GOOD NEWS FROM MACHRIHANISH: UGADALE HOTEL RE-OPENS

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
By Martin Kaufmann
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Machrihanish Golf Club always has been a somewhat underappreciated treasure of Scottish golf. There are two obvious reasons why that would be the case: Machrihanish, on the Mull of Kintyre in southwest Scotland, is remote and difficult to reach; and when you finally arrive, there historically has been a shortage of good lodging at the course or in nearby Campbeltown.
Machrihanish is still difficult to reach, but a big step recently was made to solve the accommodation problem. Southworth Development last week opened the renovated Ugadale Hotel, which sits across the road from the Machrihanish clubhouse.
The Ugadale has 22 rooms and suites, ranging from 267-556 square feet. The building is more than 100 years old and had been in a state of disrepair until Southworth renovated it.
Lodging has been a particularly pressing issue since the 2009 opening of the neighbouring course, Machrihanish Dunes. The Ugadale Hotel complements the Ugadale Cottages, eight two-bedroom golf cottages built by Southworth. Twenty-four additional cottages are planned.
In addition, Southworth is redeveloping The Royal Hotel in Campbeltown, six miles from the golf courses. The Royal, which dates to 1907, will have 23 rooms when it reopens in May.
The Ugadale Hotel includes a spa and a private restaurant and bar called The Kintyre Club. Proceeds from Kintyre Club memberships are donated to local charities.
Southworth said that it has invested more than $30 million in the project to date.

Visit www.machrihanishdunes.com.