Golf 2013 Aberdeen City and Shire www.aberdeen-grampian.com Welcome to... www.aberdeen-grampian.com Golf in Aberdeen City and Shire Home to some of the world’s best and oldest golf courses, discover Aberdeen City and Shire’s rich golfing heritage and experience the region’s legendary links courses and top inland venues. 01 Contents 01 Golf in its purest form 02 Leisurely golf in the region 03 Looking forward to a bright future 04 Aberdeen City and Shire golf courses 11 Travel tips 12 Area map and course index 14 Away from the fairways 16 Golfers’ accommodation 13AGG Cover Trump International Golf Links. 01 Hawkshill, Newmachar Golf Club. Credits Photography: Paul Tomkins/VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint, Derek Disclaimer VisitScotland has published this guide in good faith to reflect information submitted J Shaw Photography, Brian Morgan courtesy of Trump International to it by the proprietors/managers of the businesses listed who have paid for or approved their entries to be included. Although VisitScotland has taken reasonable steps to confirm the Scotland, Walter Heslop and Aberdeenshire golf courses. information contained in this guide at the time of going to press, it cannot guarantee that the information published is and remains accurate. Accordingly, VisitScotland recommends that all Design: APS Group | www.apsgroup.co.uk, Stand | information is checked with the proprietor/manager of the business prior to visiting/booking to ensure that the accommodation, facilities, price and all other aspects of the business are www.stand-united.co.uk and THK Design | www.thkdesign.com satisfactory. VisitScotland accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation contained in the guide and excludes all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the This brochure is printed on recycled content paper. VisitScotland is information contained in this guide. VisitScotland also cannot accept any liability for loss caused by the bankruptcy, or liquidation, or insolvency, or cessation of trade of any company, firm or committed to ensuring that our environment, upon which our tourism individual contained in this guide. Quality Assurance awards are correct as at November 2012. is so dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. For information on accommodation and things to see and do, go to www.visitscotland.com Golf in its purest form Golf was born on Scotland’s Fraserburgh is another historic links gem which can lay claim to being the seventh oldest golf club in the east coast where the world. Located on the north-east tip and founded in ancient game has been 1777, this slice of golfing history is certain to put you played in some shape or in links heaven. form for several centuries. Stonehaven cannot be classified as a links course but for sheer drama, this clifftop venue south of Aberdeen The linksland of the north is hard to beat. The sea views are astonishing and east makes perfect golfing some of the tee shots are nerve-racking to say the terrain and long ago the least. Stonehaven scores high for drama. landscape was harnessed Aberdeen City and Shire is rightly lauded for its links courses but there are also plenty of fantastic inland to create some of the finest layouts to enjoy, especially in Royal Deeside. golf courses imaginable. Ballater is a short but challenging heathland course Aberdeen City and Shire offers golf in its purest in a stunning country location. The surrounding hills form and you are sure to find golf in the north seem to frame the course perfectly and Ballater is the east both heartening and stimulating. This golf- epitome of the player-friendly venue. loving region boasts more than 50 courses and at least 30 of those lie within 20 miles of the Be prepared to reach the pinnacle of golf in Braemar. city of Aberdeen. Situated at more than 1,000 ft above sea level, Braemar is the highest 18-hole golf course in Britain. Royal Aberdeen, on the edge of the city, is the sixth oldest golf club in the world and the outward nine Aberdeen itself has some first-class municipal of its revered Balgownie course is considered one courses that offer tremendous value. Hazlehead No.1 of the finest stretches of links golf on the planet. is a terrific parkland course that was designed by The finishing holes are as magnificent and Royal Alister MacKenzie, the creator of Augusta National. Aberdeen has hosted plenty of major tournaments, The historic King’s Links on Aberdeen seafront is also including the Walker Cup. worth exploring as is the course at Balnagask which is spectacularly sited on headland overlooking the Next door to Royal Aberdeen is Murcar Links which mouth of Aberdeen’s harbour. often pops up in magazine polls of the UK’s top golf courses. With its epic dunes and fairways of humps and hollows, and the sea visible from most of the holes, Murcar is a links course in the finest tradition. Another outstanding links course in the north east, which succeeds in marrying challenge and beauty perfectly, is Cruden Bay. You will encounter every kind of golf shot imaginable on this epic course 01 and some of those views from the elevated tees are simply breathtaking. 01 The King’s Links, Aberdeen. To find out more about Aberdeen City and Shire go to www.aberdeen-grampian.com 01 Leisurely golf in the region 01 Aberdeen City and Shire is a very relaxing region to play golf in and the wealth of quality courses available means that you are never 02 short of options. Whichever those short of time. Peterhead is renowned for its direction you head in you classic 18-hole links course but the club also has a can be sure of a quality time fantastic 9-hole layout that you can enjoy. on the golf course. Auchenblae is a 9-hole parkland course with splendid views of Drumtochty Glen and the lower Grampians. There are so many excellent courses within easy Fyvie is known for its castle but also now has a fun reach of Aberdeen. Peterculter is a gem of a 9-hole course to suit all abilities. venue by the River Dee, the course following the natural contours of the riverbank and rewarding Hazlehead in Aberdeen has its highly regarded No.1 you with great views of the Grampian Mountains. and No.2 courses but it also has a third course that plays over 9 holes and is worth an hour or two of Oldmeldrum is a historic parkland course that is more your time. than 125 years old while Portlethen is another mature parkland course with the Findon burn being one of Tarland is a tricky little course that is also very its main features. Then there’s Banchory, a delightful scenic and features some memorable holes, while parkland course that serves up a terrific finish. at Lumphanan the landscape has been used to great effect on this lovely hillside course. At Torphins Newmachar has two courses to be proud of. you can play 9 holes or even 13 holes, playing to The Hawkshill course is set among mature silver 10 greens from 13 different tees. birch and Scotch pine trees. The water hazards and bunkers make this one of the toughest golfing tests The sheer variety of golf on offer in Aberdeen City in the region and Hawkshill has staged a number of and Shire is amazing, as is the consistent quality you tournaments, including the Scottish Seniors Open. will encounter. Whether you head for the coast or The Swailend course is more forgiving than its sister make for the hills, you won’t be disappointed. course, but it should not be underestimated. You’ll find an excellent selection of idyllic 9-hole 01 Stay and play at Meldrum House. courses in the region. These are great for families or 02 The 9-hole Lumphanan Golf Course. 02 For information on accommodation and things to see and do, go to www.visitscotland.com Looking forward to a bright future 01 Aberdeen City and Shire There are also exciting plans for a £40 million Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course at the Ury Estate has a great golf offering near Stonehaven. and the future looks bright Some tremendous new courses have emerged too with some exciting in recent years, demonstrating that the region, new developments coming though well off in terms of golf, has not been to fruition as the game resting on its laurels. continues to grow and The Inchmarlo Resort and Golf Centre in the heart of Royal Deeside boasts two quality golf courses that are develop in the north east. only half an hour from Aberdeen. There’s the superb 18-hole Laird’s Course and the 9-hole alternative of Trump International Golf Links is the dream the Queen’s Course. In addition to this, Inchmarlo has of American billionaire Donald Trump whose a 25-bay floodlit driving range. The Laird’s course was mother hails from the Isle of Lewis. Trump’s voted Best New British Course by Golf Links magazine long search for the perfect parcel of land on which declared it a ‘true Highland treasure’. which to build his ideal links golf course ended when he set his eyes on a stretch of coastline Another great asset to the area is the Paul Lawrie 12 miles north of Aberdeen. Golf Centre in Aberdeen which offers some of the finest facilities in the country. Golfers of all ages The course, which opened in 2012, follows the and abilities come to this state-of-the-art facility classic links pattern of two out-and-back loops of to practise and hone their game.