When getting to a golf course is as challenging as travelling to Islay, expectations – or rather, hopes – are bound to be high. That was certainly the case for me. I was therefore all the more delighted that ‘The Machrie Golf Links’ fully lived up to these high expectations. Designed by Willie Campbell in 1891 and completely redesigned by DJ Russell between 2013 and 2018, the course is a real gem. Time and again, golfers are treated to wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean, and even on the holes that don’t face the sea, the surrounding landscape is simply stunning. The rollercoaster fairways are a thrilling, yet always fair, ride. A fantastic course!