North East

Aboyne Golf Club sits on Royal Deeside in the heart of Aberdeenshire, offering a scenic parkland course with views towards the surrounding hills. The club has a welcoming, family-friendly membership and a busy visitor trade typical of the Deeside golfing towns. It remains a popular stop for golfers touring the North East Scotland golf trail.

Alford Golf Club lies in the Vale of Alford, its parkland course set against the backdrop of the surrounding Aberdeenshire hills. The club has a strong local membership drawn from the Alford and Donside area, and offers a welcoming atmosphere for visitors and societies. It remains a well-used community golfing base in the heart of rural Aberdeenshire.

Auchmill Golf Club is a members' club playing over the municipal Auchmill course on the northern edge of Aberdeen, with its own clubhouse and social premises. The club offers an accessible route into competitive club golf away from the city's private courses. It maintains an active membership and a full calendar of club fixtures throughout the season.

Founded in 1892 on land owned by the Laird of Invercauld, Ballater Golf Club expanded from nine to eighteen holes in 1905 as further farmland became available. The heathland-parkland course runs alongside the River Dee within a dramatic circle of Deeside hills, giving it one of the most scenic settings in North East Scotland golf. The club remains a popular destination for both members and visitors touring Royal Deeside.

Banchory Golf Club was established in 1905 with the original course laid out with advice from Archie Simpson, and is known today for its distinctive octagonal clubhouse. Set on Royal Deeside, the layout blends parkland and heathland characteristics amid indigenous pines, birch and heather. It remains one of the most attractive and popular clubs in the Deeside golfing corridor.

Braemar Golf Club boasts over a century of golfing heritage and holds the distinction of being the highest 18-hole golf course in the United Kingdom, set within the Cairngorms National Park. The course winds along the flood plain of the River Clunie amid parkland and heathland terrain, where golfers may spot eagles and red deer. Its dramatic mountain scenery makes it one of the most memorable stops on the North East golfing trail.

In the early 1930s, during a period of high unemployment in the herring fishing industry, the local council at Buckpool decided to address this problem by constructing a golf course on farmland close to the town centre. One of the Great Triumvirate, five-time Open champion J.H. Taylor, was tasked with laying out the new 18-hole course and although a few minor modifications have been made down the years, it’s his design that’s still in operation today.…

Craibstone Golf Club, operated by Marshall Leisure, sits on the northern edge of Aberdeen at Bucksburn and offers an 18-hole course alongside the Brimmond Bistro and a golf studio offering coaching. The venue serves both members and visitors, with corporate membership options reflecting its proximity to the city's business community. It remains a well-equipped, accessible golfing venue for golfers across north Aberdeen.

The village (and former royal burgh) of Cullen lies on the Moray coast, around twenty miles west of Elgin. Famous for a culinary delight known as Cullen Skink – a traditional soup made from smoked haddock, milk, potato and onion – it was once a thriving centre for fishing but nowadays its harbour is used mainly by pleasure craft. The golf club was formed in 1870, with Old Tom Morris setting out the original 9-hole layout alongside Cullen Bay. Thirty-five…

Deeside Golf Club lies in Bieldside on the western fringe of Aberdeen, offering a parkland course close to the River Dee. The club has a long-standing local membership drawn from the Cults and Bieldside area, and maintains a full programme of club and open competitions. Its convenient city-edge location makes it a popular choice for Aberdeen golfers.

Duff House Royal Golf Club was laid out in 1909 by Archie Simpson on land gifted by the Duke of Fife, and remodelled in 1923 by the celebrated architect Alister MacKenzie. Princess Louise, Dowager Duchess of Fife, became the club's patroness in 1925 and requested the 'Royal' title be added as a suffix rather than a prefix, making it the only royal golf club styled this way. The parkland course beside the River Deveron remains one of the finest inland tests in North East Scotland.

Dufftown Golf Club was established in November 1896 and celebrated its centenary in 1996, with a clubhouse pavilion dating from 1930 that was once considered one of the best equipped in the north. The course was ploughed for crops during the Second World War and reinstated in 1956, reflecting the resilience of this small Speyside whisky-country club. It continues to serve the Dufftown community with a full calendar of golf and social activities.

Fraserburgh Golf Club is the world's seventh oldest golf club, formally established on 14 April 1777 by nineteen local landowners, although golf is recorded as having been played on the site as far back as 1613. The club moved to its present Philorth Links location in 1891 and the championship Corbiehill course was substantially reshaped by James Braid in 1922, with further work in 1976 involving Sir Henry Cotton. A newer nine-hole Rosehill course now sits alongside the historic championship links.

Hazlehead Golf Club plays over Aberdeen's municipal Hazlehead courses, a well-used public golf complex on the western edge of the city offering both an 18-hole and a shorter 9-hole layout. The club provides an accessible route into competitive club golf for Aberdeen golfers away from the city's private courses. It maintains an active membership and a full fixture list throughout the year.

Huntly Golf Club was established in 1892 and sits in a picturesque setting between the Rivers Deveron and Bogie, close to Huntly Castle. The semi-private parkland course has been modernised in recent years with a new clubhouse while retaining its historic character. It remains a welcoming club open to golfers of all abilities in the heart of Aberdeenshire.

Insch Golf Club has a colourful history: its original course, built before the First World War, was repurposed as a grenade range during wartime and golf disappeared from the area entirely before the club's triumphant return in 1982. A major expansion to a full 18-hole course followed in 1997, along with a new clubhouse, helping establish it as one of Aberdeenshire's hidden gems. It continues to draw golfers to this quiet corner of the Garioch.

Inverallochy Golf Club was established in 1884 and plays over a traditional Scottish links course between the villages of Inverallochy and St Combs on the Aberdeenshire coast. Every hole offers a sea view, and the addition of some 50 bunkers over the years has enhanced its challenging, traditional character. The club remains steeped in the fishing and golfing heritage of this stretch of coastline.

Inverurie Golf Club was established in 1888 and lies within the picturesque Aberdeenshire countryside on the edge of the town. The club has a long-standing local membership and a full programme of club and open competitions throughout the year. Its convenient Garioch location makes it a popular club for golfers across the Inverurie and Kintore area.

Keith Golf Club is a semi-private parkland course established in 1962 in the Speyside town of Keith. The 18-hole layout offers a full range of club facilities including a driving range and putting green alongside its clubhouse. It continues to serve the local Banffshire and Moray golfing community with a full calendar of club events.

Founded in 1908, Kemnay Golf Club is regarded as one of the premier inland courses in North East Scotland, just 25 minutes' drive from Aberdeen. The parkland layout is characterised by extensive tree cover and fine views over Bennachie, offering a contrast to the region's many links courses. It remains a well-regarded club for both members and visiting golfers.

King's Links Golf Course is a historic municipal links course on Aberdeen's seafront, shared by several of the city's long-standing resident clubs including Bon Accord, Northern and Caledonian, none of which owns the course itself.

Kintore Golf Club was established in 1911 and designed by architect Graeme Webster, combining a classic older nine with a newer nine featuring tree-lined fairways and burn crossings. The course offers panoramic views across the River Don towards Bennachie and the wider Grampian range. Its blend of heritage and modern design has made it a well-regarded club in the Garioch area.

Longside Golf Club serves the Buchan village of Longside near Peterhead with a compact, friendly course and clubhouse. The club has a close local membership and a full calendar of club competitions through the season. It remains a well-loved community golfing base in rural Aberdeenshire.

McDonald Golf Club in Ellon takes its name from Sir James McDonald, who in 1926 gifted the old woodlands to the people of the town for the creation of a golf course. What began as a nine-hole course through mature forest has since expanded to eighteen holes, with a newer nine running alongside a historic stream. The club remains a well-used community course serving the growing town of Ellon.

Meldrum House Golf Club sits on a historic estate dating back to 1236, though its parkland course was only developed in the 1990s by architect Graeme Webster. The layout features water hazards, mature trees and undulating greens, with ospreys and deer regular visitors to the grounds. An extensive 25-acre driving range with target greens complements the course as part of the wider hotel and country estate.

Organised golf has been played at Moray Golf Club since the club was formed back in 1889, when Old Tom Morris laid out the inaugural 9-hole course for the founding members. Later enlarged to a full 18-hole track, the Old course is acknowledged as one of the finest in all of Scotland. A 9-hole Ladies course was brought into play in 1905 and this remained the relief course at Moray until 1979, when it was incorporated into Sir Henry Cotton’s design for the…

Only regular visitors to the southern shore of the Moray Firth will be convinced that this part of the north of Scotland is blessed with such a favourable climate that it's not unusual to see golf played on every day of the year. Happily, this assertion is true and golfers have been enjoying that fact since Moray Golf Club was founded in 1889. Old Tom Morris, who became a frequent visitor and played a number of exhibition matches in the early days,…

Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club was established in 1888 by John Udny and fellow founders, and has been reshaped several times over the decades, most significantly in 1994 when new land allowed the construction of a new front nine, completed in 1996 as an 18-hole championship links. The course is known for blind shots, fast fairways and punch bowl greens beside the Ythan estuary. A purpose-built clubhouse opened in 2001 between the 1st and 10th tees.

The Hawkshill Course, Newmachar's more demanding Dave Thomas-designed championship layout.

The Swailend Course, Newmachar's second course, opened in 1997 to offer a gentler test.

Nigg Bay Golf Club was established in 1955 and is based in the Torry district of Aberdeen, playing over the Balnagask links course managed by Sport Aberdeen. The hilly, testing layout offers panoramic views across the city and benefits from fantastic drainage allowing play all year round. The club provides a welcoming social base for members and visitors alike.

Oldmeldrum Golf Club occupies a parkland site northwest of Aberdeen in the Formartine countryside. The club has a settled local membership and offers a full programme of club and society golf. Its position close to Meldrum House and the wider Garioch golfing area makes it a convenient stop for touring golfers.

Peterculter Golf Club was established in 1991 and offers a parkland course along the River Dee with views towards the Grampian Mountains. Conveniently placed on the edge of Aberdeen, the club has built a strong membership since opening and offers a full programme of club and visitor golf. Its riverside setting makes it a scenic addition to the city's golfing options.

Dating from 1841 and ranked among the eighteen oldest golf clubs in the world, Peterhead moved to its present Craigewan Links site at the mouth of the River Ugie in 1892, where Open champion Willie Park Jr. laid out a traditional links that was extended to eighteen holes by 1908. A par-70 test by the North Sea, the club's long and occasionally turbulent history includes a landowner's dispute in the 1890s that nearly ended the club altogether.

Portlethen Golf Club was established in 1981 after local landowner Willie Donald donated 138 acres for a course to serve the growing village of Portlethen. Designed by renowned architect Donald Steel, the course opened for play in 1989 and has since added enhanced clubhouse facilities for events and dining. It remains a popular club for the fast-growing commuter town just south of Aberdeen.

The Silverburn Course, Royal Aberdeen's second, shorter course.

Royal Tarlair Golf Club was established in 1923 and occupies a dramatic clifftop site above Macduff on the Moray Firth coast. The par-3 13th hole, known as 'Clivet', is renowned among Scottish golfers for its spectacular coastal views and is often said to be worth the green fee alone. The club's royal title reflects its standing among Scotland's collection of royally-designated clubs.

According to geologist, geographer and golf consultant Robert Price’s book Scotland’s Golf Courses , “a different type of links course is to be found at Spey Bay. An 18-hole course has been laid out on a series of raised, storm-beach ridges which accumulated during periods of higher relative sea level some 6,000 years ago.” He continues: “The ridges consist of boulders and pebbles and largely coincide with the rough of gorse and heather, whilst the…

Stonehaven Golf Club was established on 13 April 1888 and moved to its present clifftop site in 1897. Open Champion George Duncan was closely associated with the club, and five-time Open winner James Braid played a challenge match there in 1906 before helping plan course improvements. A German bomb dropped on the course in August 1940 left a crater still visible today, colloquially known as 'Hitler's Bunker'.

Strathlene Golf Club was founded in 1877 and is one of Scotland's older golf clubs, its links course offering spectacular views from cliff-top holes along the Moray Firth. The layout combines holes over 120 years old with more recently redesigned sections, and dolphins are regularly spotted from the course. It remains a scenic and historic addition to the Banffshire golfing coast.

Turriff Golf Club was founded in 1896 and extended to eighteen holes in 1976, its inland course running along the River Deveron. The layout is known for its challenging par-4 holes, including a formidable seventh hole of over 440 yards and the aptly named 'Wee Devil' par-3 fourth. It remains a well-respected club in the heart of Aberdeenshire's farming country.

Westhill Golf Club was founded in 1977 to serve the then-new commuter town of Westhill on the western edge of Aberdeen. The undulating parkland course offers spectacular views across the surrounding countryside towards Royal Deeside. It remains a popular club for golfers living in and around one of Aberdeenshire's fastest-growing towns.