Cruden Bay vs. Royal Aberdeen

[Anthony Gray]

  What course would a farang enjoy the most?

  Anthony

[Kin Britton]

I absolutely loved both courses when we played in 2008 and it is a tough choice but I would have to go with Cruden Bay.  We were treated well at both but everyone at Cruden Bay just seemed to go more out of their way to be nice.  Here is what really demonstrates how much I want to go back to Cruden Bay.  I am scratch but had the block/cuts going all day.  I know I shot at least 90 (probably more if I had gone into the gunch to look for all the balls I kept pounding off target) with an eagle on a par 4!  When we walked off this course I told my group I would give anything to play it again...and my opinion has not changed in three years.  In my top 5 in Scotland...maybe top 3.  Just so much fun.

[Shane Wright]

We will definitely report back.  The more experienced links players will be playing Cruden Bay.  There are a couple of experienced guys playing Royal Aberdeen but only because they have seen CB one time.  It was easily the toughtest decision of the trip....now if we can only get that stinkin ballot pulled at TOC.

Again, thanks to all for the feedback. It was in 2001 that I made my first trip across the pond and GCA was THE major source of information when planning that first trip. 

It is great to hear the opinions of so many of you.  God willing, I will be making plenty more trips, but 3/4 of the group will be making their first and final trip and it has become increasingly obsessive that I help make this perfect for them. 

Thanks all

Shane

[Walter Bart]

 I had a tee time to play Cruden Bay two weeks ago, just off the plane from Boston on my way to Dornoch.  With a  decent rain falling and feeling very tired,  I decided not to go out. Staff was great. The course is stunning from the clubhouse.   Saw the par 3 4th from the beach. A really wonderful  par three.  Played there some 10 years ago and loved it.

 Tried to find Royal Aberdeen the next day, for a quick look.  Had a very good idea where it was but could not find an access road.

[Sean_A]

Its difficult to explain, but for me Aberdeen is one of those courses which I like as much as its quality.  There are some courses which I like far more than their quality because of certain (often quirky) features which I personally believe are the height of good architecture.  Examples would be Cavendish, Beau Desert, Michigan, Burnham, Kington, Tenby, Brora etc.  Aberdeen on the other hand is no nonsense high quality golf throughout.  A minor championship course that can bear its teeth mightily in certain circumstances.  Other courses like this are Formby and Porthcawl.  In a way, so is Prestwick, but I hold that course in higher regard because somehow it manages to be at once funky and suitable for minor championships.  I am one of those that think the back nine is far better than its reputation (much like front nine ay Pyle & Kenfig) and would really like to see the changes  made some years back. 

Ciao

[Niall C]

A wee bit off topic but the Britain and Ireland team for the Walker Cup which is to be played at RA in a few weeks time has just been announced. Controversially, at least in Scotland, David Law who is the current Scottish Amateur Matchplay Champion and a member of RA hasn't been picked for the team but has been named first reserve. Seems a very strange decision and while others in the team have better strokeplay records, the Walker Cup is matchplay. Also maybe a missed opportunity to get the locals really rooting for the home team.

Niall

[Brian_Ewen]

Tried to find Royal Aberdeen the next day, for a quick look.  Had a very good idea where it was but could not find an access road.

Walter, you are far from the first person to have difficulty in finding how to get to RA.

This is the way they want it .... go figure !

If coming from Aberdeen, once you get over the bridge that crosses the River Don, look for a Clydesdale Bank on the right hand side, and thats your access road.

[Brian_Ewen]

Also maybe a missed opportunity to get the locals really rooting for the home team.

Niall
I also thought it was a strange decision, but dont forget James Byrne is also (pretty) local.

Anybody else going to attend ?

I have just re-arranged my shift pattern, and now have to spend the next three weeks stuck on an oil rig, so I can be home for it  

[Niall C]

Brian

David Tepper will be over in Dornoch then and is going through to watch and will hopefully be stopping by to play a round at Lossie while on the way. I'm half tempted to go through with him, just for the day but will not know until nearer the time. If I am I'll give you a shout or maybe you want to email David to arrange something.

Niall

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Cruden Bay has better holes and much better holes and much better kinky holes and much better atmosphere.

[Brian_Ewen]

http://www.scottishgolfview.com/

E-mail from Robbie Stewart
Cruden Bay

Saw a wee paragraph in the P&J this morning about the latest biennial golf course rankings by Golf Magazine and thought that it was worth mentioning that Cruden Bay is now ranked 83rd in the world and is the only golf course in the north-east of Scotland to be in the Top 100 Courses in the World.

 We are delighted with our ranking as there have been many improvements to the course over the last few years, both on architectural improvements to the course and to the condition of the greens and it’s nice to see these recognised. We look forward to this ranking improving even further over the years as Cruden Bay returns more and more to being a true links course with true links putting surfaces.

 By the way, I also think it’s fantastic that Castle Stuart is the highest ranked new course in the world rankings at number 56 in the world. 

Robbie Stewart
PGA Director of Golf
Cruden Bay Golf Club

[Mark Pearce]

Where does Mr Stewart think Castle Stuart is, if CB is the only course in NE Scotland in the Top 100 but CS is at 56?

[Alister Matheson]

Where does Mr Stewart think Castle Stuart is, if CB is the only course in NE Scotland in the Top 100 but CS is at 56?

Mark,
        I would say Mr Stewart thinks Castle Stuart is in the North of Scotland ,the term north east in Scotland generally means Aberdeenshire ,people could and probably will argue but Inverness is regarded as being in the Highlands or  North.

Cheers
           Alister

[Melvyn Morrow]

Aberdeen GC Balgownie Links 1897


Cruden Bay GC Port Erroll 1896

[Brian_Ewen]

Just to show that our marvellous Scottish summer continues on through August.

Yesterday was the annual Simmers Trophy at Cruden Bay which is a foursomes comp. for clubs in NE Scotland.

Winning score = 93 !

CALEY PAIR WIN SIMMERS TROPHY IN TEMPEST CONDITIONS
28 August 2011
Caledonian, the winners, were among only nine teams who completed the course in terrible conditions of a 60mph wind and rain for the North-east District men's foursomes for the Simmers Trophy at Cruden Bay today.
Caley's Stuart Finnie and Roy Pirie won the title with a gross round of 93, one shot ahead of the home club pairing of Michael Buchan and Mark Christie. Hazlehead's Scott Robertson and Craig Kennedy and Newmachar 1's Richard Barr and Mark McKechnie both returned 95s. Third place went to the Hazlehead pair by virtue of the better inward half.

[Melvyn Morrow]

A good old fashion golfing term springs to mind “COMMITMENT”
Becoming rare these days to use it when describing golfers but really refreshing when one can.


Just before Christmas 1875 TOC  ‘Commitment in the many buckets of snow’.



Melvyn

PS I am also reminded of Ian Andrew’s commitment on his Winter Tour of some of our courses approx.. 18 months or so,