Murcar Links
Share the same magnificent stretch of Aberdeen duneland as Royal Aberdeen and you have a high bar to clear. Murcar Links clears it. Laid out from 1909 with advice from Archie Simpson and later refined by James Braid, it runs north along the same rugged coast through tumbling hills, blind shots and burns, a true and underrated links that many regulars quietly prefer. Here is the verdict, the facts, the holes and how to get on.
Photograph: Murcar Links Golf Club, via Google.
The verdict
Murcar Links is the great value play of the Aberdeen coast and a far better course than its lower profile suggests. It shares the same wild range of dunes as its illustrious neighbour Royal Aberdeen, running north along the shore, and it asks all the same questions: drive accurately into rumpled fairways, judge the firm bounce, cope with blind shots over the crests, and respect the wind off the North Sea. For the money it is one of the best rounds in Scotland.
For the travelling golfer it is the perfect companion to Royal Aberdeen, an easy pairing on the same morning or across a day, at a fraction of the green fee. Add Cruden Bay up the coast and you have a North East links trip that delivers championship quality golf without the championship price, and Murcar is very often the surprise of the week.
Murcar Links at a glance
- Opened
- 1909
- Designer
- Simpson and Braid
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,460 yds
- Green fee
- £78 to £94
Founding, designers, par and yardage verified June 2026. Murcar Links was laid out from 1909 with advice from Archie Simpson, the professional and greenkeeper at neighbouring Royal Aberdeen, and was later refined by James Braid, who also built the club's nine hole Strabathie course. The championship course plays par 71 at around 6,460 yards from the back tees. Indicative 2025 visitor green fees run from around 78 pounds for a weekday round to around 94 pounds at weekends; fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Murcar opens in town before climbing quickly into the dunes, and from there it is pure, old fashioned links golf. The fairways tumble between gorse covered hills, several drives are played to landmarks you cannot fully see, and the small burn that crosses the course adds a strategic edge to the run north along the coast. The ground is firm and lively, rewarding players who can flight the ball and read the bounce rather than simply hit it high and far.
The early stretch through the heart of the dunes is the standout, a sequence of holes as natural and dramatic as anything on this coast, with the beach and the North Sea ever present. The greens are subtle and well guarded by deep traditional bunkering, and the closing holes back toward the clubhouse demand a steady nerve when the wind is up. There is no manufactured signature hole, just a consistently excellent links from first tee to last.
Played in a typical sea breeze, Murcar is a genuine and rewarding test that holds its own beside any of the bigger names on the coast. Golfers who add it to a Royal Aberdeen day almost always come off saying it was every bit the equal of its neighbour.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club that welcomes visitors on most days outside competitions, with members holding tee time priority |
| Green fee | Indicative 2025 visitor rates of around 78 pounds for a weekday round and around 94 pounds at weekends, with day and shoulder season options |
| Booking | Book ahead through the club, especially for summer mornings and to pair with a Royal Aberdeen tee time |
| On the day | A walking links through natural dunes with a friendly clubhouse; firm, fast turf when dry and exposed when it blows |
| Getting there | At Bridge of Don just north of Aberdeen, immediately beyond Royal Aberdeen and minutes from the airport |
| Best months | May to September for firm conditions and long days, with excellent value in the spring and autumn shoulders |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Murcar Links or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Aberdeen is the natural base for Murcar, with city hotels and restaurants a short drive away and Royal Aberdeen, Murcar and the airport all close together. Staying in or near the city keeps the whole North East links cluster within easy reach for a compact, efficient golf trip.
For a fuller week, base yourself near Aberdeen and play the coast north to Cruden Bay and Trump International, with the option of continuing to Royal Dornoch and the Highlands to round out a classic Scottish links tour.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in Aberdeen and the North East.
Stay and play in Aberdeen and the North East
We pair Murcar with Royal Aberdeen on the same coast, build the week around Cruden Bay and Trump International, and sort a base in Aberdeen with transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Murcar Links questions
Who designed Murcar Links and when did it open?
Murcar Links was laid out from 1909 with advice from Archie Simpson, the professional and greenkeeper at neighbouring Royal Aberdeen, and was later refined by five times Open champion James Braid, who also built the club's nine hole Strabathie course in the 1930s. It shares the same stretch of Aberdeen duneland as Royal Aberdeen.
What is the par and yardage of Murcar Links?
The championship course at Murcar Links plays as a par 71 of around 6,460 yards from the back tees, with several forward tees for everyday play. Its defences are the tumbling natural dunes, blind shots, a crossing burn, deep bunkering and the North Sea wind rather than sheer length.
How much does it cost to play Murcar Links?
Indicative 2025 visitor green fees run from around 78 pounds for a weekday round to around 94 pounds at weekends, with day tickets and shoulder season rates available. Murcar is excellent value for the quality, but fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Is Murcar Links as good as Royal Aberdeen?
Murcar shares the same magnificent duneland as Royal Aberdeen and many regulars rate the two very closely, with Murcar offering similar championship quality links golf at a noticeably lower green fee. Most visitors play both on the same trip and find Murcar the pleasant surprise of the week.
Can visitors play Murcar Links?
Yes. Murcar is a members club that welcomes visitors on most days outside club competitions, with members holding tee time priority. Booking ahead is wise for summer mornings, and it pairs perfectly with a Royal Aberdeen round on a North East golf trip.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding date, designers, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.