The best golf courses in the North East of Scotland
Saplinbrae has teamed up with PGA Professional golfer, Andrew Cooper, who has written this blog to highlight some of the best golf courses in the North East. Enjoy the read:
Scotland is renowned across the world as the “Home of Golf”. There are great courses in every corner of the country, and you’ll find many wonderful courses to enjoy in the North East.
Having spent many years working as a golf professional in Aberdeenshire, I’ve had the pleasure of playing most the region’s courses, ranging from the famous championship venues to modest 9-holers. It is a wonderful place to visit and here is my guide to the best golfing experiences the area has to offer.
Cruden Bay Golf Course - “undoubtedly the most fun challenge of the North East’s top courses, and the most picturesque.”
The Championship courses
The North East has four outstanding links courses: Royal Aberdeen, Murcar Links, Trump International and Cruden Bay. All four are widely regarded as being among the best courses in the UK and they all offer a fantastic experience for keen players.
The Balgownie course at Royal Aberdeen is arguably the pick of the bunch. In recent years, the historic venue has played host to the Walker Cup, The British Seniors’ Open and the Scottish Open, and has been tipped as a possible future Open Championship venue.
Adjacent to Royal Aberdeen, Murcar Links is not as historic as its neighbour, but it is a fantastic course that will challenge the very best of players.
A few miles north of Murcar, lies Trump International. While only a few years old, the Menie links has quickly established itself as one of country’s top courses. As you may expect from a Trump course, it is big and bold, with many spectacular holes, featuring dramatic elevated tee shots and fairways flanked by huge sand dunes.
Cruden Bay is undoubtedly the most fun challenge of the North East’s top courses, and the most picturesque. It is quirky in places but is always a joy to play.
Other Seaside favourites
There are three other excellent seaside courses that are well worth visiting; Fraserburgh, Peterhead and Newburgh-on-Ythan. Fraserburgh is a classic and historic links while nearby Peterhead offers an interesting hybrid of inland and seaside golf. And, if you enjoy courses with spectacular settings, then you’ll love Newburgh, which sits alongside the stunning Ythan estuary.
Newburth-on-Ythan Golf Course is just half an hour drive from Saplinbrae Hotel & Lodges
The best inland courses
The region is known for its top class links courses, but there are many excellent inland layouts too. On the western edge of Aberdeen you’ll find Hazlehead, a beautiful public course set in the grounds of the city’s popular park.
Andrew Cooper of Andrew Cooper Golf is based at Ladybank Golf Club.
A little further out of the city, there are lovely courses at Peterculter and Deeside, which both sit on the banks of the River Dee.
Moving out into Aberdeenshire, the towns of Kintore, Kemnay and Ellon all have attractive and enjoyable courses, that will not be overly taxing for holiday golfers.
Arguably the region’s grandest inland course is Duff House Royal, situated in the market town of Banff and only half an hour’s drive from Saplinbrae. It is a very pleasant course, which is also deceptively tricky. The most memorable feature of Duff House is its large and undulating greens, a feature the course’s designer, Dr Alastair MacKenzie (who also designed the aforementioned Hazlehead), would repeat when creating his masterpiece at Augusta National.
I hope this guide has been useful to you if you’re planning a golfing trip to the North East and that you’ll be able to play some of these terrific courses.
Andrew Cooper, PGA Professional, is now based at Ladybank Golf Club in Fife. Andrew specialises in golf coaching and comment. To find out more about Andrew Cooper visit www.andrewcoopergolf.co.uk.
To book accomodation on your golfing visit or to enjoy a meal after your game of golf at Saplinbrae Restaurant, please get in touch.