Aberdour Golf Club
Aberdour was founded in 1896 and its course took shape along the Fife cliffs from 1905, reaching a full eighteen by 1914. A short, scenic par 67 of about 5,447 yards above the Firth of Forth, it is one of the most charming and best value rounds on the Fife coast.
Photo: Aberdour Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Aberdour Golf Club was founded in 1896, with its course developing on the clifftops above the Firth of Forth from 1905 and completed to eighteen holes by 1914. It is a short coastal layout, a par 67 of about 5,447 yards, prized less for its length than for the views across the Forth to Edinburgh and the run of holes that play along the cliff edge toward the sea.
This is a course for the golfer who values charm and value over championship yardage, a friendly members club that welcomes visitors and rewards accuracy over power. The much loved par 3 fourteenth, played across a rocky cove, is reason alone to bring a camera. Pair it with the bigger Fife names for a relaxed, low cost counterpoint to the marquee links.
Aberdour Golf Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1896
- Course
- 18 holes by 1914
- Type
- Clifftop parkland
- Par
- 67
- Yardage
- About 5,447 yds
- Green fee
- From about £30
Founding date, course history, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Aberdour Golf Club and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1896 and the course was completed to eighteen holes by 1914, a par 67 of about 5,447 yards on the Fife coast. Indicative visitor green fees started from about 30 pounds in 2026, rising in summer. Always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Aberdour is all about its setting on the cliffs above the Firth of Forth. The opening holes run toward the sea with wide views to Edinburgh and the islands, and the premium is on accuracy rather than length, since the fairways are tight in places and the trouble is the slope and the gorse rather than great yardage.
The signature is the par 3 fourteenth, known as the Glasshouse, played from an elevated tee across a rocky inlet to a green perched above the water. It is one of the most photographed short holes in Fife, and a hole that can wreck a card in a strong onshore breeze.
At a par 67 of around 5,447 yards this is not a course that overpowers, but the wind off the Forth and the clifftop lies keep it honest. It rewards the placement player and the short game, and finishes back toward a welcoming clubhouse that has watched over Fife golf for well over a century.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visitors and societies; book tee times in advance through the club |
| Green fee | From about 30 pounds, rising in summer and at weekends, with twilight rates available (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve through the club, especially at weekends; visitor times are more open on weekdays |
| On the day | Walkable clifftop course; trolleys available; smart casual golf wear |
| Getting there | Aberdour, Fife, about 30 minutes from Edinburgh over the Forth bridges |
| Best months | May to September for the warmest, driest coastal conditions |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from Aberdour Golf Club; rates change by season, so always confirm current pricing and tee availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Many golfers play Aberdour from a base in Edinburgh, a half hour south over the Forth bridges, where the choice of hotels, dining and culture is as wide as any city in Scotland. The capital makes an effortless base for a Fife golf trip without staying on the coast itself.
For a stay closer to the course, the villages of the south Fife coast and the town of Dunfermline have comfortable hotels and inns. Aberdour pairs naturally with the bigger Fife links and the courses around St Andrews for a varied golf week that mixes marquee names with hidden value.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Aberdour.
Build a Scotland golf trip
We book Aberdour alongside the best of Fife and arrange the lodging around your tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Aberdour Golf Club questions
When was Aberdour Golf Club founded?
Aberdour Golf Club was founded in 1896, with its clifftop course taking shape from 1905 and completed to eighteen holes by 1914, on the Fife coast above the Firth of Forth.
What is the par and length of Aberdour?
Aberdour is a par 67 of about 5,447 yards, a short clifftop course where accuracy and the short game matter more than raw length.
What is the famous hole at Aberdour?
The par 3 fourteenth, known as the Glasshouse, is played from an elevated tee across a rocky inlet and is one of the most photographed short holes in Fife.
Can visitors play Aberdour Golf Club?
Yes. Aberdour is a members club that welcomes visitors and societies, with tee times booked in advance through the club. Always confirm availability before travelling.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.