My first trip to Aberdeen coincided with the annual Offshore Europe, a huge event I was completely unaware of. This was the early days of the internet and while I managed to get the golf booked, finding a hotel was impossible and we ended up having to stay in Keith and driving for 1 1/2 hours each way for two days to play Royal Aberdeen, Murcar, Newburgh and Duff House Royal. Well worth it in retrospect but beware of Offshore Europe in early September.