Set against the dramatic backdrop of Machrihanish Bay on the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula, the Machrihanish Golf Club is a true links masterpiece.
A Top 100 UK course with a revered Old Tom Morris design, its Championship 18-hole course and adjacent 9-hole layout are steeped in tradition. The Club’s forward-thinking, biology-led greenkeeping approach is turning heads across the industry.
Head Greenkeeper Craig Barr has managed this remote west coast links for the past seven years with the help of a team of six. During this time, he has implemented an exclusive biology-based programme which has been developed in partnership with Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) and has been “a game changer.” Managed organically and with low inputs, he hopes to set the standard for sustainable links management.
Craig’s greenkeeping journey with biological products began at a neighbouring course, where he worked as the Assistant Head Greenkeeper. It was there that he first met Kerr Hunter from OAS and saw the potential of biology-based inputs.
“I’d already seen the good results using biological products”, Craig explains. “So, when I took over at Machrihanish, I knew I wanted to move away from traditional inputs. With more products being banned and growing environmental pressure, it felt like the right path. That said, I was a little nervous at first.”
Kerr supported Craig through every stage by creating a complete month-by-month programme tailored specifically for the site’s pure sand profile and harsh coastal conditions.
“Kerr was brilliant. I could call any time for advice or reassurance, and he was always there. Having that expert support gave me the confidence to push forward,” says Craig.
The Machrihanish’s programme centres on a core suite of OAS biological and organic solutions, including:
- Compost Tea - to enhance microbial diversity and soil life
- Green Circle - A microbial inoculant that energises the soil biome with beneficial fungi and bacteria
- Biotabs - for sustained microbial activity and rootzone resilience
- CMS Shoot - for plant available nutrients and biological stimulant
- Liquid Seaweed - for general plant health, root stimulation and microbial stimulant
- Organic 5-2-10 Granular Fertiliser - a slow-release, soil-friendly feed
“These products are incredibly easy to use. Honestly, it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” says Craig. “The greens are healthier; the results speak for themselves.”
The impact of the biological programme is clear, both above and below the surface.
- Deeper rooting: “The root mass under our greens is now easily six inches deeper than when we started,” says Craig.
- No disease: “We haven’t seen any disease on the greens for four years. I haven’t used any fungicide sprays at all. Usually, we’d expect issues around February or March, but there haven’t been any, which tells me the biology is doing its job.”
- Ease of use: “It’s a straightforward programme which is not overcomplicated, just good, solid greenkeeping.”
The Machrihanish site is typical of a pure links course with harsh winds, pure sand base, and unpredictable sea weather. For Craig, the key has been timing and soil-building. “You’ve got to check the weather before applying anything; it’s all about timing. The sand profile means you must build structure underneath the green to hold the products, but once the biology takes hold, it transforms the soil.”
Craig’s journey story shows that high-performance, low-input greenkeeping is possible and practical, even in the toughest conditions. “We’ve proven that a biology-based approach works even on remote, exposed Links like ours. It’s easy to manage, sustainable, and the course plays better than ever. I'd say for anyone considering the switch, go for it.”
