Isle of Islay · 3–4 days · Base: Port Ellen
The Isle of Islay group golf trip.
Groups pairing one serious links with the best whisky evenings in world golf. Base yourself in Port Ellen, play 2 courses over 3–4 days, and book the beds before the tee sheet — accommodation is what sells out first.
- Port Ellen
- Trip base
- 2 courses
- 3–4 days
- £15–£185
- Green fees per round
- Premium
- Budget tier
The rounds
2 courses from a Port Ellen base
£15–£185/round · Glasgow — Loganair to Islay, 35 min · or the A83 to Kennacraig for the 2 hr 15 min ferry
Group booking note
Islay has one golf course, so the itinerary is honest about it: play The Machrie twice. The blind 7th is an act of faith on day one and a plan on day two, and in a different wind the two rounds barely resemble each other. Book through the hotel beside the first tee, and book the CalMac car deck the moment the tee sheet is confirmed — vehicle space to Islay sells out well ahead in season, and Fèis Ìle, the island's whisky festival in the last week of May, books out beds, boats and hire cars months in advance. Gigha's community-owned nine is the warm-up on the way out: Tayinloan's ferry slip is twenty minutes down the A83 past the Kennacraig terminal, the crossing takes twenty minutes, and the first tee is half a mile's walk from the boat.
Where to stay
Base yourself in Port Ellen
Port Ellen is the base that makes the whole trip work without a designated driver: the ferry docks there, The Machrie is a 15-minute drive up the island, and the Kildalton three — Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg — are a walk along the coast road east of the village, so the tasting happens on foot. The premium option is The Machrie's own hotel beside the first tee; otherwise Port Ellen and Bowmore carry most of the island's hotels, guest houses and self-catering. Whatever you pick, book the beds and the boat together — Islay's bed stock is small, summer sailings fill first, and Fèis Ìle week empties the island of everything bookable.
Plan the ferry
Route planner by our travel sister site TripSCOT.
The Kennacraig–Port Ellen ferry: times, fares and booking the car deck →
Stays Nearby
Where to stay for the Isle of Islay trip
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Port Ellen. Tap any property to check rates.
Rates and availability via Stay22. We may earn a small commission if you book — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.
Around the golf in Isle of Islay
The rest days, the evenings and the non-golfers — from our sister sites, all within reach of Port Ellen.
Lagavulin Distillery
One bay east of the trip base — the walk from Port Ellen takes in Laphroaig first and Ardbeg beyond, and the 16 is the post-round dram.
On TripSCOTIsle of Islay guide
Ferries, flights, buses and beaches — the practical island briefing for the group, golfers and otherwise.
On TripSCOTLaggan Bay beach
Seven miles of Atlantic sand running the length of the links — the non-golfers arguably get the better walk.
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