Cruden Bay vs Brora

[ed_getka]

I am waffling whether to play Brora or Cruden Bay on my trip. Which do you prefer, and a little blurb why would be nice. Thanks.

[Bill Weber]

It all depends on the other courses on your itinerary. If playing Dornoch it's an easy trip up to Brora to do a quick 18 the same day.
If near Aberdeen Cruden Bay is a must play. It's a long way between the two and really not in the either or category.

[Dan Grossman]

Ed -

I would play Cruden Bay, hands down.  The atmosphere at Cruden Bay is unreal.  The golf course, is even better.  Cruden Bay has a ton of interesting holes and shots.  Its one of the few courses where I think that the element of chance adds to the experience.  Trying to finese it through the neck on #3 to drive the green...trying to get your drive to run up the slope to the green on #8..the excitement of hitting your approach on #14 and tee shot on #15 and then running up to find out where it stopped.  Add those fun shots with some really difficult holes (#4, #6, #7, #9, #16, #18) and you have got one great golf course.

Brora is a neat golf course, but wasn't as fun or charming as Cruden Bay.  I may be a biased since I have played Cruden Bay 4 times and Brora only once.  When I was there last summer, Brora was so baked out that it was a bit severe given its small greens.  I can tell you with certainty, that if you go play Cruden Bay you will not be disappointed.

Here are some pictures of CB to whet your appetite.
#5 from the tee


#8 from the tee


View of #15 green and #16 from #9 tee

[Mike Erdmann]

I love 'em both, but I don't hesitate a bit in recommending Cruden Bay.  Brora is charming for it's simplicity, for a remote feeling of the way golf was 150 years ago, but it just doesn't enthrall me in the way that Cruden Bay does.

[ForkaB]

CB is probably a little better than Brora, but not much.  Both can be a lot of fun, in their own ways.  I don't think the extra 4-5 hours drive time is worth going to Cruden Bay, but I'm a minority on this site.  Here are the pros and cons:

Cruden Bay:  longer, more spectacular holes, larger greens, no cows or sheep, weak start, great middle, weak finish, on the beaten track, great views from clubhouse, many chances of losing golf balls

Brora:  off the beaten track, sheep and cows, greater design integrity, smaller harder greens, better collection of par 3s, othe holes steady rather than spectacular, zero chance of losing a golf ball, great views from clubhouse

Whichever you choose, you won't go wrong.

Enjoy

[paul westland]

Ed: I played CB on the last day of March, one year ago, in a 25-30 mph breeze, and added the St. Olaf nine at the end of the day, in stronger breezes. A welcoming place, astonishingly easy access from Aberdeen.  Montrose, south of Aberdeen, was 18 Pounds a round, prior to 1 April, a personal favorite......   PW

[ed_getka]

Thanks gents for the advice.

[Robert Thompson]

Gentlemen: I would agree that Brora is great fun and well worth seeing if one is near Dornoch. Sometimes a second round on that great course can be too much, especially if the wind is blowing, making Brora a great option. Fun, interesting, and a true links where it is hard to lose a ball.
That said, Cruden Bay is world-class, a great links with modern touches, which is probably what appealed to Pete Dye when he saw the course. The fourth through the 15th are as good as it gets. Of course the 14th and 15th -- which both feature unusual blind shots, can be off-putting to some. I enjoyed them both.

Robert

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

CB CB CB. And if in the Dornoch area anyway then RD RD RD then a Brora.

[Darren_Kilfara]

There is only ONE answer, and that is Cruden Bay. I love Brora, but it's not even close...drive the distance to see CB, period.

DK

[plabatt]

 ::)Golf World, British publication, always rates Cruden Bay in its 100 top UK-Irish courses.  2002 issues rates it 57th down from 32nd in 2000.  And, if you are near CB secure a tee time at Royal Aberdeen.  Ronnie McAskill, RA's pro is a great host.  If you are fit, book for the day, not the round.  Lunch in the clubhouse is a memorable experience.  
There are two items that you must take onto the course with you: a bottle of water and the Strokesaver for the course.  In American terms, Strokesaver is a detailed yardage book.  Strokesaver is a commercial venture in Paisley that has a web-site (use google).  When you order you will recieve the books within 5 days.

Hit them straight, if not the whins will gobble your ball.
Peter

[James Edwards]

Thank you for posting those pictures Dan,  as far as I am concerned, looking at the 3rd picture of 15 and 16, what an education in how to tackle paths on a golf course...

[Stan Dodd]

Greting Ed,
How much do you like driving? Do you want to spend time in the ca or golfing? Brora is a womderful experience and is so close to Dornoch.
I have played Cruden about 15 times and it is great fun and challenge.  But if youonly have time for one round stay in Dornoch, play Brora and the play Dornoch again.  Cruden reveals herself to you after multiple plays.
Oh don't get a stroke saver, there are yardage markers.  Keep your head out of the damn books and see the course for yourself.  IMHO too many Americans bring their yardage menatality and miss the great thing about links golf, playing by feel. Unless you are so good it makes a difference if you are 178 or 181.
Have a great trip.
Cheers
Stan

[ed_getka]

No worries whitey, I wouldn't be caught dead with a strokesaver or yardage books, although I do profess a fondness for 150 yard markers that I hope to overcome on my maiden voyage to Scotland. See it, feel it, hit it. I can't wait!

[Stan Dodd]

Great attitude Ed.  You will have a great trip. Can't wait for the report.

[Dan Grossman]

Ed-

Where are you playing?  Have you figured out your itinerary yet?

[ed_getka]

Dornoch for sure
Cruden Bay for sure
TOC for sure
Elie probably
North Berwick for sure
possibly Machrihanish (if Neil Regan gets on a plane to meet me then definitely)

[Matthew Delahunty]

Ed,

If that's the order it sound similar to my trip last August. I started out at Dornoch/Brora and then came down the east coast (Cruden Bay, RA, Carnoustie, TOC). I did Machrihanish at the end. I played TOC one day and Machrihanish the next.  Machrihanish is about a 5-6 hour drive from the east coast (I was coming from Dundee but Edinburgh/NB would be a similar trip). It's achievable but only if you've got time on your side at it would probably require an overnight stay. The trip along the Kintyre Peninsula takes more time that you think it will and the problem is it's down and back up so you double up on the travel to and from there (4-5 hours back to Glasgow). If you do get there you won't be disappointed. It's probably the only course where I could have played a day after TOC and still been amazed by some of the green complexes.

I agree with playing the more spectacular Cruden Bay over Brora but if you find an extra few hours after playing Dornoch, Brora is 20 minutes away and worth a look.

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