The Golf Courses of Aberdeenshire

[Adrian_Stiff]

1   ROYAL ABERDEEN   18   6624   70   1780   Archie Simpson ren James Braid
2   CRUDEN BAY   18   6395   70   1899   Tom Morris, Archie Simpson, Tom Simpson, ren: Frank Pont
3        FRASERBURGH   27   6308   70   1881   James Braid
4   MURCAR   27   6287   71   1909   Archie Simpson
5   DEESIDE   27   6264      1903   <.........> ren: Robin Hiseman
6   NEWMACHER HAWKSHILL   36   6659   72   1989   Dave Thomas
7   BANCHORY   18   5781   68   1905   
8   KEMNAY   18   6342   71   1908   Archie Simpson & Greens of Scotland
9   DUFF HOUSE ROYAL   18   6161   70   1910   Dr A & Maj C MacKenzie
10   INCHMARLO   27   6218   71   1995   Graeme WebsterCOURSE NOW CLOSED MOVE TO NLE
11   PETERCULTER   18   6207   70   1989   E. Lappin
12   TURRIFF   18   6145   69   1896   G M Fraser
13   INVERURIE   18   5711   68   1923   J. M. Stutt & Geoff Smith
14   NEWBURGH-ON-YTHAN   18   6162   71   1888   John McAndrewGraeme Webster
15   STONEHAVEN   18   5128   66   1888   Archie Simpson
16   KEITH   18   5802   68   1963   
17   NEWMACHER SWAILEND   36   6388   72   1989   Dave Thomas
18   PORTLETHEN   18   6670   72   1983   Donald Steele
19   ROYAL TARLAIR   18   5866   68   1926   George Smith
20   STRATHLENE   18   5977   69   1877   Old Tom Morris subs redsign: George Smith Move to Moray
21   TARLAND   9   5875   68   1908   Tom Morris
22   OLDMELDRUM   18   5988   70   1885   
23   WESTHILL   18   5849   69   1977   Charles Lawrie
24   ALFORD   18   5483   69      David Hurd
25   BRAEMAR   18   4916   64   1902Alex Weir re:[[/b]   Joe Anderson
26   KINTORE   18   6019   69   1911   John MacAndrews
27   TORPHINS   9   4738   64   1896   Archie Simpson
28   CULLEN   18   4610   63   1879   Tom Morris
29   HUNTLY   18   5399   66   1892   Tom Morris re: Paul Lawrie NC says John McAndrew 1920
30   INVERALLOCHY   18   5300   66      
31   ROTHES   9   4972   68   1990   John Souter
32   KINGS LINKS   18   5838M   71 1922   J H Taylor   
33   LONGSIDE   18   5225   66      
34   LUMPHANAN   9   3718   62   1924   J Marr
35   ROSEHEARTY   9   2197   62      
36   AUCHENBLAE   9   2217   61   1894   
37   BALNAGASK   18   5472M   69   1955   Hawtree
38   HAZLEHEAD   45   5673m   70   1927    Dr A MacKenzie (very little remains
39   HAZLEHEAD 2   45   5303m   68      Brian Huggett & Niel Coles
40   DUNECHT HOUSE   9   3135   70   1925   
41   ABOYNE   18   5910   68   1883   <      >Archie Simpson
42   AUCHMILL   18   5883   70   1975   Coles / Huggett
43   BALLATER   18   6094   69   1892   James Braid  subs redesigned: Dr A MacKenzie
44   INSCH   18   5350   67      
45   McDONALD   18   5991   70   1927   
46   MELDRUM HOUSE   18   6379   70   1998   Graeme Webster
47   PETERHEAD   27   6173   71   1841   Willie Park / James Braid
48    CRUDEN BAY 9 ST OLAF Alex Weir re: John McAndrew & Tom Simpson
49    TRUMP        18  7000?  2012 Martin Hawtree
50    ABERDEEN (Silverburn) 18
52    COLLISTON 18  1900 Tom Morris & Archie Simpson NLE
53     KIPPIE LODGE 9 1525 28 Graeme Webster
54    FYVIE 9 5534 70
55     PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE 9 1217 27 Graeme Webster
56     CRAIBSTONE 18 5870 69 Graeme Webster
57      BUCKPOOL   J H Taylor & Hawtree

[Adrian_Stiff]

I have a database of all/most of the Golf Courses of the United Kingdom, together with the length, par, date formed and architect. The information I have sourced from various books over the years, I also have their golf world rankings for the various years (though have not included that for ease). It would be great if we could collectively fill in the gaps for the architects, we may need to add various course revisions. I am happy for any one on here to use the database and will forward it on to anyone who wants to help contribute. It will hopefully grow with updates. Its a few years old since I updated it and there is no TRUMP for instance. The number indicates its ranking in that county, I have just collated information from magazines and added a points system, I awarded points for staging events like county championships, regional championships....so there are some wild positions no doubt.

Best Regards
Adrian

Adrian@theplayersgolfclub.com

[Adam Lawrence]

Robin Hiseman did a pretty extensive renovation of Deeside in the 1990s (I don't know who the original architect was).

[Adrian_Stiff]

Cheers Adam, I will just keep updating the masterlist at the top.

[David_Tepper]

Adrian -

My 19-year old copy of The Sunday Telegraph Golf Course Guide To Britain & Ireland (Donald Steel) can fill in some of the blanks:

Kemnay, designed by Greens of Scotland Ltd.
Peterculter, designed by E. Lappin
Inverurie, designed by G. Smith and J.M. Stutt
Royal Tarlair, designed by George Smith
Alford, designed by David Hurd
Braemar, designed by Joe Anderson
Rothes, designed by John Souter
Balnagask, designed by Hawtree & Son
Ballater, designed by James Braid

DT

[Thomas Dai]

Adrian,

A very nice listing. Well done for compiling. A couple of comments -

1   ROYAL ABERDEEN   18   6624   70   1780   Archie Simpson - main course heavily revised in the 1920's by James Braid - at the same site there's also the 18-hole Silverburn course, although that is also part of Aberdeen Ladies GC
2   CRUDEN BAY   18   6395   70   1899   Tom Simpson - plus the 9-hole St Olaf course - not sure who laid that out but holes 6-7-8 are great
6   NEWMACHER HAWKSHILL   36   6659   72   1989   Dave Thomas - there is also a second 18-hole course, the Swailend, laid out in the late 1990's, again by Dave Thomas
14  NEWBURGH-ON-YTHAN   18   6162   71   1888 - extended from 9-holes to 18-holes in the 1990's, not sure of the GCA
20 OLDMELDRUM   18   5988   70   1885 - extended from 9-holes to 18-holes in the 1990's, not sure of the GCA
26   KINTORE   18   6019   69   1911 - extended from 9-holes to 18-holes in the 1990's, not sure of the GCA
38   HAZLEHEAD   45   5673m   70   1927   - the original MacKenzie course
39   HAZLEHEAD 2   45   5303m   68   1927 - I believe this course was a Neil Coles/Brian Huggett course laid out in the 1970's - there is also a 9-hole course, not sure from when it dates or who laid it out
41   ABOYNE   18   5910   68   1883 - extended from 9-holes to 18-holes in the late 1980's, not sure of the GCA

East Aberdeenshire GC, west of the A92 at Balmedie - came and went in the late 1990's-2000's

Incidentally, there was once a course at Colliestone - just south of the village of the same name during the early part of the 20th century.

All the best

[ward peyronnin]

I wandered around Newburgh On  YThian and met the club Capt some years ago.

My recollection is that Old Tom had a hand in the original nine and the second nine was added by Paul Lawrie who spent time at the club early in his golfing life

[Brian_Ewen]

Huntly - Old Tom Morris

[Jim Nugent]

Pardon my geographical ignorance: is Trump International in Aberdeenshire? 

Also, was Royal Aberdeen really built in 1780? 

[Adam Lawrence]

Jim, yes, Trump is in Aberdeenshire, about four or five miles north of the city (and Royal Aberdeen and Murcar). The Royal Aberdeen club was indeed founded in 1780 (it claims to be the sixth oldest in the world). The club played elsewhere in the city for its first hundred years ago, and moved to its present site, the Balgownie Links, in 1888.

[Adam Lawrence]

Inchmarlo (not Inchmario, though I like the name  ) closed a year or so ago. New owners bought the property and the nine holed is open again, but the main course is now NLE.

[Robin_Hiseman]

Adrian

I can help you out with a couple of additional courses.

Kippie Lodge 9 1525 28 Graeme Webster (private course owned and operated by Aberdeen Petroleum Club)
Fyvie 9 5534 70 (DIY job i think. I went to meet the owner but didn't get the job)
Paul Lawrie Golf Centre 9 1217 27. Another Graeme Webster

[Robin_Hiseman]

and then...

Craibstone 18 5870 69  yep, you guessed it..Graeme Webster

[Niall C]

Adrian

Happy to contribute. Let me start with Cruden Bay.

Many cooks involved in this recipe, and speaking off the top of my head with no notes but here we go;

c.1895 - Old Tom Morris lays off first course at what we now know as Cruden Bay although there already existed a private course in the grounds of Slain Castle.

1896 - 1899 - Archie Simpson oversaw construction of Old Tom course c. 1896 or 1897 and then came back for a short period prior to 1899 professional tournament to get course into shape. How much was him and how much was Old Tom is open to conjecture.

1899 - James Braid brought in to consult. Don't know what he recommended or whether work was carried out but highly likely that some work done I would have thought.

1899 - 1906 - Alex N. Weir brought in as greenkeeper/pro. Responsible for making a number of changes including laying out original ladies course c.1901.

1901 - Tom Simpson writes to GNSR with proposed changes. GNSR decide to have changes costed. No info as to what changes were or whether they were subsequently carried out.

1906 - 1908 Andrew Simpson replaces Weir when Weir moves to Turnberry. While originally from Carnoustie, no relation to Archie or Robert although did work for Robert in his workshop making golf clubs. Likely to have had hand in making changes as course evolved.

1908 - 1924 (?) (ignoring 3 years that McAndrew fought in war) John McAndrew arrived as greenkeeper/pro when Simpson moved to Duff House to construct Archie Simpson/Mure Fergusson layout. McAndrew was a St Andrews man who did his time their and then moved to work as pro at the North Western Club in Glasgow for a number of years before moving to Cruden Bay. McAndrew is perhaps the unsung hero of Cruden Bay as the course evolved into more or less what it is now during his tenure. He was responsible for designing the par 3 4th and par 3 11th and for taking the course into the sandhills at the Port Erroll end of the course. Very friendly with Simpson and likely that the two worked in tandem.

From what I have seen there was no great redesign by Simpson/Fowler in c.1926 and indeed from what I've seen I doubt Fowler was involved at all although he did play in the very early Amateur tournaments at Cruden Bay around the turn of the century.

Thereafter I think there was ongoing minor work including rebuilding 8th green after landslide and Frank Pont's par 3.  

Niall

[Adam Lawrence]

Niall - are you sure about the 1901 Tom Simpson letter? Seems way too early for him to have been involved. He'd have only been 24, not that long down from Cambridge, and every account of his career says it was the Paton/Low changes to Woking, which were happening around that time, as being the catalyst for his interest in course design.

If that letter, and the date, is legitimate, and the letter exists, it would be an amazing find.

[Niall C]

Newburgh - John McAndrew did 9 holes there while at Cruden Bay but can't recall whether they were the first nine holes or whether he extended the course to 18 holes. That would have been about 1920's.

Huntly - if it's the same course they play now, and thats not a given, John McAndrew laid out this as a nine holer in early 20's and the course was subsequently extended by St Andrews Head Greenkeeper (NOT Tom Morris) in more recent times, sorry can't remember his name. BTW, a very enjoyable course, especially the first nine holes with a couple of cracking back to back par 3's in holes 2 and 3. Also features a couple of double greens which might be the St Andrews touch.

Murcar - Simpson did this in conjunction with Harry Vardon although whether Vardon was only lending his name I'm not really sure.

Duff House Royal - new design over existing course. Dr Mac did the design and his brother did the construction.

Ballater - can't recall who did the first layout and whether it was Briad or not but MacKenzie substantially redesigned it in early 1920's as well as designing 9 hole ladies course that has subsequently been replaced by a caravan park. There has been some changes in more recent times but can't recall by who.

Strathlene - originally laid out as a nine holer by Old Tom and as at least one of the original holes still remains I think he should get some credit although what is there now is substantially a George Smith design. Incidentally this course is in Moray and not Aberdeenshire.

Buckpool - not on your list but as this course in on the other side of Buckie from Strathlene it would make sense to include it. It's a Taylor Hawtree design from early 1930's. Both courses provide some very good holiday golf on cliff top locations.

Cullen - while Old Tom did the origional layout the course was redesigned using from memory Old Tom's basic routing. Can't recall off the top of my head who was responsible but again I think it was 1920's.

Hazelhead - not sure that MacKenzie would be too happy having his name connected with this course now given the subsequent fall out and reworking of his design. You might want to chalk this one down as a joint design with the Head of Parks (or whatever his title was) at Aberdeen Council.

Niall

[Niall C]

Niall - are you sure about the 1901 Tom Simpson letter? Seems way too early for him to have been involved. He'd have only been 24, not that long down from Cambridge, and every account of his career says it was the Paton/Low changes to Woking, which were happening around that time, as being the catalyst for his interest in course design.

If that letter, and the date, is legitimate, and the letter exists, it would be an amazing find.

Adam

Unfortunately I have no letter and assume it long destroyed so I am making an assumption. I got the "Tom Simpson" link from the GNSR Committee/Board Minutes. The Minutes note that a Tom Simpson of Darwin (? - hard to read the handwritten scrawl) had written with suggestions to improve the course and decision of Committee is to have proposed work costed. While it doesn't say in the Minutes, I get the impression that the letter was unsolicited. Unfortunately there is nothing in the Minutes after that.

Darwin I took to be the name of the house, although could be wrong and it might be an antipodean visitor writing. Not sure where Simpson lived at that time but note that he gave his address in the Golfing Annual in 1906 (I think) as one of the London clubs. My thinking was that Simpson might have been spending his holidays in Port Erroll and may have been renting a house given his independent means, and that Darwin was the name of the house. Haven't followed that up yet.

Another reason for me making that assumption is that Simpson played in the Cruden Bay Amateur tournaments before WW1 and indeed reported on them in Golfing/Golf Illustrated. He also presented the Simpson Gold Medal in 1909 (off the top of my head) and subsequently became captain of the club for a number of years in the 1930's so clearly he had a strong connection to the club/area. Simpson is not an uncommon name in that area (note the previous Simpsons involved in Cruden Bay) so it is entirely possible it could be some other Simpson although given his subsequent involvement in the club, I suspect not but could well be wrong.

I'd be interested to know whether Simpson had any family connections with the area.

Niall

[Ally Mcintosh]

The extension of Newburgh to 18 was done by Graeme Webster some time in the last couple of decades, late 90's perhaps...

[Brian_Ewen]

(Why have I no way of quoting now ?)

NialL
I am not at home just now, or would have posted, but I have an article on Old Tom Morris at Huntly GC.

[Niall C]

Ally

Thanks for that, in that case McAndrew did the original nine holes in c.1922 (I think). Need to look it up to confirm.

Brian,

I'd love to have a look at that article on Old Tom at Huntly. Is it possible that the Old Tom course NLE and that McAndrews course was a replacement ? That assumes of course that the current course is the same one that McAndrew built and was later extended.

Niall

ps. re the quoting problem, if you click on the refresh button and then try to use the quote button it should work.

[Niall C]

Adrian

Not to nit-pick but I'd suggest the St Olafs course at Cruden Bay originated out of the ladies course that Weir laid out subsequent to Old Tom and Archie Simpson's involvement. No doubt the course has been rerouted and modified a number of times since, as has the main course, however suggest Weir should be the original architect with subsequent changes likely done by McAndrew/Tom Simpson to accommodate changes to main course.

Niall

[Thomas Dai]

The 9-holer at Murcar is called the Strabathie, the one at Fraserburgh is the Rosehill and the one at Peterhead (once 18-holes, now 9), is the New course. Not sure who laid them out.

These 9-hole courses, sometimes called relief or second courses, are, irrespective of their standard, pretty good facilities to have. Great places for youngsters to start playing the game before progressing onto the main courses. One of the most enlightened aspects of golf in Scotland. Wish there were 'second' more courses like them.

ATB

[David Harshbarger]

Adrian, what format is your database?  Have you considered publishing it via google docs or the like to make it generally available, or editable collaboratively?

[Adrian_Stiff]

Adrian, what format is your database?  Have you considered publishing it via google docs or the like to make it generally available, or editable collaboratively?

David - I am a bit of a dipper regarding IT. I have the database in Microsoft works, I can save it as a TXT. I can forward to someone else by email if there is a better way.

[David Harshbarger]

Adrian,

I'd love to see a copy of your data.  Would you be willing to send a txt copy to me?

Best, Dave