Golf in Aberdeenshire
The north east corner of Scotland is one of the great undervisited links coasts in the world. Within an hour of Aberdeen you can play Cruden Bay, a tumbling Old Tom Morris masterpiece, the dune lined Balgownie Links of Royal Aberdeen, one of the oldest clubs on earth, neighbouring Murcar and the modern drama of Trump International at Menie. The courses that matter, the long northern season, the costs and how to plan the trip.
Photograph: Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, Jonathan Cottrell, via Google
Why golf in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is the connoisseur's links coast, a stretch of north east Scotland that delivers world class golf with a fraction of the crowds and the cost of the famous names further south. The two headline acts are Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen. Cruden Bay, laid out by Old Tom Morris and Archie Simpson in 1899 and reworked by Tom Simpson in 1926, is a gloriously wild, tumbling links of blind shots, towering dunes and quirky charm that golfers fall hopelessly in love with. Royal Aberdeen, home to one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, founded in 1780, plays its Balgownie Links out along a magnificent dune valley and back, a stern, classical test that has hosted the Senior Open and Walker Cup.
Around them sits a remarkable depth of golf. Murcar Links shares the same towering dunes as its neighbour Royal Aberdeen, Trump International at Menie has brought modern championship links to the Balmedie coast, and inland and along the Moray Firth you will find handsome, affordable members courses such as Newmachar, Meldrum House and the historic links at Fraserburgh and Cullen. The reward for travelling this far north is the light: in June and July you can play until ten at night under endless northern skies. The catch is the wind, which is never far away off the North Sea, and a season that runs roughly April to October.
The regions
The Aberdeen dunes coast
The towering linksland immediately north of the city, home to Royal Aberdeen's Balgownie, neighbouring Murcar and the Trump International links at Menie, the densest cluster of championship golf in the north east.
The Buchan coast and Cruden Bay
The wild north east shoulder of Scotland around Peterhead and Fraserburgh, anchored by the beloved Cruden Bay links and the historic Fraserburgh club, one of the oldest in the world.
Royal Deeside
The wooded river valley west of Aberdeen toward Balmoral, with handsome parkland golf at Banchory, Aboyne and Ballater for a gentler, scenic counterpoint to the coast.
The Garioch and inland Aberdeenshire
The rolling farmland north west of the city, where Newmachar, Inverurie and the Meldrum House hotel course give well kept parkland golf away from the wind.
The Moray Firth and Banffshire
The northern coast toward Moray, with the clifftop curiosity of Cullen, the Tom Morris designed Duff House Royal at Banff and a string of friendly seaside courses.
Aberdeen city
The granite city itself, a comfortable base with hotels, restaurants and an airport, within twenty minutes of the great links and an easy gateway to the whole region.
The courses that matter
Cruden Bay Golf Club
The romantic heart of north east golf, a wild, tumbling links of blind shots, vast dunes and a famous double green, laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1899 and reworked by Tom Simpson in 1926. A par 70 of around 6,287 yards that is regularly ranked among the best courses in the world, and the course every visiting golfer remembers most.
Royal Aberdeen, Balgownie Links
The home of the sixth oldest golf club in the world, playing its Balgownie Links out through a magnificent dune valley and back along higher ground. A stern, classical links of around 6,900 yards, par 71, shaped over the years by Robert Simpson and James Braid, host of the Senior Open and the 2011 Walker Cup.
Murcar Links Golf Club
The wonderful, underrated neighbour to Royal Aberdeen, sharing the same huge dunes and sea views just to the north. An Archie Simpson links of 1909 later refined by James Braid, par 71 of around 6,500 yards, with a thrilling, rollercoaster stretch along the coast that many visitors come to prefer.
Trump International, Old Course
The dramatic modern links carved through the great dunes at Menie, a Martin Hawtree design opened in 2012 that stretches beyond 7,400 yards from the back tees. Big, bold and beautifully maintained, it is joined since 2025 by a second course, the New Course, on the same wild sandhills north of Aberdeen.
Newmachar, Hawkshill Course
The pick of the inland golf, a mature Dave Thomas parkland championship course north of the city with water, woodland and a real test from the back tees. A sheltered, good value alternative when the coast is blowing, and a sensible inclusion alongside the links.
Fraserburgh Golf Club, Corbiehill
One of the oldest golf clubs in the world, founded in 1777 on the Buchan coast, with a natural, dune lined links later shaped by James Braid. A wonderful slice of golf history and outstanding value, the kind of honest, windswept members links the north east does so well.
Designers, founding years and host events verified June 2026. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm access, opening dates and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| April to May | Cool, firming links, fewer crowds | Excellent value spring golf, pack for wind |
| June to July | Long northern days, golf until ten at night | Peak season, the magical window this far north |
| August to September | Warm, settled, firm fast turf | Prime links conditions, the connoisseur's pick |
| October to March | Cold, short days, exposed coast | Off season, many courses on winter greens |
The Aberdeenshire season runs roughly April to October, with May to September the sweet spot. The far northern latitude gives extraordinarily long summer evenings. The North Sea wind is a constant, so pack for it whatever the month. Always confirm course opening dates before you travel.
Indicative costs
| Course | Indicative 2026 green fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Aberdeen, Balgownie | From around £215 | High season weekday, handicap limit applies |
| Trump International, Old Course | Around £295 | Peak season, modern championship links |
| Cruden Bay | Around £195 | High season, world ranked links |
| Murcar Links | Around £140 | High season, superb value neighbour to Balgownie |
| A week, all in | Around £2,500 to £5,000 per person | Aberdeen or coastal base, stay and transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 high season, shown to set expectations only. Many fine members and inland courses play for well under 100 pounds. We are a guide and trip planner, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Aberdeen International Airport is the gateway, with direct flights from across the UK and a growing network of European links, and it sits barely fifteen minutes from Royal Aberdeen and Murcar. The Trump links at Menie is around twenty five minutes north of the airport, and Cruden Bay a further thirty minutes up the Buchan coast. Aberdeen is also reachable by a scenic main line train from the central belt and by the overnight Caledonian Sleeper from London. A hire car is essential to link the coastal courses and reach Deeside and the Moray Firth, with easy, quiet driving once you are out of the city.
Where to stay
Aberdeen itself is the natural base, a handsome granite city with a good range of hotels and restaurants within twenty minutes of the great links, ideal if you want city nights between rounds. For a more rural feel, the country house hotels of Royal Deeside and the Meldrum House estate near Oldmeldrum give grand, golf focused stays, while small hotels and guest houses at Cruden Bay and along the Buchan coast put you on the doorstep of the wilder links. One planner can match the base to your courses, your group and your dates.
Plan your Aberdeenshire golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge holds the Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen tee times, sorts a base in the city or on the coast, costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Aberdeenshire golf questions
What is the best golf course in Aberdeenshire?
Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen's Balgownie Links are the two finest courses in Aberdeenshire and both rank among the best links in the world. Cruden Bay, an Old Tom Morris and Archie Simpson design from 1899 reworked by Tom Simpson in 1926, is a wild, tumbling links beloved for its character, while Royal Aberdeen's Balgownie, the home of one of the oldest golf clubs on earth, founded in 1780, gives you a magnificent run out and back through huge dunes. Choose Cruden Bay for romance and quirk, Balgownie for championship pedigree.
When is the best time to play golf in Aberdeenshire?
The Aberdeenshire golf season runs roughly from April to October, with the prime window from May to September when the links are firm and the famous north east light stretches well into the evening. June and July give the longest daylight this far north, often golf until ten at night. The coast is breezy and bracing year round, so pack for wind and showers whatever the month, and always confirm tee times and opening dates before you travel.
How much does golf cost in Aberdeenshire in 2026?
Indicative 2026 high season green fees run from around 215 pounds at Royal Aberdeen's Balgownie Links and around 295 pounds at Trump International's Old Course, with Cruden Bay broadly around 195 pounds and Murcar Links around 140 pounds. Many fine members courses inland and along the Moray Firth play for well under 100 pounds. A full Aberdeenshire links week, courses, a good base and transfers, typically lands around 2,500 to 5,000 pounds per person excluding flights. Always confirm directly before booking.
Can you play Trump International and Royal Aberdeen as a visitor?
Yes. Both welcome visitors. Trump International Golf Links at Menie is open to visiting golfers across its Old Course, the 2012 Martin Hawtree design, and the New Course that opened in 2025. Royal Aberdeen welcomes visitors to the Balgownie Links, usually with a handicap limit and stronger weekday availability. Cruden Bay and Murcar Links also take visitors through the season. Tee times for all of them fill fast in summer, so book well ahead and always confirm rates and access directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Course openings, ranking shake ups and the trips worth taking. Every other week.