Autumn Newsletter
Captain's Autumn Newsletter
The Machrihanish Golf Club - Autumn Newsletter
August 2025
Dear Members,
As the summer season draws to a close, we would like to update you on recent activity at the club and share some exciting developments both on and off the course.
Visitor Numbers & Competitions
Visitor numbers have remained strong throughout the summer, and our open competitions have been extremely well supported, in many cases fully subscribed. While this footfall has placed extra wear on the course, it has stood up well and continues to receive very positive feedback from members and visitors alike.
All of these competitions and visitors require a substantial amount of background work. I’d like to recognise and thank Alison and Rona in our office for the huge amount of work they do in the background, both administratively and organisationally. Also, thanks go to Jennie Dunn, our Club Professional, and her staff for the warm welcome they provide, along with their efforts in competition administration, results checking, and processing.
Hospitality Update
The restaurant and bar have enjoyed a busy summer, and our thanks go to Chris and the kitchen team, along with Michelle and the front-of-house staff, for their excellent work in keeping up with demand during peak season.
Recent Staff Changes
As our summer seasonal staff return to university, we thank Hannah, Iona, Calum, and Caitlin for their contribution over the past months and hope to see them again next year. A huge welcome back to Emma, who has returned part-time after her maternity leave. We are also glad to have Annie working with us over the summer during her school holidays, and we are hopeful she will remain with us on a part-time basis over the off-season. Going forward, we welcome Niamh and Teigan, who will be helping out front of house. We are also sad to be saying goodbye to Aimee, who has been training as an assistant chef in the kitchen. Mary Ann is also leaving us from her front-of-house role, her experience, friendly welcome, and manner will be greatly missed.
Hospitality Manager Recruitment
We received a strong response to our recent advertisement, with six phone interviews followed by three invitations to interview at the club. The successful candidate has been offered the role, and the only barrier now is securing suitable accommodation for their family. If any member is aware of a newly available three-bedroom property for rent or purchase, please contact the office so we can pass on the details.
Dates for Your Diary
Our Christmas Dinner Dance will take place on 13th December, with music provided by Fling after their fantastic performance last year. Full details, including the menu, price, and booking arrangements, will be posted on social media soon. Our Christmas menu will also be published in the coming weeks to allow advance bookings.
Supporting the Clubhouse in the Off-Season
As we move into the off-season for golf, this is the most challenging period for our bar and restaurant revenue. We encourage all members to support this great facility whenever possible, whether that’s bringing friends for coffee, breakfast or lunch, or enjoying dinner at the weekend. We’ll also be featuring special theme menus over the coming months, so please watch out for posts on our social media channels.
Revised Autumn/Winter Opening Hours
From Monday 29th September, the restaurant and bar will operate under adjusted hours:
• Open from 9.00am each day
• Monday to Wednesday – Last orders to kitchen 3.00pm; last orders to bar 7.00pm
• Thursday to Sunday – Last orders to kitchen 7.30pm; last orders to bar 10.00pm
Ladies Clubhouse Renovation
All systems are go! We have just been notified that work on the Ladies Clubhouse will commence on 15th September. The project is scheduled to take 44 weeks, which gives an estimated completion date in the second half of 2026. Everyone will be looking forward to seeing this project develop over the coming months.
A huge thank you to Dennis Paustenbach for the passion he has shown in driving this restoration project forward, as well as for the substantial capital contribution he has made to help get this important project off the ground.
As a result of the work starting, we will lose access to the section of the car park behind the Ladies Clubhouse. On busy days, when this additional space would normally be required, Machrihanish Dunes have kindly agreed to let us use the area to the rear of the Ugadale Hotel, with path access available on their side of the dividing wall.
Course Agronomy Update
In August, Robert Patterson of Grassman Turf Solutions visited the club to review course conditions and make recommendations for ongoing improvement. His overall assessment was very positive – our course is in excellent health, and Craig and his team deserve great credit for their efforts. That said, Robert identified some areas where relatively small changes will deliver a big impact, particularly in strengthening turf through the winter and ensuring smoother, firmer surfaces in early spring.
Key Recommendations:
• Greens – A new winter nutrition programme will strengthen the turf when growth is slow, ensuring healthier and denser grass as we move into spring. This will be combined with regular aeration and sand topdressing to reduce softness and firm up the putting surfaces. A specific leatherjacket control treatment will also be applied in October to protect against pest damage.
• Surrounds & Approaches – These areas will be managed more closely in line with the greens, with lower mowing heights, more regular verticutting and topdressing, and reseeding with finer grasses. This will provide a smoother transition from fairway to green and improve both presentation and playability for the running game.
• Tees – Aeration and heavy sand topdressing will be carried out to firm the teeing surfaces, while stress-control fertiliser will help recovery from divots.
• Fairways – Grass cover is strong, but Robert has recommended ongoing weed control, thatch management, and light winter nutrition to discourage worm casts and keep colour. Our new grass blower will also improve presentation by removing clippings and debris after mowing, reducing thatch and limiting weed spread.
• Bunkers – A four-year rolling programme will see 25% of bunkers rebuilt each year to maintain their quality.
• Staffing Recommendation – Robert advised increasing the greenkeeping team to ensure enough hours for detail work on fine turf areas. Recruitment is currently in process to restore staff numbers to 7, bringing us back to the full complement employed in 2024, and this aligns with Robert’s recommendation.
Progress Already Made in the Last Month:
• New verti-cut reels installed and used on aprons and greens to refine surfaces.
• Fertiliser and nutrition treatments ordered and applied under the new programme.
• A powerful Toro grass blower purchased and in use on fairways and semi-rough.
• Leatherjacket treatment ordered and scheduled for October.
Going Forward:
Robert will return in spring 2026 to review progress, adjust mowing lines on approaches, and fine-tune the summer programme. With these improvements, we expect firmer, more consistent surfaces earlier in the season, smoother transitions around greens, and an overall uplift in presentation.
Greenkeeping Staff Development:
Robert has also offered to arrange work placements for our junior greenkeeping staff at some of Scotland’s most high-profile links courses. This will be a valuable opportunity for them to build knowledge, gain experience from world-class venues, and bring fresh ideas back to Machrihanish – a real asset for both the team and the club.
Pans Course Update
The Pans Course continues to receive excellent feedback for its playing condition throughout the season.
Our replacement for our storm-damaged shelter on the first tee is nearing completion. Once in place, it will highlight the Pans Course starting position and enhance its aesthetic appeal, improving both the presentation and experience for players.
Upcoming Events
This weekend we are delighted to welcome the Shepherd’s Cross members and guests, who will be playing on both Friday and Sunday mornings. With 36 participants, this is the first year that Machrihanish Dunes have recruited a strong contingent into their Shepherd’s Cross Club, and we look forward to supporting this growth in future years.
Next weekend we host the annual McFadyen’s AM-AM, our final open competition of the season. We thank McFadyen’s Construction for their ongoing support and sponsorship throughout the year, and we look forward to another excellent day of golf to close out the open calendar.
The annual club prize giving will be held on Saturday 18th October, time to be confirmed.
Sponsor Acknowledgements:
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our local sponsors for their support throughout the season. In particular, Springbank Distillery have provided consistent support and generously contributed prizes for all our open competitions – your backing is very much appreciated by both members and visitors alike.
Thank you all for your continued support of the club. We hope you enjoy the remainder of the season and the excellent condition of the course as we head into autumn.
Malcolm Stalker
Captain
The Machrihanish Golf Club
August 2025
Dear Members,
As the summer season draws to a close, we would like to update you on recent activity at the club and share some exciting developments both on and off the course.
Visitor Numbers & Competitions
Visitor numbers have remained strong throughout the summer, and our open competitions have been extremely well supported, in many cases fully subscribed. While this footfall has placed extra wear on the course, it has stood up well and continues to receive very positive feedback from members and visitors alike.
All of these competitions and visitors require a substantial amount of background work. I’d like to recognise and thank Alison and Rona in our office for the huge amount of work they do in the background, both administratively and organisationally. Also, thanks go to Jennie Dunn, our Club Professional, and her staff for the warm welcome they provide, along with their efforts in competition administration, results checking, and processing.
Hospitality Update
The restaurant and bar have enjoyed a busy summer, and our thanks go to Chris and the kitchen team, along with Michelle and the front-of-house staff, for their excellent work in keeping up with demand during peak season.
Recent Staff Changes
As our summer seasonal staff return to university, we thank Hannah, Iona, Calum, and Caitlin for their contribution over the past months and hope to see them again next year. A huge welcome back to Emma, who has returned part-time after her maternity leave. We are also glad to have Annie working with us over the summer during her school holidays, and we are hopeful she will remain with us on a part-time basis over the off-season. Going forward, we welcome Niamh and Teigan, who will be helping out front of house. We are also sad to be saying goodbye to Aimee, who has been training as an assistant chef in the kitchen. Mary Ann is also leaving us from her front-of-house role, her experience, friendly welcome, and manner will be greatly missed.
Hospitality Manager Recruitment
We received a strong response to our recent advertisement, with six phone interviews followed by three invitations to interview at the club. The successful candidate has been offered the role, and the only barrier now is securing suitable accommodation for their family. If any member is aware of a newly available three-bedroom property for rent or purchase, please contact the office so we can pass on the details.
Dates for Your Diary
Our Christmas Dinner Dance will take place on 13th December, with music provided by Fling after their fantastic performance last year. Full details, including the menu, price, and booking arrangements, will be posted on social media soon. Our Christmas menu will also be published in the coming weeks to allow advance bookings.
Supporting the Clubhouse in the Off-Season
As we move into the off-season for golf, this is the most challenging period for our bar and restaurant revenue. We encourage all members to support this great facility whenever possible, whether that’s bringing friends for coffee, breakfast or lunch, or enjoying dinner at the weekend. We’ll also be featuring special theme menus over the coming months, so please watch out for posts on our social media channels.
Revised Autumn/Winter Opening Hours
From Monday 29th September, the restaurant and bar will operate under adjusted hours:
• Open from 9.00am each day
• Monday to Wednesday – Last orders to kitchen 3.00pm; last orders to bar 7.00pm
• Thursday to Sunday – Last orders to kitchen 7.30pm; last orders to bar 10.00pm
Ladies Clubhouse Renovation
All systems are go! We have just been notified that work on the Ladies Clubhouse will commence on 15th September. The project is scheduled to take 44 weeks, which gives an estimated completion date in the second half of 2026. Everyone will be looking forward to seeing this project develop over the coming months.
A huge thank you to Dennis Paustenbach for the passion he has shown in driving this restoration project forward, as well as for the substantial capital contribution he has made to help get this important project off the ground.
As a result of the work starting, we will lose access to the section of the car park behind the Ladies Clubhouse. On busy days, when this additional space would normally be required, Machrihanish Dunes have kindly agreed to let us use the area to the rear of the Ugadale Hotel, with path access available on their side of the dividing wall.
Course Agronomy Update
In August, Robert Patterson of Grassman Turf Solutions visited the club to review course conditions and make recommendations for ongoing improvement. His overall assessment was very positive – our course is in excellent health, and Craig and his team deserve great credit for their efforts. That said, Robert identified some areas where relatively small changes will deliver a big impact, particularly in strengthening turf through the winter and ensuring smoother, firmer surfaces in early spring.
Key Recommendations:
• Greens – A new winter nutrition programme will strengthen the turf when growth is slow, ensuring healthier and denser grass as we move into spring. This will be combined with regular aeration and sand topdressing to reduce softness and firm up the putting surfaces. A specific leatherjacket control treatment will also be applied in October to protect against pest damage.
• Surrounds & Approaches – These areas will be managed more closely in line with the greens, with lower mowing heights, more regular verticutting and topdressing, and reseeding with finer grasses. This will provide a smoother transition from fairway to green and improve both presentation and playability for the running game.
• Tees – Aeration and heavy sand topdressing will be carried out to firm the teeing surfaces, while stress-control fertiliser will help recovery from divots.
• Fairways – Grass cover is strong, but Robert has recommended ongoing weed control, thatch management, and light winter nutrition to discourage worm casts and keep colour. Our new grass blower will also improve presentation by removing clippings and debris after mowing, reducing thatch and limiting weed spread.
• Bunkers – A four-year rolling programme will see 25% of bunkers rebuilt each year to maintain their quality.
• Staffing Recommendation – Robert advised increasing the greenkeeping team to ensure enough hours for detail work on fine turf areas. Recruitment is currently in process to restore staff numbers to 7, bringing us back to the full complement employed in 2024, and this aligns with Robert’s recommendation.
Progress Already Made in the Last Month:
• New verti-cut reels installed and used on aprons and greens to refine surfaces.
• Fertiliser and nutrition treatments ordered and applied under the new programme.
• A powerful Toro grass blower purchased and in use on fairways and semi-rough.
• Leatherjacket treatment ordered and scheduled for October.
Going Forward:
Robert will return in spring 2026 to review progress, adjust mowing lines on approaches, and fine-tune the summer programme. With these improvements, we expect firmer, more consistent surfaces earlier in the season, smoother transitions around greens, and an overall uplift in presentation.
Greenkeeping Staff Development:
Robert has also offered to arrange work placements for our junior greenkeeping staff at some of Scotland’s most high-profile links courses. This will be a valuable opportunity for them to build knowledge, gain experience from world-class venues, and bring fresh ideas back to Machrihanish – a real asset for both the team and the club.
Pans Course Update
The Pans Course continues to receive excellent feedback for its playing condition throughout the season.
Our replacement for our storm-damaged shelter on the first tee is nearing completion. Once in place, it will highlight the Pans Course starting position and enhance its aesthetic appeal, improving both the presentation and experience for players.
Upcoming Events
This weekend we are delighted to welcome the Shepherd’s Cross members and guests, who will be playing on both Friday and Sunday mornings. With 36 participants, this is the first year that Machrihanish Dunes have recruited a strong contingent into their Shepherd’s Cross Club, and we look forward to supporting this growth in future years.
Next weekend we host the annual McFadyen’s AM-AM, our final open competition of the season. We thank McFadyen’s Construction for their ongoing support and sponsorship throughout the year, and we look forward to another excellent day of golf to close out the open calendar.
The annual club prize giving will be held on Saturday 18th October, time to be confirmed.
Sponsor Acknowledgements:
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our local sponsors for their support throughout the season. In particular, Springbank Distillery have provided consistent support and generously contributed prizes for all our open competitions – your backing is very much appreciated by both members and visitors alike.
Thank you all for your continued support of the club. We hope you enjoy the remainder of the season and the excellent condition of the course as we head into autumn.
Malcolm Stalker
Captain
The Machrihanish Golf Club