Machrihanish Dunes golf complex comes up with neat take on property ownership

Machrihanish Dunes, with its own unique ecologically-friendly golf course set in the famous dunes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been developing the accommodation and property elements of its complex – which also has the benefit of access to the adjoining and long established Old Tom Morris course at Machrihanish.

Owning a windsurfing beachside property on the beautiful Kintyre coast, with two internationally acclaimed golf courses – both in the top 100 – literally outside the door, is hugely attractive. It. has already seen Irish international pro golfer, Ronan Rafferty, become an owner of one of the Ugadale Cottages.

The cottages are each two bedroomed, built and fitted with first class materials – stone, hardwood , stainless steel, underfloor heating, granite worktops, plasma televisions – and striking a balance of casual elegance, marrying comfort and aesthetics with usability and ease.

The deal is an interesting one. This is not timeshare, nor is it settled on a fixed period. It is freehold, heritable purchase of a cottage for a week in a chosen season. This means that the specific week is flexible within the boundaries of the season in question, governed by first-come first-served booking.

In this initiative, Machrihanish Dunes has affiliated to RCI – the world’s largest and most experienced vacation home exchange company. This opens up the option of trading a week or more at Machrihanish Dunes for a corresponding period at any of the  6,000+ exquisite resorts worldwide which are also affiliated to RCI.

Cost? The answer is astonishingly affordable – starting at £9,975 including VAT (which will be 20% from January 2011). Owners may also, at any time, ask the management company to rent their cottage for them for a specific period and for a guaranteed return.

Ownership may be for as many weeks as wished and brings benefits including free golf for life at Machrihanish Dunes – which given the cost of green fees for guest players, is an eye-opening asset.

Seven of the word’s top 100 golf courses are within a 60 mile radius and the glorious Loch Lomond Seaplanes company is launching it Golf Express service, whisking golfers in fast scenic pleasure between the stellar golf courses of Turnberry and Troon in Ayrshire, Machrihanish in Kintyre and Loch Erne in Northern Ireland.

There are two daily weekday flights from Glasgow direct to Machrihanish by Flybe and those interested in checking out the properties and the golfing for themselves is offered a two-night inspection visit, starting at £139.

This spectacular development is a real injection of economic development potential for the important town of Campbeltown and for Kintyre. This take on property ownership there is flexible, secure and affordable – a typically well judged initiative in a quality enterprise.