- Best Aberdeenshire & Angus Golf Courses, East Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Why is Golf in Aberdeenshire Special?
The historic county of North East Scotland. Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, yet features some of the finest golf courses including Royal Aberdeen, Trump International Scotland and Cruden Bay.
Aberdeenshire is one of Scotland’s most exciting places to live, with quaint coastal towns, historic villages and cities.
View our course and then jump over to our Golf Tour Packages page for the latest Offers.
— Golf Courses
Golf Courses You Can Play in Aberdeenshire
Cruden Bay
Old Tom Morris
Style: Links
Par: 70
Cruden Bay is situated on the east coast of Scotland 23 miles north of Aberdeen, 8 miles south of Peterhead and only a two hour drive from St Andrews, the “Home of Golf”.
The Course offers an internationally famous golfing experience – old fashioned links golf at its best – on one of the best links courses in Scotland.
Creating unique challenges demanding the skills of power, placement and fine judgement upon the discerning golfer.
Set against a backdrop of subtly contoured greens and magnificent panoramic views, our Course truly justifies the accolades it receives.
Duff House Royal
Dr Alister Mackenzie
Style: Parklands
Par: 68
Duff House Royal is a challenging par 68 for Gents or a par 72 for Ladies. It is bounded by the River Deveron, which proves to be a hazard at a number of holes.
Duff House Royal has achieved an excellent reputation for providing an outstanding course with large MacKenzie two-tiered and double greens.
It was redesigned in 1923, by the legendary Dr Alister MacKenzie, who also designed the world-famous Augusta National, Home of The Masters. Duff House Royal still, till this day, retains the design set out by MacKenzie.
Although close to the sea, the course is a flat, beautifully manicured parkland course with little rough, many well positioned bunkers and trees, which make the course a severe but fair challenge to golfers of all abilities.
Nestling in the middle of the course is Duff House, considered one of the grandest classical country houses built in the 18th century and designed by William Adam.
Fraserburgh
James Braid & Sir Henry Cotton
Style: Links
Par: 70
The 7th oldest Club in the World, is one of those rare treasures these days – a hidden gem in a beautiful setting.
One of our visitors wrote the following – “This is a real links course. The out nine are tough, especially in the north-east wind, but the back nine are very playable, with several interesting holes which require careful positioning.
Take the time out before or after your round to enjoy the ambience and facilities here at Fraserburgh. Facilities include a full Bar and lounge area, Full Visitor locker area with Shower facilities and all your golfing requirements catered for with Buggy's, Electric and Manual Trollies available for hire also.
Murcar Links
Archie Simpson & James Braid
Style: Links
Par: 71
Murcar Links is a 6516yard par 71 (SSS 73, US Slope rating 135) which frequently features in the top 100 courses in the UK and VisitScotland Top 40 Great Scottish Links Collection.
Murcar Links also provides a 9 hole course, the Strabathie Layout, a full length driving range with covered bays, short game area and putting areas.
The course was established in 1909 to the design of Archie Simpson, with later refinements in the 1930’s by celebrated course designed James Braid, with more recent improvements sympathetic to Simpson and braids design by Graeme Webster of Team Niblick.
Newburgh
Dr Alister Mackenzie
Style: Parklands
Par: 68
Consistently featuring in Scotland’s Top 100 Courses and ranked 6th best course in Aberdeenshire this Par 72, CSS 72, 6423 yard championship links provides a challenge for all abilities.
We pride ourselves on having a well presented course with true running greens and firm fairways you will be sure to have a memorable game of golf.
Peterhead
Designer: Willie Park Jnr
Style: Links
Par: 70
Set among the dunes and across the Craigewan links the course is a classic example of Scottish seaside golf at its best - and the toughest.
Royal Aberdeen
Willie Park Jnr
Style: Links
Par: 70
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club was founded in 1780 as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen and became the Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815.
Until 1888 members played on the Queen's Links close to the city before moving across the River Don to the links at Balgownie.
The Course was originally designed by the Simpson Brothers, Archie and Robert of Carnoustie and later re-bunkered and lengthened by James Braid to ensure our classic links kept pace with the modern game.
The club's 'Royal' patronage was awarded by Edward VII in 1903.
Royal Tarlair
TBC
Style: Links
Par: 71
On the Magical Moray Firth Coastline at Macduff you will find Royal Tarlair Golf Course.
The signature hole "Clivet", lies in wait she alone is worth the visit and guarantees a thrilling encounter each and every time you play this North East Jewel.
Trump Aberdeen
Dr Martin Hawtree
Style: Links
Par: 72
This incredible course follows a classical pattern of two out-and-back loops of nine holes.
All 18 holes thread their way engagingly through The Great Dunes of Scotland; rising to find panoramic views of the North Sea and dramatic coastline, and plunging into secluded valleys rich with native vegetation.
Each hole has six separate tees catering for all levels of golfer. The bunkers are placed to challenge the stronger player and not unduly punish the weaker golfer.
All bunkers are turf-revetted in traditional style to combat wind, erosion and sand-blow.
—Where To Stay
Accommodation in Aberdeenshire
- Marcliffe, Aberdeen
- Banff Springs, Banff
- Fife Lodge, Banff
- Malmaison, Aberdeen
- Sandman Signature, Aberdeen
- Ardoe House, Aberdeen
- Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel
- Kilmarnock Arms, Cruden Bay
- The Dunes, Cruden Bay
- Best Aberdeenshire & Angus Golf Courses, East Scotland
Angus
Everything You Need to Know About Angus?
Angus region is home to some of the finest golf courses, including The Open venue, Carnoustie, as well as the fifth oldest golf course in the world, The 1562 Course at Montrose.
With 30 golf courses to choose from. There’s a mix of inland and links courses along the east coast of Scotland, Angus really is a fabulous golfing destination.
— Golf Courses
Golf Courses You Can Play in Angus
Carnoustie Championship
Alan Robertson & Old Tom Morris
Style: Links
Par: 70
The Championship Course has hosted eight Open Championships, two Women’s Open and two Seniors Open making it one of the very few to have done so in the UK.
It is one of three courses used for the annual Dunhill Links, the others being Kingsbarns and the Old Course in St Andrews and in 2018 The Open Championship returned to the course.
In 2018, the Championship Course was voted Best Golf Course in Scotland over £100 by the general public, the second time it has won the award in the past three years.
Carnoustie
Buddon
Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss
Style: Links
Par: 68
The Carnoustie Buddon Course opened for play as an 18 hole course back in 1981 when Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss designed the original course on former Ministry of Defence land.
All the holes are named after battles as recognition to the military, who have been good neighbours to Carnoustie since the 1830’S. On the seaward side of the course you will see one of the most important army training areas in the whole of Britain.
The Carnoustie Buddon Links is a fantastic test of golf with great natural beauty. It starts and finishes as a links course with several holes in the middle of the round tree-lined.
Boasting attractive lakes rich with local wildlife especially on the 11th hole, this course consistently creates a great experience for all golfers.
Carnoustie
Burnside
James Braid
Style: Links
Par: 68
The Burnside oozes character and from the back tees is a splendid test of golf.
Many of the short holes could grace the top links courses around with the 5th & 14th in particular providing dramatic challenges for the player who strives to gain their Par 3.
The finish is also strong with the 17th proving to be one of the hardest par 4’s that can be found anywhere in golf and many a score has been ruined by the out of bounds fence at the 18th.
Panmure
Old Tom Morris & James Braid
Style: Links
Par: 70
Panmure is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, dating back to 1845 and are one of the 24 clubs that originally helped purchase the Amateur Championship trophy first played for in 1885.
The course combines the best elements of links and heathland, with tight fairways, challenging carries, undulating greens and sandhills forged by nature.
The touches of heather add a wonderful texture to the course and the moderately undulating hillocks add visual appeal as well as imparting their strategic influence.
Monifieth
Allan Robertson & Old Tom Morris
Style: Links
Par: 71
The Medal course was used as a qualifying venue for the Seniors Open Championship in 2016 and the world renowned R&A Junior Open in 2022. The course is widely recognised as an excellent example of an east coast championship links course.
With a railway, a meandering burn, heather, gorse, undulating fairways and sandy hillocks to contend with golf is never boring. At 6655 from the back tees it’s a tough but fair links challenge.
The Ashludie course is shorter, trickier and a short game exponent’s idea of heaven. Maintained as beautifully and carefully as the Medal course, there’s a real variety of shot making required.
At 5123 yards at its longest, it’s less taxing on the legs but an experience you will remember.
Arbroath
Old Tom Morris, James Braid
Style: Links
Par: 70
Arbroath Golf Course is a traditional links course with a great pedigree. Designed originally by Old Tom Morris in 1877 the course was updated by Willie Fernie in 1907 and then in 1931 the great James Braid did a re-design.
Dunes run the length of the course on the seaward side which means the wind is always a factor. Besides the sea breezes there are over 70 bunkers to contend with and Braid bunkers can be penal.
An out of bounds runs down the length of the course on the first 7 holes and comes into play on the 13th and 18th holes on the right hand side of the course.
Three burns run across the course towards the sea and come into play on 8 holes.
Montrose
Harry Colt
Style: Links
Par: 71
The 1562 Course at Montrose Links (previously known as Medal Course) is a majestic layout in the true traditions of Scottish links golf and has played host to many important events in its history.
These include the Scottish Professional Championship in 1967 and 1970, the Scottish Amateur Championship in 1975 and the British Boys Championship and Internationals in 1991.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club honored the Links in being chosen as a final qualifying golf course for the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999 and again in 2007.
Located on the links between the town of Montrose and the coast, the Montrose 1562 Golf Course is recognized as the fifth oldest golf course in the world. Golf has been played on the 1562 Course since at least 1562.
Described as "a magnificent stretch of marvellously natural ground" the course challenges golfers with its undulating fairways and fast greens, made more difficult when the wind whips inland from the sea. The par-71 golf course measures 6,585 yards.
—Where To Stay
Accommodation in Angus
- Carnoustie Hotel, Carnoustie
- Apex Hotel, Dundee
- Beach House, Carnoustie
—Where To Golf