Match Play in Scotland – Definitely Better by Boat!

^ Nautor Swan 56’ NOONMARK VI | Isle of Arran, Scotland

When Iain Forsyth bought the iconic Swan 56’ NOONMARK VI to keep close to his home in the wonderful cruising waters of the West Coast of Scotland, it was clear that she would be perfect for the task with her powerful sailing and great sea manners. As ever, the chat turned to other things and to the important subject of golf…! Iain worked in the industry for many years and apart from being an enthusiastic golfer, part of NOONMARK’s brief will be to offer himself, his friends and occasional charterers the option of sailing to some of Scotland’s finest courses which are a hop and a skip from the coast. He gives us the low down…

Starting in Girvan, where there are yacht berths to be had alongside a commercial harbour, the port is 50 miles from Glasgow Airport.

Trump Turnberry  is 6 miles away and Ailsa Crag, close to Girvan is clear to see from the course – 60 to 70% of all curling stones come from this astonishing place. Turnberry is an iconic ‘Open’ venue, where Nicklaus and Watson duelled! The course has challenging terrain including the special ninth hole known as the Duel in the Sun, named after the 1977 Open Championship. Requisitioned during both World Wars for use as an airbase, the course was designed by Willie Fernie in 1902 with a major overhaul in 2016 by golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert. It ranks 10th in the world.

Next stop is Troon Harbour, 20 nautical miles away and Troon Yacht Haven is the perfect place from which to attack two amazing courses.

^ Trump Turnberry | Photo credit Royal Trump Turnberry

Royal Troon is just 2 miles away, founded in 1878, with 2 championship courses – the Old Course and the Portland Course. Many of the game’s greats have stood on the famous Postage Stamp (8th tee) with little more than a pitching-wedge in hand before swapping that club for their sand-wedge. A par (or better) gives you permanent bragging rights at the bar!

^ Royal Troon Golf Club | Photo credit Royal Troon Golf Club

Prestwick Golf Club is 5 miles away and is an historic club with a rich history and the course has some classic holes and many features which have been copied by course architects through the ages. Some of the holes are quirky, but all are great fun to play.

^ Prestwick Golf Club | Photo credit Mark Alexander

A sail of around 25 nautical miles brings you to the lovely anchorage of Lochranza on the Isle of Arran, with a dramatic Scottish castle and the inevitable distillery!

Shiskine is the local golf club and has 12 holes and is a great play in a stunning setting. A bit quirky but has some lovely holes and is worth a visit.

^ Shiskine Golf Club | Photo Credit Hamish Bannatyne and Shiskine Golf Club

Up anchor and onto Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre with its protected port and modest marina, just over 20 miles from Lochranza by NOONMARK…

Machrihanish is five miles across to the west coast of the mull and has one of the best tee shots anywhere in the world, across the beach in Machrihanish Bay, referred to by Jack Nicklaus, a par 4, as the best opening hole of golf in the world. Nicknamed Mach 7 because of its notoriously strong breeze and challenging layout, it tests players with rolling fairways, blind shots and pot bunkers.

^ Machrihanish | Photo credit The Machrihanish Golf Club

Close by are Machrihanish Dunes, next to the Atlantic, this award-winning course comes with amazing views and a dunescape too. Opened in 2009, known as Mach Dunes, if you are coming to Scotland to golf it is a must.

^ Machrihanish Dunes | Photo credit Machrihanish Dunes

Our next stop is Portrush, in Northern Ireland, a pleasant sail of around 50 nautical miles, it is a small harbour protected by two man-made piers with some pontoons as well as moorings that visiting yachts can pick up.

A short walk of a mile finds you at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, with the hills of Donegal to the west, Islay and the Southern Hebrides to the north and the Giant’s Causeway and the Skerries to the East. The courses are overlooked by the ruins of Dunluce Castle, a ruined 13th century castle, and it is this building that lends its name to Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Links. These always rank highly on any list detailing the World’s best courses. Apart from the scenery, there is the layout. Redesigned before the 2019 Open Championship it is indeed testing both on and around the greens – making it a favourite for Shane Lowry.

^ Ruins of medieval Dunluce Castle | Northern coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK | Nahlik / stock.adobe.com

Our final stop is the lovely harbour of Port Ellen on Islay, a fabulous sail of 30 nautical miles and a 4 mile trip finds you at Another Place, The Machrie. This old links is an original Willie Campbell design dating back to 1891, that was then redesigned by DJ Russel and reopened in 2018.

^ The Machrie | Photo credit Another Place, The Machrie / photographer Kevin Murray

With Hebridean views of the sea as well as the peaks of Beinn Bheigeir and the Paps of Jura, there are a mix of holes in the dunes by the edge of the sea and some amongst peaty, heathery land. A bracing round will be rewarded with a dram produced on this Malt Whiskey producing Mecca.

^ The Machrie | Photo credit Another Place, The Machrie / photographer Kevin Murray

For both golf and sailing, Scotland is a bit special with some of the most dramatic sailing and golfing to be had on the planet. Whilst we can’t guarantee wall to wall sunshine, you can be certain of a wide variety of weather here and some challenging sailing and play.

The light and dramatic sea and landscapes make the place like nowhere else in the world, and so Iain very much looks forward to indulging his passion for sailing with his Swan, as well as the opportunity to play at some of the most exciting and dramatic links on the planet, and to sampling some very fine malts on the way.

Here we have but touched the surface of the possibilities and there are other favourite links and many other ports, that we have left un-recorded in this piece. If you’re fond of sailing or golfing, and decide to try out Scotland, Iain will see you there!

Sailing Noonmark VI | Sailing Holidays

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