In a bold move that could reshape the golfing landscape in Scotland, Tommy Southworth, owner of Machrihanish Dunes, has revealed an ambitious £100 million ($131 million) expansion plan aimed at turning the remote resort on Scotland’s west coast into one of the world’s premier golf destinations. The project, which Southworth hopes will rival iconic locations like Bandon Dunes in Oregon, promises to bring more golfers to what he calls “the end of the Earth.”
Southworth, who took over his family’s golf development company five years ago, recently secured planning permission for the expansion. The plan includes a second links course, expanded accommodation options, and the addition of state-of-the-art training facilities, which Southworth believes will draw golfers from across the globe. Work on the new course is slated to begin next year, with Southworth currently in discussions with potential partners to secure funding and hospitality expertise, and aiming to make an announcement by March.
Since its opening in 2009, Machrihanish Dunes has operated on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Kintyre. Despite its stunning natural beauty and challenging course layout, the resort has faced challenges due to its remote location. “One of the downsides of Machrihanish is it’s hard to get to,” Southworth admitted in a recent interview with The Herald. “It’s sort of at the end of the Earth, and that’s its greatest blessing and its greatest curse.”
This isolation, however, is also what makes the location special. Southworth believes the resort can tap into a growing trend in the golfing world—destinations so unique that the journey itself becomes part of the allure. He cites Bandon Dunes, which became a global golfing mecca despite its remote location, as the model for Machrihanish’s transformation. “If you could create this incredible golfing destination at the end of the Earth that had enough golf courses and an incredible, authentic golf experience, you could get people to go to the end of the Earth and stay there for three, five, or even seven nights,” Southworth explained.
The existing 7,000-yard, par-72 course at Machrihanish Dunes is already a challenge for golfers, but the resort currently operates well below its capacity, hosting only 5,000 rounds annually. The expansion aims to significantly increase that number by offering a more complete golf experience. The development will include a third luxury hotel, a new 35,000-square-foot clubhouse, 50 additional seaside golf cottages, and one of the largest golf teaching facilities in the UK, designed to attract both casual visitors and serious golfers looking to improve their game.
Southworth is particularly excited about the new training resources, which he believes will be a major draw. “We’ve seen that model work in the U.S. quite a lot, where incredible teaching facilities are the draw in and of themselves. Folks will come in to work on their golf game, as opposed to just using it as a warmup facility,” he said.
Beyond catering to everyday golfers, Southworth hinted that the expansion could eventually position Machrihanish Dunes to host major golf events. “We’ve designed everything to potentially host large events and make sure we have facilities to cater to the world’s best golfers,” he said, adding that while it’s still early days, “hosting a proper golf event is certainly on our roadmap.”
The transformation of Machrihanish Dunes is set to dramatically increase the resort’s capacity and appeal, and the economic impact on the local community is expected to be substantial. Currently, the Village at Machrihanish Dunes employs 77 year-round staff and an additional 30 seasonal workers. Once the expansion is complete, these numbers are expected to rise to 90 permanent employees and 50 seasonal staff, further boosting the region’s economy.
Machrihanish Dunes is already home to two historic hotels, five restaurants and pubs, and eight seaside cottages. The new facilities, along with the second links course, are designed to attract international visitors who are willing to make the journey for a truly unique golfing experience. Southworth believes that with enough critical mass, the resort will become a long-term destination for golfers, akin to Bandon Dunes, where the remote location is part of the magic.
For Southworth, the vision is clear: build a world-class golf destination that capitalizes on the area’s natural beauty, isolation, and rich golfing tradition. “The journey it takes to get here is absolutely worth it,” he said. And with the £100 million expansion, Machrihanish Dunes is well on its way to becoming a must-visit spot for golfers around the world, offering a combination of world-class courses, luxurious accommodations, and cutting-edge training facilities.
As work gets underway in the coming year, all eyes will be on this remote corner of Scotland to see if Southworth’s grand vision for Machrihanish Dunes can become a reality—and whether it will indeed join the ranks of the world’s elite golf destinations. For now, anticipation is building, and the golfing world is watching closely.
