Cruden Bay: Under the Spotlight

Located a short 30-minute drive from the city of Aberdeen, on the northeast coast of Scotland, lies an Old Tom Morris-designed classic links course that is truly one of a kind. Situated along the Bay of Cruden, this 18-hole masterpiece has been open for over 120 years, with golf in the area dating back even further. Along with the 18-hole Championship Course, Cruden Bay Golf Club also offers a 9-hole course called the St. Olaf Course, also designed by Old Tom Morris.

The Championship Course tops out at a touch over 6,600 yards from the furthest tees and while it may not be long, accuracy and strategy will be key to scoring well. Due to its close proximity to the coast, the course ebbs and flows throughout tall sand dunes and the course sets up in form of a figure 8, with holes 8 and 16 as the cross-over point.

The natural dunes throughout the course make the fairways very humpy and bumpy with flat lies being very rare apart from the tee boxes. Holes 1-3 play out towards the cliffs and then hole 4 goes down towards the water. Holes 5-7 play parallel to the water before 8 crosses over inland. 9-12 play away from the water before 13-16 turn around and play along the water again while the last two holes play back inland towards the clubhouse.

Due to the secluded nature of the golf course, you will want to stay in the city of Aberdeen and drive out to the course at Cruden Bay. Other courses around Aberdeen that pair well with Cruden Bay are Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Golf Links near the city and the Trump International Golf Links halfway between Cruden and Aberdeen. A golf tour to Aberdeen can be paired with the golf in the Inverness area as it is a 2 hour and 20-minute ride between the cities.

Recommended package

• 4 nights accommodation at the Meldrum House Hotel
• 3 rounds of golf at: Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen & Trump International

View package: 4 nights, 3 rounds in Aberdeen