in
some of the island offerings - we
guarantee you wont be disappointed.
There are
other venues
off the beaten
track that are
just too good
to ignore
From The Machrie to Machrihanish, island
golf in the South West is rich in mystique
Dunaverty
For information on golf in Argyll and
the Isles contact:
www.visitscottishheartlands.com
Further Info

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18Page 19Page 20Page 21Page 22Page 23Page 24Page 25Page 26Page 27Page 28Page 29Page 30Page 31Page 32Page 33Page 34Page 35Page 36Page 37Page 38Page 39Page 40Page 41Page 42Page 43Page 44Page 45Page 46Page 47Page 48Page 49Page 50Page 51Page 52Page 53Page 54Page 55Page 56Page 57Page 58Page 59Page 60Page 61Page 62Page 63Page 64Page 65Page 66Page 67Page 68Page 69Page 70Page 71Page 72Page 73Page 74Page 75Page 76Page 77Page 78Page 79Page 80Page 81Page 82Page 83Page 84Page 85Page 86Page 87Page 88Page 89Page 90Page 91Page 92Page 93Page 94Page 95Page 96Page 97Page 98Page 99Page 100Page 101Page 102Page 103Page 104Page 105Page 106Page 107Page 108Page 109Page 110Page 111Page 112Page 113Page 114Page 115Page 116Page 117Page 118Page 119Page 120Page 121Page 122Page 123Page 124Page 125Page 126Page 127Page 128Page 129Page 130Page 131Page 132Page 133Page 134Page 135Page 136Page 137Page 138Page 139Page 140Page 141Page 142Page 143Page 144Page 145Page 146Page 147Page 148Page 149Page 150Page 151Page 152Page 153Page 154Page 155Page 156Page 157Page 158Page 159Page 160Page 161Page 162Page 163Page 164Page 165Page 166Page 167Page 168Page 169Page 170Page 171Page 172Page 173Page 174Page 175Page 176Page 177Page 178Page 179Page 180Page 181Page 182Page 183Page 184Page 185Page 186Page 187Page 188Page 189Page 190Page 191Page 192Page 193Page 194Page 195Page 196 Produced by PageSuite