Talk to me about Aberdeen

[Ira Fishman]

You sound harsh, but I don’t know what that translates to on your scale 😎.

Ciao

I think it translated to a 6, if I recall correctly.

Tom gave it a 7; Ran an 8; Masa a 5; Darius an 8.

[Ben Sims]

You sound harsh, but I don’t know what that translates to on your scale 😎.

Ciao

I think it translated to a 6, if I recall correctly.

Tom gave it a 7; Ran an 8; Masa a 5; Darius an 8.

Is there a more disparate world top 100?

[Sean_A]

You sound harsh, but I don’t know what that translates to on your scale .

Ciao

I think it translated to a 6, if I recall correctly.

Tom gave it a 7; Ran an 8; Masa a 5; Darius an 8.

8 seems high, but 5 must be from a blind man. That is a crazy low score.

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

You sound harsh, but I don’t know what that translates to on your scale 😎.

Ciao

I think it translated to a 6, if I recall correctly.

Tom gave it a 7; Ran an 8; Masa a 5; Darius an 8.

Is there a more disparate world top 100?

Finally, a course without groupthink.
What's a rater to do?

[Thomas Dai]

You sound harsh, but I don’t know what that translates to on your scale 😎.
Ciao

I think it translated to a 6, if I recall correctly.

Tom gave it a 7; Ran an 8; Masa a 5; Darius an 8.

Is there a more disparate world top 100?

Finally, a course without groupthink.
What's a rater to do?

Go play it again!
Atb

[Ben Sims]

You sound harsh, but I don’t know what that translates to on your scale 😎.

Ciao

I think it translated to a 6, if I recall correctly.

Tom gave it a 7; Ran an 8; Masa a 5; Darius an 8.

Is there a more disparate world top 100?

Finally, a course without groupthink.
What's a rater to do?

Honestly, it’s immediately right behind TOC and NB as a course I must play in Scotland as a result of this thread and the historical lack of consensus for RA on here.


Also, maybe I’m a ‘neck from west GA, but the West End and Rosemount areas of Aberdeen sure seem nicer than the average neighborhood in bigger UK cities.

[Stewart Abramson]

I grew up playing at Royal Aberdeen but it’s been over 30 years since I played there so I must get back to be more objective.


My feeling is that the front nine is slightly overrated - do love the 1st hole though - and the back nine is slightly underrated.

I don't know who authored the article about Royal Aberdeen in the "Courses by Country" section of this site, but it opens with " Royal Aberdeen... is widely known for possessing one of the finest first nines in golf. This is unarguable, but what seems debatable is the merit of second nine."

Link to photos of the course from the summer of 2022.: https://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/albums/72177720300035980/with/52168431024/

[Chris Bruce]

The region (and the Scottish Highlands in general) certainly got a lot of love on GD's list this year https://www.golfdigest.com/story/worlds-100-greatest-golf-courses-2024-2025 . Trump Aberdeen up 33 spots, Cruden Bay up 30, Castle Stuart up 21, Nairn in the top 100, Dornoch up to #2...


Maybe that's a sign that more visitor attention is coming.

[David Kelly]

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.

[Bill Crane]

My dutch nephew graduated from the Univ of Aberdeen. I really liked the attractive old part of campus.
Is this an itinerary you could largely do via public transportation with some supplemental Ubers/Taxis ?
Looks like you can take a train from Glasgow airport to Aberdeen.   R Aberdeen and Murcar look easy to get to.
Next year I will have more time to travel and would like to find a golf "home" in Scotland and also play some with friends in the Lothians and up in Dornoch as well.  Looks like there is a train to Inverness from Aberdeen. 
Possibly a membership, too if available.

[Tom_Doak]

Go play it again!
Atb

I went to St. Andrews and Iona and Machrihanish and The Machrie and Ardfin and Durness instead, and I do not regret any of those choices.


Going back to a course in Scotland you don’t love is kinda dumb, because there are so many others to try.

[Thomas Dai]

Go play it again!
Atb

I went to St. Andrews and Iona and Machrihanish and The Machrie and Ardfin and Durness instead, and I do not regret any of those choices.
Going back to a course in Scotland you don’t love is kinda dumb, because there are so many others to try.

Maybe it’s changed? Never mind.


What did you think of Ardfin?
(Note: A recent GB&I Top-100 ranking placed it at #15)


Atb

[Brian Finn]

Peterhead looks pleasant - sadly no Arble tour (yet?)

https://youtu.be/9ym9xs8NVi4?si=IdaUW1o1xaSeiUQm

[Mark Pearce]

8 seems high, but 5 must be from a blind man. That is a crazy low score.

Agreed.  I absolutely loved it (though Ally may be right regarding the two 9s) and have it as one of my favourite courses in Scotland.  I'd be interested to understand better what Tom didn't like about it (though a 7 is, I thought, a high standard?).  But a 5 is lunacy.  Bad hangover, perhaps?

[Niall C]

Peterhead looks pleasant - sadly no Arble tour (yet?)

https://youtu.be/9ym9xs8NVi4?si=IdaUW1o1xaSeiUQm

Brian


I'm not sure Sean has played Peterhead but sure he'll advise. I have played it, several years ago with Jon Wigget, and we both enjoyed it but I wouldn't rate it above RA, Murcar, Fraserburgh etc. For a start the first few (4 holes ?) are a bit of an open meadow in terms of character. They have also suffered a bit with dune erosion in recent years and lost at least one or two holes from memory which has meant the course has by necessity been redesigned on a smaller footprint, and as a consequence feels a bit disjointed. That said, worth a hit if in the area as it does have some very fine holes.


Niall

[Brian Finn]

Peterhead looks pleasant - sadly no Arble tour (yet?)

https://youtu.be/9ym9xs8NVi4?si=IdaUW1o1xaSeiUQm

Brian

I'm not sure Sean has played Peterhead but sure he'll advise. I have played it, several years ago with Jon Wigget, and we both enjoyed it but I wouldn't rate it above RA, Murcar, Fraserburgh etc. For a start the first few (4 holes ?) are a bit of an open meadow in terms of character. They have also suffered a bit with dune erosion in recent years and lost at least one or two holes from memory which has meant the course has by necessity been redesigned on a smaller footprint, and as a consequence feels a bit disjointed. That said, worth a hit if in the area as it does have some very fine holes.

Niall

That's useful info.  It seemed like it might be worthwhile if already in the area, so glad to hear you think it is.  Sad to hear about the impact of dune erosion.  Perhaps I should move this up the schedule, as I did with Montrose.

[Joe_Tucholski]

I recently saw Fraserburgh, which was my wifes favorite walk, is offering an international life membership at a very attractive rate.  I loved the course and the out of the way sort of place.  My wife rolled her eyes when I told her about it.  Maybe it will be of interest to someone here.



https://fraserburghgolfclub.org/view-article?newsarticleid=3303

[Tim Martin]

We stayed at the Bridge of Don Premier Inn. It is ideally situated and perfectly acceptable. I paid £100 for three nights.

£100 for three nights!?!? Did you have to bring your own linens and share a bed with a stranger?

[David_Tepper]

I have stayed at several Premier Inns in Scotland and also in & around London. They have all been well run and a very good value.

[Tony_Muldoon]

I have stayed at several Premier Inns in Scotland and also in & around London. They have all been well run and a very good value.

Agreed.  They operate dynamic pricing so book early for best rates. The also have supplements, so for an extra charge you can cancel for no extra charge at a later date.


Staying in Aberdeen City Centre, for the nightlife,  this July was approx £70pppn.  I booked early: a core 3 days at base rate and then two separate bookings to add a day either side to allow me to fine tune the trip nearer the time. in the event I used the first night but not the last, so they retained £10 when I cancelled that.




I'm a fan of RA and I think stressing the difference in quality of the two nines is a groupthink hangover from long ago, which doesn't take into account that the back 9 did have significant work 20+(?) years ago.
Cool clubhouse too.

[ward peyronnin]

My wife and i spent a week in Cruden Bay at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel and loved every minute.Small hotel with a very fine restauraunt featuring fresh seafood from Peterhead, one of hte most active commercial fishing ports in the UK. Slains Castle is a fine walk and self guided tour.
Aberdeen features 52 castles and fortified estates and we toured Fahrie(sic) Castle and heard some of the creepiest ghost stories of all time. Lord Aberdeen's estate is a fine Country house and Pitmedden Garden is top rate with formal walled garden bedding that is something to behold. The ditillery we visited dated tp 1790 and had been bought by the Japanese who soaked up a fair share of its small prodction but the whisky was grand.We hope to go there next year for a good long spell.I remain unconvinced of RA. No one has yet described why the holes on the back nine are good. On this site the course description omits entirely any word on holes 10-16. One plays at three hideous council estate hi rises as a backdrop. I was given a print by a Scottish friend and these played so prominenetly in the view that i never hung it and put it in a garage sale. As far as comparison to Cruden Bay in the top world 100 list I consulted CR bested RA by 30 or 40 slots.But as in many debates these days proponents simply supply a narrative without facts or backup expecting us i guess to trust their veracity.Back to the original question though I find Aberdeen to be a terrifiic destination for many tastes and interests so maybe Darlene and I will see some of you up there next year.