GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.9
4 Reviews (4)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.0
Layout
4.9
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.9
Amenities
4.8
100.0%
Recommend this course
4 out of 4 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Private
Style Links
Par 71
Length 6918 yards
Slope 144
Rating 74.8

Royal Aberdeen is the sixth oldest golf club in the world, set just north of Aberdeen on Scotland's northeast coastline. This stretch of land along the North Sea yields some of Scotland's most dramatic dunesland. The front nine especially is set on the must rugged terrain and is renowned as one of Scotland's finest. The course is considered one of Scotland's most challenging, especially with the high winds that can often be a factor on this side of the island.

Course Details

Year Built 1886
Golf Season Year round

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - £75
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Caddies Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Amex, Visa, Mastercard
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Shorts or cargo style trousers, jeans, trainers and tee shirts are UNACCEPTABLE on the Course and in the Clubhouse.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Locker Rooms

Reviews

4.9
4 Reviews (4)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Incredible links course

We were lucky to be able to play a round at this impeccable course in idyllic conditions. Tee boxes, fairways, bunkers and greens all in great condition. There is a sprinkler system so the course plays wonderfully. Big difference to Murcar Links. Wow- what a day. We can highly recommend this beautiful oceanfront links.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

First Rate Experience

In my first trip to Scotland, the first true seaside links we played was Royal Aberdeen. Downwind out and upwind in. Very challenging. Several blind shots. While I would have liked to played better on the closing stretch, I enjoyed everything about the experience. The views of the course are spectacular. The North Sea in the near distance. Large greens and several bunkers. The conditions were what I expected from links golf.

I especially commend our caddies for their knowledge and hospitality. The caddie who accompanied me, Findlay, was outstanding in terms of his club suggestions, green reads and camaraderie. It was truly a memorable round of golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Not as elite as they think it is...

I have mixed reactions to this course. The head pro was lovely, as were the wait staff within the clubhouse. With that said there is a passcode to get into said clubhouse, and I was upset to hear that a local guy with his coworkers was turned away from lunch(they wanted to pay) as they weren't members. If it's completely private then I understand, but here I am just a traveler and I was permitted to play the course so why turn away a local from lunch? The clubhouse itself needs a refurbishment too, it is neither old and quaint nor new and updated. With all that said the course itself played fairly easy as the first 7 holes are with one wind, then the 8th hole is back against that wind then 9 is like the first 7 and then 10-18 all come back to the clubhouse. Well the only hole I played into the wind was #8, as the wind itself died down after I turned to the back. Course is fairly short I played the tips and had no more than 9 iron into most of the par 4's, again, mostly downwind I grant you. Shot 81 with a collapse at the end and I'm a 6 handicap. It was fine, but not really worth the money nor the general snooty attitude, in my opinion. Basically you can find nicer courses for the money or cheaper courses that are just as good. Would go back but would not go out of my way to do so.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Golf Advisor
Previously Played
Average weather
Walked

Royal Aberdeen Balgownie links is like a novel with two distinctive halves

Royal Aberdeen Balgownie links is like a novel with two distinctive halves. The list of names of those who helped shape the course’s present form is distinctive and stretches back to it’s origin in 1886 on it’s present site. As it’s age would suggest, it adheres to a traditional “out and back” design with the North Sea as it’s companion. The front nine could well be the finest nine holes of links golf in the world, meandering over and around massive dunes. In contrast, the back nine sits on high pastureland above the links collar. Sweeping and exposed, the back nine is as stern as the front nine is whimsical. The par 3 holes stand out in particular, such as the 3rd hole, requiring a tee shot from an elevated tee some 248 yards that stands as a test of distance and accuracy when the ever-present confluence of wind is taken into account.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Nearby Courses
Bridge of Don, Aberdeen City
Private
0.0
0
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City
Private
4.4769411765
19
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City
Private
4.5714285714
5
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Municipal
0.0
0
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Municipal/Semi-Private
3.9607647059
10
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Private
3.0622529412
73
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City
Municipal
3.0
1
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City
Municipal
3.9764705882
11
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City
Municipal
4.1274705882
10
Bucksburn, Aberdeenshire
Semi-Private
0.0
0
Golf Packages

Awesome Aberdeen Golf Package

FROM $477 (USD)
ABERDEEN | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at Chester Hotel and 5 rounds of golf at Balgownie Links at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, Cruden Bay Golf Club, Trump International Golf Links at Trump International Scotland, Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club, Murcar Links.

St Andrews Signature Golf Package

FROM $517 (USD)
ST. ANDREWS | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at The Albany Hotel and 5 rounds of golf at New Course at St Andrews Links, Jubilee Course at St Andrews Links, Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society, Castle Course at St Andrews Links and Leven Links Golf Course at Leven Links Golf Club.

St Andrews Value Golf Package

FROM $327 (USD)
ST. ANDREWS | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at The Albany Hotel and 5 rounds of golf at New Course at St Andrews Links, Jubilee Course at St Andrews Links, Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society, Castle Course at St Andrews Links and Leven Links Golf Course at Leven Links Golf Club.

Scottish Highlands Hidden Gems Golf Package

FROM $277 (USD)
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at the Glen Mhor Hotel and 5 rounds of golf at Tain Golf Club, Brora Golf Club, Nairn Golf Club, Golspie Golf Club, and Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club.

Scottish Highlands Signature Golf Package

FROM $417 (USD)
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS | Enjoy 7 nights' accommodations at the Kingsmills Hotel and 5 rounds of golf at Castle Stuart Golf Links, Championship Course at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Nairn Golf Club, Brora Golf Club, and Moray Old Course at Moray Golf Club.
Now Reading