How to Get Tee Times in Aberdeenshire
Four of Scotland's great links sit within forty minutes of Aberdeen: Royal Aberdeen at about £215, Cruden Bay at £205, Trump International from £495 and Murcar Links next door. Here is what each costs in 2026, the handicap rules, and exactly how and when to book each one.
Photo: Cruden Bay Golf Club via Google.
The lay of the land
Aberdeenshire is the most underrated stretch of championship links in Scotland. Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links share the same dune system on the city's northern edge, Trump International rises out of giant dunes twenty minutes further north, and Cruden Bay, half an hour up the coast, is one of the most charismatic links on earth.
Because the region draws fewer tour buses than St Andrews or Ayrshire, tee times are more gettable, but each club works differently: one is pay and play, two are members clubs with visitor windows, and all of them fill their prime summer mornings months ahead. The full regional picture lives in our Aberdeenshire destination guide.
2026 fees and how each club books
| Course | Indicative fee (2026) | How to book |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Aberdeen | About £215 high season on the Balgownie Links, midweek rates from £115 to £265 by season | Through the club office or website; handicap of 24 or under required for Balgownie; caddies about £65 on request |
| Cruden Bay | £205 summer rate; £110 winter rate from early November to late March | Online or through the club; summer mornings go earliest, shoulder months are far easier |
| Trump International | From about £495, up to £560 in the June to September peak; about £900 for 36 holes across the Old and New courses | Pay and play with direct online booking; the simplest of the four to arrange |
| Murcar Links | Seasonal rates published by the club; reduced winter rates from November to March | Book through the club office; pairs naturally with Royal Aberdeen next door on the same day |
Fees verified June 2026 from club websites and current green fee listings and are indicative for the 2026 season. Always confirm current rates and visitor windows directly with each club before booking.
Booking it right, step by step
- Anchor the trip on the members clubs. Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay have the tightest visitor windows, so request those dates first, four to eight months out for May to September. Groups of eight or more should add lead time and expect to be spread across mornings.
- Check the handicap box early. Balgownie Links asks for 24 or under. Carry proof of handicap for the whole group before you confirm, and read our note on dress codes and rules in Aberdeenshire so nobody is caught out at the first tee.
- Slot Trump International around them. It is pay and play with online booking, so it flexes to fit whatever the members clubs give you. The 36 hole Old and New ticket at about £900 suits buddies trips that want one big resort day.
- Use Murcar as the smart second round. It shares the dunes with Royal Aberdeen, costs meaningfully less, and turns one drive north of the city into a 36 hole day.
- Think shoulder season. April, May, September and early October keep most of the daylight and lose most of the crowds, and Cruden Bay's £110 winter rate from November is the steal of the northeast for golfers who do not mind a sweater.
Weather is part of the deal on this coast: the wind off the North Sea is the course defense, and a morning time gives you the best of the day. Build in a flexible afternoon rather than stacking four tee times tight.
Build an Aberdeenshire golf trip
We request the Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay windows, lock Trump International and Murcar around them and book the lodging in between. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Aberdeenshire tee time questions
How much is a round at Cruden Bay in 2026?
Cruden Bay's summer 2026 visitor green fee is £205, with a winter rate of £110 running from early November to late March. Rates change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play Royal Aberdeen?
Yes. Visitors playing the championship Balgownie Links at Royal Aberdeen need a handicap of 24 or under. The club publishes visitor windows and rates on its website, with high season fees around £215 in 2026.
How far ahead should I book Aberdeenshire tee times?
For May to September, book the marquee links four to eight months out, especially for groups of eight or more. Trump International operates pay and play with online booking, while Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay manage visitor times through their offices and fill summer mornings early.
Which Aberdeenshire course is the best value?
Murcar Links, immediately next door to Royal Aberdeen, is the value play of the big four and a genuine championship links in its own right. Cruden Bay's £110 winter rate is the bargain window for hardy golfers.
Related
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Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Green fees and booking rules verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.