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Never drink and drive—unless, that is, the drink is some of Scotland's finest whisky and the "driving" is confined to one of the world's great golf courses. This happy combination is to be found at the Machrie Hotel and Golf Links on the island of Islay off Scotland's west coast. So it's surprising that the Machrie, close to such venerable distilleries as Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Bowmore and Lagavulin, has managed to remain one of golf's best-kept secrets. It was not always so.

Ten years after it first opened in May 1891, the Machrie attracted the legendary golfing triumvirate...