ROYAL ABERDEEN GOLF CLUB - 17 POINTS
The front 9 at Royal Aberdeen is one of the best stretches of links gold anywhere, and the 8th is maybe the pick of the bunch
For years there have been some obvious locations for Scottish golf trips. The Ayrshire Coast, St Andrews and Fife, East Lothian and The Highlands are all tried and tested routes. However, in recent years more and more golfers are discovering the joys of the North-East. The recent addition of Trump International, just to the north of the city of Aberdeen, has probably had a part to play in the increase in interest and it really is a wonderful place to play golf.
Royal Aberdeen has a rich history. Like at so many Scottish courses there is a distinction between the club and the course. The club can trace its origins back to 1780 and the formation of ‘The Society of Golfers at Aberdeen’. The course at Balgownie, just a couple of miles north of the City of Aberdeen, came into existence some years later in 1888. Archie and Robert Simpson were the architects behind the initial layouts, with James Braid lengthening the course and adding 40 bunkers some years later.
The course continues to evolve and in recent years Martin Hawtree has been engaged to make some changes - notably on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes. He has pushed some of the greens up to improve drainage and lengthened some too.
I received a warm welcome at the course, probably contradicting my expectations. A couple of previous interactions had put in my mind that this was a slightly stuffy club where visitors were more of an imposition than a welcome sight. Fortunately that wasn’t the case at all. I met a member in the car park who was very friendly and keen to hear about where I had come from. The pro-shop was an equally positive experience, the pro took me out to the first tee and showed me what was what and talked me through the early holes. It’s a little thing but makes such a positive impression. Full marks!
The view from the first tee at Royal Aberdeen
The 1st is a fantastic setting. The wide tee area is just outside the large clubhouse bay window so expect a few spectators as you try to find the short grass. It’s a strong opening hole - there’s a big dip before you get to the large raised green.
And the quality keeps going over the front nine.
The second is a wonderful par 5 played to the right of a massive dune. My only criticism would be that for such a long par 5 (it played 549 yards even from the middle yellow tees) I think it would benefit from a green that gathers the ball rather than having to play a long shot up to a raised green.
The second, raised, green at Royal Aberdeen
The third is a tough 200 yard+ par 3. From the back tee I can only imagine how hard it would be to hold the green downwind. Recent work has taken out a deep bunker short and a back-stop behind.
The third is not an easy green to hold, especially if playing downwind
The quality doesn’t drop as you work you way north along the coast. The 6th is a relatively short par 5, under 500 yards from all the tees, but this one is all about positioning. You drive to a sunken fairway and then need to hit over a pair of deep bunkers to another hidden strip of fairway where more sand lurks. The small punchbowl green is a fun finish to the hole.
Avoiding bunkers with every shot you hit is important to score well at the 6th
The 8th is the signature hole, if such concepts existed the best part of 150 years ago! It’s a wonderful par 3. Not long, just 147 yards at its furthest, but with so much to consider. The wind direction changes here - it’s the first hole you will play back into the prevailing wind - and the green is a pretty narrow affair, surrounded by 10 bunkers. I only found 2 of them on my way to a bogey! It really is a lovely hole and one to be savoured.
The magnificent 8th hole at Royal Aberdeen
The 9th hole is a strong finish to this part of the course. It’s a long par 4 which goes up the hill and round to the right and plays long given the slope.
It would be fair to say that standing on the 10th tee you have already played the best holes on the course. However, that isn’t to say the quality of the back nine is poor. I don’t think the drop between the two nines is as dramatic as it is at Murcar, just to the north, for example.
There is plenty to make you think as you come in. Personally I could do without the ditch, blind from the tee, at the 14th which forces most to lay up from the tee if the wind is behind. Wherever you are hitting from the approach to the green is interesting though.
The finish at Royal Aberdeen is strong. The 17th is a medium to long iron depending on the wind, played straight to the North Sea. The three-tiered green is great fun and getting your length (and direction!) right from the tee is key to making a good score.
The 18th is one of the strongest finishing holes you will find anywhere. It’s a long par 4 regardless of the tee you are playing from and you need to miss bunkers both off the tee and as you approach the green to avoid doom!
The 18th hole sits on an elevated green with the clubhouse and pro shop behind
I really enjoyed my trip to Royal Aberdeen. While the course is demanding it isn’t quite as fierce as I had been led to believe. There is some gorse but it’s far enough away from the fairways not to be a massive problem. The rough off the fairways isn’t a pushover but you should find your ball most times and be able to make some progress. This is one of the UK’s classic links courses and I would thoroughly recommend taking the trip up to the North-East. You will get a warm welcome, and enjoy some great golf.
BOOKING THE COURSE
It takes a little bit of work to book Royal Aberdeen. There is no online booking (annoyingly) so you need to email or phone them to get booked in - details are below.
Details are on their website but at time of writing the green fee was £215 in the summer and £95 in the winter. Compared to some Scottish green fees this isn’t bad for a world top 100 course.
There are restrictions on when you can play, currently as follows -
Monday & Wednesday: 10am - 11.30am & 2pm - 3.30pm
Tuesday & Thursday: 2pm - 3.30pm
Friday: 10am - 11am & 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Weekends: after 3.30pm
However, they are receptive to 1, 2 or 3 balls playing before 8:30am if they have some times free so it’s worth giving them a call.
Prices correct as of July 2023.
TOUR TIPS
Royal Aberdeen is only 10 minutes drive from the centre of Aberdeen and I would definitely recommend staying in the city centre and have a car to get out and about. Aberdeen is a city dominated by the oil industry and students so there are plenty of diversions to find there.
You will get the normal Premier Inn/Travelodge options but I would recommend the Sandman hotel if you can get a good price. It is a recent renovation and the quality of the beds, room and general service was really good. Prices will depend on how many business people are in town at the time but it’s worth checking since there are good deals to be had. Here you are close to a plethora of good restaurants, pubs and clubs and on the right side of the city for getting to the golf courses which mostly lie to the north.
When it comes to the golf there are two top-drawer options to consider. Cruden Bay is the obvious choice. It's a wonderfully quirky course, but very playable, and it would be a sin to be this close to it (it’s just 25 minutes to the north) and not play it.
Trump International is a modern interpretation of a links course, on a grand scale and it is a stern test.
Next door to Royal Aberdeen is Murcar. While not quite in the same league as the other three courses it is a very good links course (top 50 in Scotland). If you are looking for a slightly cheaper round to add to your itinerary you may consider heading just south to Stonehaven which is a good value course.
Aberdeen may seem a long way from anywhere but if you are based in the south of England, or flying in internationally, there are regular flights, so for many it will be just as easy to get to as Edinburgh or Glasgow. If you are looking to make a longer trip then it’s a couple of hours drive up to Inverness where the delights of Castle Stuart, Royal Dornoch and many others lie - and make sure you stop off at Moray on the way!
CONTACT DETAILS
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club,
Links Rd,
Bridge of Don,
Aberdeen AB23 8AT
Web - http://www.royalaberdeengolf.com/
Phone - +44 1224 702571
Email - reservations@royalaberdeengolf.com
