The fishing ports along the east coast of Scotland harbour a string of golfing treats that stretch form Aberdeen all the way up to Fraserburgh (the top right-hand corner of Scotland). Aberdeen Golf Clubs are not as concentrated as on the west coast (Ayrshire) but they are sufficient in quantity and superlative in quality, making an Aberdeenshire golfbreak unforgettable. With plenty of flights into Aberdeen, this Scottish stretch of wonderful links golf is easily accessible too.
Golf courses in Aberdeenshire
Everyone knows about the North Sea oil wells that have kept Aberdeen afloat for the last few decades: less well known is the gold mine of golf courses along Scotland's eastern coast that may well keep the area buoyant now that the oil is drying up.
Pride of the pack is clearly Royal Aberdeen, which is rightly renowned for being one of the finest tests of links golf there is. An exclusive Golf Club, yet welcoming to visitorswilling to take on its angled Fairways amid towering rough. Right next door is the smaller Club of Murcar with its shorter, twisting holes that should not be overlooked on any Aberdeen golfbreak!
Working your way north up the coastline, the next stop is the Trump International course: whatever you think of its owner you can't deny that Michael Hawtree has made a fabulous job af some fabulous land. Next stop up the coast is Cruden Bay with its towering dunes and plenty of blind shots: great fun. Then comes little Newburgh-on-Ythan, which sounds like it should be in Wales; next are two of Scotland's best value links courses: Peterhead and Fraserburgh. It is hard to express just how good these two courses are: set right alongside the North Sea both have fabulous views over their respective towns and the return on your paltry Green-fee investment is quite astounding!
Aberdeenshire - where to stay
The big city of Aberdeen is a good spot to base yourself, albeit at the southern extremity of the links string so getting up to Peterhead and Fraserburgh will take a little while. The payback of course is that you will have al the attractions of a metropolis when it comes to après-golf: plenty of bars and restaurants to peruse. Just on the inland side of town is the Marcliffe Arms, one of Scotland's finest hotels and the owner just happens to be a mad keen golfer!
Cruden Bay is a huge stretch of sand with a small town that has grown up around fishing and Summer holidays. So small that it doesn't really even have a proper High Street, yet this could be part of the attraction for a quiet, hideaway style of golfbreak. There is one good little hotel - The Kilmarnock Arms, plus many B&Bs and Guesthouses.
Aberdeenshire - Castle Country
Off course, Aberdeen has plenty to offer the touring golfer too. There are no less than 1,000 castles (in varying states of repair) and 17 of these form the 'Castle Trail' - which is well signposted throughout the county. Particularly impressive ruins of Dunnottar Castle perched on a cliff near Stonehaven. Heading inland you will find Crathes and Drum Castles, plus the towering Castle Fraser where there are interiors to visit too. And for the better-connected golfer, Balmoral is only a stone's throw away.
Aberdeen's whisky trail
It would be a great shame to spend some time in Aberdeen and not visit one or two of the distilleries along the river Dee and there are quite a few to choose from!
The oldest working distillery in the county, Strathisla on the banks of the Isla river, is one of the finest examples of the ancient art of whisky crafting and is just an hour from Aberdeen. Others nearby are Royal Lochnagar, close to Balmoral. Prince Charles' preferred tipple by all accounts, although it was Queen Victoria who bestowed her approval first.
These two are great for starters, there are plenty more should you develop a taste for tasting...
Getting to Aberdeen
Getting to your golf holiday in Aberdeen could hardly be any easier with so many flights into the oil city. Aberdeen airport is just outside town, so it will take no time at all to get to your hotel (or the 1st Tee). We can arrange flights for you if you wish or are equally happy to let you book these yourselves if you prefer?
We can arrange a hire-car for the duration of your holiday, or we have a very reliable coach and minibus company that we use if you prefer to be chauffeured form golf course to golf course around Aberdeenshire?
If you are considering driving to your golf holiday in Aberdeen or Cruden Bay, then that is even easier still! As you might imagine, Aberdeen is well connected to by road into Edinburgh and thence to the rest of the UK.
