We have a very early start this morning, heading up the dong to Kennacraig to catch the morning ferry over to Islay (eye-la)………..Sibylle is on time with bags packed and instant coffee in hand so we hit the road right away. If memory serves me correct, the ferries always serve up a pretty mean breakfast, so looking forward to that, as there wasn’t even a muffin to be had at the hotel. Cosgroves have decided to head back to the mainland, and will catch a flight home in the next couple of days. The X5 is just a treat to drive, and as much as I would like to let her loose on this curvy coastal road, I know better……punched in the cruise and just let it happen………beautiful drive up the coast.
We arrive ahead of schedule, and the ferry steams in right on time a half hour later to pick us up. The ferry is full of commercial vehicles heading over to the island to deliver product or provide services……I mean it is soup to nuts……everything you can imagine is on board, and being the first ferry of the day, most of these guys will come over, do their work, and catch a late ferry back home that evening. Numerous workers choose to catch an extra hours sleep before starting their day, and take up space on the benches all over the ferry. I am more interested in that breakfast thing, so once we are loaded, I am headed a few decks up to the galley where my Full Scottish Breakfast awaits. Yeah baby…..wonderful
The goats and I have a chance to discuss the Machrihanish experience, and I guess the consensus is that although the golf courses were great, the infrastructure supporting our stay was sorely lacking. Having travelled to many similar locations……we have all been to those small towns with big golf courses……it is easy to see what this could be if everything was working. All the pieces were there, but they didn’t have the staff to properly operate it all. Too bad. Definitely worth a visit to play the courses. Maybe the helicopter guys were smarter after all.
The ferry ride will take about 90 minutes and will arrive at Port Ellen on Islay. I am cruising around the ship and run into a nice fella, Jimmy, dressed in golf clothes, and we start to chat. It turns out he works at our destination……Another Place, The Machrie. He works in the pro shop, and comes over from the mainland and does a 3-4 day stint before heading home for days off. I gained a lot of info from him, and it sounds like we are in for a good one……but……better still he gave me the low down on Ardfin, Isle of Jura. owned by Australian billionaire and former hedge fund manager Greg Coffey (?), he bought the Ardfin Estate (over 10,000 acres) in 2010 for 3.5 million pounds, built a golf course that is apparently just outstanding, and although the public can play the course, it is extremely hard to get on, and costs a bundle. Jutta looked it up a while ago when we were planning Islay, and discovered that if you book the castle onsite, the course is yours exclusively to play. Only catch is you have to book the whole place……13 rooms…….minimum 2 night stay…….for a mere $50,000/night……..food and bev extra. You have to check this out www.ardfin.com We are thinking about taking the ferry over to Jura and just kinda showing up……take our chances…….you never know! Jimmy also fills me in on the distilleries on Islay…….more on that later, but believe me I have already done my research.
The hotel is just up the road from town and sits on a beautiful stretch of coastal property, separated from the sea by……you guessed it…..the golf course. We are early, so the rooms will be a while……..plenty of time to walk the hotel and grounds and lots to see. The art in the hotel is both diverse and stunning, the furniture is beautiful, and the golf course looks amazing. Again……check it out online……way too much for me to write about…..another.place › the-machrie Rooms still not ready…….crap……I challenge the Goats to a putting contest. We passed your normal looking putting green on the way in, but we discover a second putting option……..a full 18 hole course, with holes around 35 yards long. What a blast. That kills enough time, and Jutta and I are shown to a lovely junior suite style room, but it is overlooking the freakin’ parking lot…….with some discussion we find we can downsize our room and have a view of the golf course and the sea…….done, and couldn’t be happier.
We find an extra large lounge area between our room and the dining room, and this is where we will hang pre-dinner for our G&T’s…….fantastic room with a wall of windows looking out on the 18th green at one end……..multiple seating options, but we find a big comfy couch that we will own for the next few days. The dining experience is perfect……beautiful room with big views, great service, and a diverse menu from which our choices were beautifully prepared. Tee times are confirmed for tomorrow morning……..can’t wait.
Leave a Reply