Trump International Scotland
Dr. Martin Hawtree carved Trump International Golf Links through the towering Great Dunes of the Menie estate north of Aberdeen, and it opened in 2012 to instant acclaim for its scale. A par 72 of about 7,439 yards along the North Sea, it is one of the most dramatic modern links in Britain and stays open to visiting golfers by advance booking.
Photo: Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen via Google.
The verdict
Trump International Golf Links is the boldest modern links Scotland has built this century. Dr. Martin Hawtree was handed a stretch of enormous shifting dunes on the Menie estate, ten miles north of Aberdeen, and routed eighteen holes that ride the ridges and plunge into the valleys between them. It opened in 2012, and the sheer vertical scale of the sandhills sets it apart from almost anything else on the British coast.
The golf is big and exposed, a par 72 of about 7,439 yards from the tips that rewards a player who can flight the ball low into the North Sea wind and hold firm, fast fairways. It will not have the centuries of links pedigree that nearby Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay carry, but as a piece of dramatic, walkable seaside golf it is a genuine bucket list round, and it is set to host a revived Scottish Championship. Access is open to visitors, which makes it an easy course to build an Aberdeenshire trip around.
Trump International Scotland at a glance
- Opened
- 2012
- Designer
- Dr. Martin Hawtree
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,439 yds
- Green fee
- From about 345 pounds
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. The links was designed by Dr. Martin Hawtree, opened in 2012, and plays as a par 72 of about 7,439 yards from the championship tees. Green fees are indicative for the 2026 high season, running from roughly 345 pounds on a weekday to about 435 pounds at peak, with cheaper shoulder and winter rates; always confirm the current fee and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What you remember first at Trump International is the size of the land. Hawtree set fairways down avenues of dune that climb forty feet and more above the turf, so that you play through corridors of marram grass with the sea flashing in the gaps. The routing runs out and back in two loops, and the wind, almost always present off the North Sea, is the course's true defense rather than length alone.
The par 3s are a strong set, played across falls in the ground to greens perched among the sandhills, and the long par 4s into a prevailing wind ask for two of your best shots to find a putting surface. Several greens sit in natural dune amphitheaters that gather a good shot and reject a loose one, classic links cause and effect on a grand scale.
The closing holes turn back toward the dunes and the clubhouse with the sea behind you, and on a firm, breezy day the run home is as exacting as anything on the Scottish coast. Play it on the ground, keep the ball under the wind, and let the contours do the work; that is the way to score, and the way to enjoy one of the most spectacular walks in modern golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visiting golfers by advance tee time, subject to availability and any society or event bookings |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 high season from about 345 pounds on a weekday to roughly 435 pounds at peak, with lower shoulder and winter rates |
| Booking | Reserve through the golf shop or a trip planner; book well ahead for summer and weekend tee times |
| On the day | Walking links; caddies and buggies can be arranged in advance; smart golf attire expected |
| Getting there | Balmedie on the Menie estate, about 20 to 25 minutes north of Aberdeen and its airport |
| Best months | May to September for the longest days and warmest links conditions; bring layers for the North Sea wind year round |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; policies and rates change, so always confirm directly with the golf shop or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
There is lodging on the estate itself, and the city of Aberdeen, twenty minutes south, gives you a full range of hotels, restaurants and an airport with good connections. A base around Aberdeen or along the Aberdeenshire coast keeps the region's links within an easy drive and makes for a comfortable multi course week.
This is prime company for a links tour. Pair Trump International with Royal Aberdeen, the neighbouring Murcar Links and the wonderful Cruden Bay to the north for one of the strongest stretches of seaside golf in the country.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Trump International Scotland.
Build an Aberdeenshire golf trip
We secure the Trump International tee times, pair them with Royal Aberdeen, Murcar and Cruden Bay, and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Trump International Scotland questions
Who designed Trump International Scotland and when did it open?
Trump International Golf Links, Scotland was designed by Dr. Martin Hawtree on the Menie estate north of Aberdeen and opened for play in 2012, routed through the large coastal dunes the club calls the Great Dunes of Scotland.
What is the par and length of Trump International Scotland?
The links plays as a par 72 of about 7,439 yards from the championship tees, with multiple forward tees bringing it down toward 5,200 yards for shorter hitters.
How much does it cost to play Trump International Scotland?
Indicative 2026 high season green fees run from roughly 345 pounds on a weekday to about 435 pounds at peak, with cheaper shoulder and winter rates. Always confirm the current fee and availability directly before booking.
Can visitors play Trump International Scotland?
Yes. Trump International is open to visiting golfers by advance tee time through the golf shop or a trip planner, subject to availability and any society or event bookings.
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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.