Golf course sale puts island to the fore

The Machrie Hotel and its golf links on Islay, which were in administration for seven months, have been bought by a company run by a former Downing Street aide and an ex-BBC chairman.

Machrie Golf LLP is a partnership established by Baroness Sue Nye, former director of government relations at 10 Downing Street, and her husband Gavyn Davies, chairman of Fulcrum Asset Management and BBC chairman between 2001 and 2004.

Lady Nye was Gordon Brown's former aide, whom he blamed for his encounter on the election trail with "bigoted woman" Gillian Duffy. She was made a life peer in last year.

Mr Davies also worked in Downing Street, being employed as an economist in 1974 and an economic policy adviser to the prime minister from 1976 to 1979.

The 16-bedroom hotel and landmark par 71 links were sold for an undisclosed sum. The asking price had fallen from 1.75 million to 895,000 recently.

The course, designed in 1891, is regarded as one of the top 100 in the world.

The sale was completed by Blair Nimmo and Tony Friar of KPMG, as joint administrators of the Machrie Hotel & Golf Links and its associated property company, Mendougal 21.

Mr Nimmo said: "Following a seven-month search for a buyer it is extremely satisfying to have concluded the sale.

"The Machrie is an internationally recognised golfing venue, and both the hotel and golf course are of significant importance to the local economy on Islay, and as such it is particularly pleasing to have achieved this sale which will hopefully ensure the future of this historic course."

It will be managed by G3k, whose chief executive officer is Stewart Smith, a Scottish golf professional for 28 years.

Mr Smith said: "The new owners recognise that the Machrie is an important part of Scotland's golfing heritage, and is crucial to Islay's economy.

"They intend to preserve the historic appeal of this great links course, while renovating the hotel and clubhouse buildings. It will become one of Scotland's prime golfing destinations."

Norman MacDonald, captain of Islay Golf Club, said he was delighted the sale had gone through. "I am confident that the future of Islay Golf Club is in safe hands," he said. "We look forward to working together with the new owners."

The sale was also welcomed by VisitScotland. James Lakie, golf PR executive, said: "This is clearly great news for tourism at a local level and creates huge opportunities for the economy.

"The Machrie is recognised around the world as one of Scotland's top golfing destinations.The course has a wealth of history and heritage attached to it. This can only be a positive for Scottish tourism as the course and hotel move forward and flourish."

The Machrie, a Gaelic word for links, was designed by Willie Campbell, who lost the Open Championship in 1886 by two strokes and later went to the United States, where he built the course at Brookline Country Club in Massachusetts.