Scotland’s Wild West
This June, the Broken Tee Society travels to the far west of Scotland, out where the Kintyre Peninsula reaches down toward Ireland and the links have been left much as they were found. For seven nights we’ll move between three home bases: the cottages at The Ugadale in Machrihanish, Another Place at The Machrie on Islay, and The Caledonian in Edinburgh. Eight rounds are on the schedule across six courses, from 12-hole Shiskine on Arran to Old Tom Morris’s Machrihanish, where Jack Nicklaus found the best opening hole in the world, along with David McLay Kidd’s Machrihanish Dunes, Dunaverty, Carradale and two loops at The Machrie.
The highlight of the trip comes June 21, when the summer solstice hands us 36 holes at Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes. Opening night brings pipes and a dressing of the haggis, one evening takes us into Campbeltown’s old bond warehouse for a whisky tasting and roast, and Islay’s distilleries sit a short drive from the hotel. Private coach, ferries, lodging and tee times are handled, so all that’s left is to pack your clubs and get yourself to Edinburgh.
The Scottish Experience
June 20
Arrival in Edinburgh; transfer to Machrihanish; en-route round at Shiskine (Isle of Arran)
June 21
Summer Solstice 36: Machrihanish GC (AM) + Machrihanish Dunes (PM)
June 22
Round at Dunaverty
June 23
Second round at Machrihanish GC
June 24
Travel to Isle of Islay; en-route round at Carradale
June 25
36 holes on-site at The Machrie
June 26
Travel by ferry to explore Edinburgh
Registration
Members can register between 9/16-9/24
Field Size: 22
Pricing
$7,995 Single Occupancy / $6,995 Double Occupancy
If selected, a 50% deposit is due immediately to secure your spot. The remaining balance is due April 8.
Included in this experience
- Seven night of luxury accommodations:
- The Cottages at Machrihanish Dunes
- Another Place – The Machrie
- The Caledonian
- Eight rounds of golf across six world-class links
- Welcome & closing night dinners
- Luxury transportation to/from airport and golf courses
- Gifts from TGJ & partners
Trip Itinerary
Sunday, June 20
Arrival & Shiskine
Land in Edinburgh in the morning and meet the coach for the ride west. Before Kintyre, we stop on the Isle of Arran to play Shiskine, a 12-hole links at Blackwaterfoot that has been in the ground since 1896. We’ll reach The Ugadale that evening for a welcome dinner, bagpipes and the dressing of the haggis.
Monday, June 21
Solstice 36
It’s a Broken Tee Society tradition to play 36 on the longest day of the year. We start on the Machrihanish championship links, where Old Tom Morris set the first tee between the pro shop and the Atlantic and asked for a drive across the beach. In the afternoon we head over to Machrihanish Dunes, the David McLay Kidd course laid across a Site of Special Scientific Interest, where the routing had to be found rather than built. The sun won’t set until after 10 p.m., so we won’t be running out of daylight anytime soon.
Tuesday, June 22
Dunaverty
After a marathon on Monday, we slow down a bit with a short run south to Dunaverty, on the coast at the bottom of the peninsula. The card reads under 4,800 yards with seven par 3s, but this course is no slouch. The wind and firm greens will still test your wits on this wildly fun Scottish layout.
Wednesday, June 23
Back to Machrihanish
Back to the championship links for a second round. Old Tom’s front nine runs out along the shore and draws most of the praise, though J.H. Taylor and Sir Guy Campbell both had a hand in the course over the following decades. Campbeltown sits a few miles up the road to fill the afternoon.
Thursday, June 24
Carradale & the Crossing to Islay
We head north up the coast and make a pit stop at Carradale for nine holes of hillside golf with no bunkers anywhere on the property, an honesty box by the first, and the Kilbrannan Sound and mountains of Arran in the background. We’ll then catch the ferry to Islay and settle into Another Place, The Machrie, home for the next two nights.
Friday, June 25
36 at The Machrie
Willie Campbell spent two days on this ground in 1891 and decided the place was made for golf. His routing crossed the dunes instead of following them and left golfers with 17 blind shots. DJ Russell’s five-year rebuild opened the course up while keeping seven of the original greens. We’ll play it twice, with the island’s distilleries close at hand for whatever’s left of the evening.
Saturday, June 26
Edinburgh
A travel day east, back across the water and on to The Caledonian at the west end of Princes Street. The evening is open in the city, with the Old Town and the castle a short walk from the hotel.
Sunday, June 27
Departure
Breakfast at the hotel, then transfers to Edinburgh Airport for flights home.
How to Register
- You must be an active TGJ member to register for and attend the Scotland Machrihanish event. Not yet a TGJ member? Join here.
- TGJ members can place reservation requests from September 16 at 9 a.m. ET to September 24 at 3 p.m. ET.
- You may request up to four spots.
- Singles are encouraged to place reservation requests.
- Entries must be paid within 24 hours of receiving the notification email to avoid forfeiting your position in the event.
- To secure your spot if selected, a 50% deposit is required at the time of registration. The remaining balance (50%) will be due by April 8. You’ll receive a reminder email with a secure link to complete your final payment ahead of the due date.
Fly into Edinburgh
Book your own flights to/from Edinburgh Airport and we’ll pick you up
Premium Accommodations
Unwind in three uniquely Scottish hotels across the trip
An additional thank you to our event partners:
FAQs
How do I register?
- Registration opens September 16 at 9:00 AM ET and closes September 24 at 9:00 AM ET. The field is selected by random drawing.
- You must be a TGJ member and logged into golfersjournal.com to submit a reservation request. You can request up to four spots per entry.
- If selected, you’ll have 24 hours to complete payment. If you’re not selected, you’re automatically added to the waitlist. There is no set order, and spots are filled at random.
- Want to get notified about your entry? Sign up for text alerts HERE.
Who can attend?
- This event is open to TGJ members only.
- All guests in your group must also be active TGJ members. Spouses are not required to be members.
- Singles are welcome, and roughly half of our attendees come solo. All skill levels are encouraged to register.
What should I know before I arrive?
- The trip will begin by flying in to the Edinburgh Airport.
- Courses will be walking only.
- Caddies will be available upon request, pricing for caddies is between £125-£150 at each course.
- The dress code for each round is private club attire. No denim, no sandals, and shirts must be tucked in. Hats are not permitted inside the clubhouse. Jackets are not required at dinners.
How is the event played?
- Individual Cumulative BTS Modified Stableford; multi-venue tee times
What does my entry fee cover?
- Included:
- 7-night hotel stay across 3 destinations
- 8 rounds of golf across 6 venues
- Luxury transportation & private driver
- Off-course activities: bagpipes, “Dressing the Haggis” ceremony, opening dinner, whiskey tasting & roast
- Ferry transportation
- Opening & closing night dinners
- Not included:
- Gratuity for bus driver and caddies
- Caddie and cart fees
- International airfare (guests arrange their own)
- Meals beyond daily breakfast and the opening & closing night dinners
What if I need to cancel?
- Pricing is per person. Cancellations made more than 30 days before the event are subject to a 10% processing fee.
- Cancellations made within 30 days are subject to a 15% fee and will only be refunded once the spot is filled.
- If the spot cannot be filled, no refund will be issued.
- Please email events@golfersjournal.com to request a cancellation.
