‘Golf express’ hopes to get it off to a tee

‘Kintyre Express’ is to launch a new passenger ferry service in May and golfers will have the option to easily extend their holidays to take in top courses like Ballycastle and Royal Portrush and Machrihanish in the Mull of Kintyre and Turnberry and Troon in Ayrshire.

Kintyre Express has been making speedy runs between Troon and Campbeltown for several years, connecting Machrihanish to Ayrshire and its celebrated courses at Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick.

It will continue to provide service on that route. And now, with this new schedule of service to Ballycastle, golfers will be able to easily access even more top-ranked courses.

In one easily arranged golf holiday, golfers can now play in Ayrshire, travel across to tackle Machrihanish Dunes and Machrihanish Golf Club, and then continue on to play the legendary courses of Northern Ireland or vice-versa.

The commercial service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle will run four days a week from 27 May through 26 September 2011, incorporating at least two return journeys each day on the 90-minute crossing. Additional journeys can be scheduled on demand.

The service, which can used by locals, tourists, and not just golfers!, will utilize a custom-built Redbay Stormforce 36-foot RIB, an all-weather, fully cabined craft with a capacity of 12 passengers and a top speed of 37 knots.

Full schedule information: Campbeltown – Ballycastle Friday, May 27 – Monday, September 26, 2011.

Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Fares – single £30; Fares – return £55. Tuesday – Thursday available for private charter

Campbeltown-Ballycastle departing 7.30am and 4pm and Ballycastle-Campbeltown leaving at 9.30am and 6pm.

A full car passenger ferry operated between Campbeltown and Ballycastle a number of years ago and despite a campaign to get it back nothing has materialised because of funding issues.