The challenges of having a golf course by the sea!

The first tee under a foot of seaweed

The last 12 months have seen Machrie Bay Golf Course face many challenges all of which, David the Head Greenkeeper has taken in his stride.  The recent storms have yet again wreaked havoc, fortunately this time, limiting the damage to the first fairway.

A new water feature!

Although this cannot be compared with damage to peoples homes, the damage will take many months of hard work for David and his new apprentice Jamie to sort out. But first is the mammoth task of removing the debris of seaweed, sand, stone slabs and even large lumps of metal.  The snow shovels are well suited to the task and some of the seaweed has been ferried to gardens as it makes great fertiliser.

Large stones, chunks of concrete and sand on the fairway

Although the first tee may be out of action the course remains open and we have a very special offer available. Play golf, have soup and a toastie (or sandwich) and watch the clear up - all for £10.  The tearoom is usually open between 11am - 3pm (ish).

Snow shovels are perfect for lifting the seaweed.

There are plans to move the first tee to a more robust location in the future!

Large red metal tail gate is amongst the debris.

Images copyright of Arran in Focus

Machrie Bay Golf Course - A challenging year!

1st Fairway underwater - Dec 2013 (snow on hills in the background)

How the fairway should look!

It seems fitting to be very near the end of the year and Machrie Bay Golf course, part of Dougarie Estate, is in the forefront of our minds again. To say it has been a challenging year would be an understatement, most of the pressure being bourne by David the Greenkeeper. The year started with fire and ended in flood, with most other extreems inbetween!

1st fairway with sea & debris - Dec 2013

It has to be said that throughout the year David has done a tremedous job keeping the greens in fabulous condition despite having no greenkeepers sheds.  And he is currently mopping up after the latest storm which breached the sea wall and flooded the first tee, leaving behing piles of seaweed and debris.  Brodick Golf Course suffered a similar fate.  However visiting golfers should not be put off as we have 7 very varied courses on the island and a driving range.  Golf on Arran website has all the details.

The tearoom opens under new management with views across the fairway to the sea.

The snow melts slowly under blue skies - April 2013

Fortunately, the new shed is now up and running so tools are near to hand and the tearoom has stayed open for the winter, providing hot soup, sandwiches and huge mugs of tea (or even better steaming hot chocolate). After the snow earlier in the year the summer proved to be a scorcher and was a well needed break from the freak weather.

The snow arrived - March 2013

Experience has shown that the greens survive better if the snow is left undisturbed

Currently we have a special offer on for the quiet winter months where you can play a round of golf and get soup and a sandwich (or toatie) at the tearoom for £10.  

Greenkeepers shed burnt down - January 2013

Tee and Tea time (not forgetting the cake)...

Lunch on the decking

It has to be said that 2013 is going to be a year that we remember and we are only just over 3 months in. The opening of the tearoom at Machrie Golf Course, is as much a harbinger of spring and the coming summer as the daffodils; so 3 foot of snow, no power or telephones was not the start they wanted.

Clearing the snow away from the tearoom and creating a parking area

Machrie Bay Tearoom is under new management this year and Claire has given it a lovely makeover with pretty tablecloths and a bright atmosphere.

Cooked to order

But let’s be honest it’s the food that counts and the fresh menu, using local produce and homemade food where possible is all cooked or prepared to order.  This may mean a little wait, but it’s worth it.

Just a selection of the cakes on offer

 The large selection of cakes, scones and tray bakes can make for difficult choices (or several visits) and these can be washed down with speciality Twinings teas, Lavazza coffee or a selection of soft drinks including Fetimans pop (proper old fashioned stuff)! But one of the favourites is the hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows on top.

Yummy hot chocolate

Since the tearoom has been open, every day has been bright and sunny so sitting out on the deck with the fabulous views over to Kintyre, makes for a perfect rest stop.

Fabulous views over to Kintyre

The golf course is now fully operational, with the snow cleared and we welcome everyone from beginners to experienced players.  Well behaved dogs can even walk around with their owners, but they are not allowed to steal opponents golf balls.

The snow has now cleared

Like the tearoom the course didn’t have a good start when we lost all the greenkeepers machinery in a fire at the beginning of the year but thats another story (read it here).

Open for business

Arran Dairy Icecream is also available

Fentimans Pop

 



Photographs courtesy of Arran in Focus.






Dougarie snowbound

Dougarie under snow

The west side of the Island is under snow and like the rest of Arran and Kintyre has now power.  Also there are no phone lines and the water ran very low, until we managed to get a generator attached to the pump. The snow ploughs didn't reach us until late on Sunday and we were very isolated.

The Boathouse

The national news has done a good job in making everyone aware of what's going on, and the problems on the mainland,,,, however, news trickles in slowly here as we have no means of accessing the information.

Digging out road and sub stations

We can clearly see our own power lines are down and the telephone lines are strewn across the road, encased in ice, the telegraph poles are snapped like matchsticks.

The tractor cleared the drive, watch out for snow falls off the roof!

Fortunately as we have a tractor we were able to clear the drive, so at least when the snow plough arrived we could get onto the road - not that we could really go anywhere, but the Kinloch Hotel was the designated refuge point.

Snow on the beach, snowmen not sand castles!

But there really is too much to do, the electric board need access with very wide diggers onto the hills and that means either taking down walls / fences or trying to find a route round.  Sounds easy, but when everything is covered in 6 - 10 foot of snow, finding a gate way can be a little challenging.

Now, where did that golf ball go?

Needless to say, everyone is frozen and managing as best they can. Convoys of emergency electric board personal are hives of activity, and helicopters keep buzzing by.  I even heard they brought supplies in by boat to Lochranza.

House of Machrie looking fabulous - but not accessible!

Well its strange and challenging times, and we hope everyone else is surviving.

House of Machrie

The weight of the snow has forced doors open.

The drifts are only 3 foot deep here.

No access to the barn

Machrie Farm Cottage - exhausted after walking up to see this!

Pretty - lets hope it just melts away with no damage

Bridge and stepping stones

Clear blue seas and white... snow!

Photographs courtesy of Arran in Focus
( Posted remotely from Lamlash)