Aberdeenshire
The best of golf in Granite City
Arguably the most underappreciated golf region in Scotland is the northeast. Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen rightly have their place in golf travelers’ minds and itineraries, but all too often those are the only two stops before they’re on their way up to Castle Stuart and the Highlands, or down to Fife.
Cruden Bay (1899) is a spiritual cousin of courses like North Berwick West Links and Lahinch, and one of the most charming days you can have in golf. Like those fellow World Top 100 courses, there is a mix of handsome championship holes (like the beefy 460 yard par 4 5th) with a hefty dose of quirk (like the driveable, blind par 4 3rd or the blind punchbowl greensite on the par 4 14th). These memorable shots combined with the views of the North Sea after the climb to the 9th tee will make for one of your favourite days in Scotland.
Royal Aberdeen (club 1780, course 1888, Royal 1903) is another jewel in the area, with a distinctive front nine routing through some of the more dramatic and rumpled duneland in Scotland before you turn back inward to a more conventional back nine.
The Balgownie course is very difficult, with one of the most stout finishers in the country at 440+ yards and with a green protected by deep bunkers short and out of bounds long.
Beyond these two headliners, there is a sneakily deep roster of worthwhile courses in the area like Murcar (1909/1930), bordering Royal Aberdeen and over similar terrain, Fraserburgh (1922), Peterhead Golf Club (1923), and Cullen (1870/1905)—a 4,623 yard 18 holer that looks more like the bottom of the sea than a golf course. You’ll spend most of your time trying to figure out where it is you’re supposed to be going, but you’ll be doing it with a smile on your face.
The area around Aberdeen is a great add-on to a trip to another Scottish region, but most don’t realize it’s a strong enough region to stand on its own. A trip that includes some top picks in the Highlands and Aberdeen is a great idea, but it can also work alongside a trip to Fife, East Lothian, or a mix of multiple for those willing to cover more ground.
