Cruden Bay vs. Royal Aberdeen

[Niall C]

Sean

I'm conscious that I sound like a broken record when it comes to CB. I really do think its herd instinct which makes it SO popular. Nice course with some great holes, but come on, is that really that good ? I never been so angry on a golf, at the golf course, as I was at CB. I couldn't believe that a course could start out so well, could end up with a run of blind holes offering not much. I appreciate the visitors like the quirk factor of that, and I like quirk as well, but in small doses. CB just gets tedious at that point finished off with a couple of OK holes. Basically what promises to be a great course turns out to be nothing more than holiday golf.

I do find it interesting though that the fans of the course seem to be overseas visitors and just wonder if they saw a good few more courses over here (other than the Open rota/A list) they may not get quite as hyped about it.

Niall

[Brian_Ewen]

Gentlemen- thank you for the great responses. Unfortunately, next August, it is only going to work out to play one of them.

Shane
You will see plenty of Royal Aberdeen next year, as the Walker Cup will be played there in September.

[Anthony Gray]

Gentlemen- thank you for the great responses. Unfortunately, next August, it is only going to work out to play one of them.

Shane
You will see plenty of Royal Aberdeen next year, as the Walker Cup will be played there in September.

  Another reason to pic Cruden Bay.It won't put you asleep.

  Anthony

[Dan King]

Niall Carlton writes:
I do find it interesting though that the fans of the course seem to be overseas visitors and just wonder if they saw a good few more courses over here (other than the Open rota/A list) they may not get quite as hyped about it.

I love Cruden Bay. I've played somewhere close to a 100 courses in Scotland and for me it belongs in the top four or five courses in the country.

That being said, if you are flying in, playing and leaving, Royal Aberdeen might be a better choice. Cruden is quirky and it takes multiple playing to really see the quality of Cruden Bay. The first timer can leave there feeling rather confused rather than invigorated. Royal Aberdeen is a great course but not terribly different than numerous other links courses. Cruden Bay is unique. It all depends on what you are looking for in going on a golf holiday in Scotland.

Cruden Bay membership is one of the friendliest in the world. They are mostly just town folk. They love sharing their course with the world. Royal Aberdeen membership is much like the experience on the first tee. They are probably in the dining room watching you tee off, but you aren't going to see them on your day there. If the idea is to just arrive, play some golf and leave you aren't going to get to know the locals so you are going to miss out on one of Cruden Bay's charms.

I'd advice saving Cruden bay for when you can spend a few days in the area and really get to know the course and the people.

Cheers,
Dan King

[Cruden Bay] A great personal favorite of mine which I hated to leave out of my Gourmet's Choice; but I couldn't list it as superior to Simpson's Ballybunion. Cruden Bay is more of a "cult" course, thanks to it's huge sandhills, superb views, great and terrible holes, and relative anonymity.
 --Tom Doak (The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses)

[Anthony Gray]

  If I was a golf course I would be Cruden Bay.

  Anthony

[Ulrich Mayring]

For me Cruden Bay is the best one I've played yet and that includes Dornoch, Sandwich and a host of other great courses.

The tee shot at #18 is the only really weak point on the course, they should relocate the tee away from the driving range, perhaps a bit into the gorse bushes of the St. Olaf's course. That would yield a diagonal tee shot to an outrageous fairway and, I believe, the water hazard would be in play more.

#1 is a good hole, but just good. A true links hole, but a bit straightforward. #9 has some of the best views on the course, so it can't be all that bad as a golf hole. It's a good hole, but could be made great, I think. The rest of the course is world-class and completely unique.

Ulrich

[Brian_Ewen]

Gentlemen- thank you for the great responses. Unfortunately, next August, it is only going to work out to play one of them.

Shane
You will see plenty of Royal Aberdeen next year, as the Walker Cup will be played there in September.

  Another reason to pic Cruden Bay.It won't put you asleep.

  Anthony

Anthony
Care to explain this statement ?

[Anthony Gray]

Gentlemen- thank you for the great responses. Unfortunately, next August, it is only going to work out to play one of them.

Shane
You will see plenty of Royal Aberdeen next year, as the Walker Cup will be played there in September.

  Another reason to pic Cruden Bay.It won't put you asleep.

  Anthony

Anthony
Care to explain this statement ?

  Sure Brian.CB is a course for people that love golf.It is not a boring tournament course.Each hole is unique and memorable.Just plain fun.

  Anthony

[Brian_Ewen]

Sure Brian.CB is a course for people that love golf.It is not a boring tournament course.Each hole is unique and memorable.Just plain fun.

Anthony

So Royal Aberdeen is a "boring tournament course" that "put you asleep"  ?

Welcome to Golf Club Atlas 2010  

What actually disappoints me, is that I know there will be some BM's that will believe your ill informed piece of drivel  

[BCrosby]

I would like to hear more from the defenders of RA. I found the course's famous "dune" holes (2 to 7) the least interesting on the course. The summer I was there the whins were thick and penal. Anything off the fw was a lost ball. Holes 2 - 7 played as if - functionally - there were parallel water hazards down both sides of the fw's from tee to green. The fw's were also relatively narrow. The playing choices seemed to be centerline or death. The architectural lesson I took was that a beautifully 'linksy' hole might not be a very good hole.

Contrary to the reviews I had read before playing RA, I thought RA got better starting at the 8th. The holes thereafter on the way back to the clubhouse were more open and full of intriguing (if obviously man-made) features.

So help me out here. I've only played RA once, but what was I missing?

Bob

 

[David_Tepper]

BCrosby -

How long ago did you play RA? I believe the whins/gorse at RA were thinned out quite a bit before RA hosted the Senior Open in 2005. Changes to the back-9 were made around that time as well.

I played RA in 2000 and did not find the whins/gorse on the font-9 that confining. However, I can see how a vicious crosswind could make things difficult. In any case, I thought the front-9 was terrific.

RA will host the 2001 Walker Cup.

DT  

[Richard Phinney]

I'll vote for Cruden Bay. But boy, I really like the course between them too  - Murcar.  Among the three, it's now the vastly underrated one in my view. 

[Brian_Ewen]

I would like to hear more from the defenders of RA. I found the course's famous "dune" holes (2 to 7) the least interesting on the course. The summer I was there the whins were thick and penal. Anything off the fw was a lost ball. Holes 2 - 7 played as if - functionally - there were parallel water hazards down both sides of the fw's from tee to green. The fw's were also relatively narrow. The playing choices seemed to be centerline or death. The architectural lesson I took was that a beautifully 'linksy' hole might not be a very good hole.

Bob
To be honest I can never remember when RA was like this , when are we talking about ?

[Melvyn Morrow]

Come on guys RA shouts lets be serious and sensible while there is certainly a time and  place for that CB shouts lets have fun and enjoy the day after all are we not on holiday, so I am not surprised why Cruden is coming out on top.

Melvyn

[Brian_Ewen]

I'll vote for Cruden Bay. But boy, I really like the course between them too  - Murcar.  Among the three, it's now the vastly underrated one in my view.  

Richard
Just imagine what it will be like when "The World's Greatest Golf Course" opens !

[Gary Slatter]

I would like to hear more from the defenders of RA. I found the course's famous "dune" holes (2 to 7) the least interesting on the course. The summer I was there the whins were thick and penal. Anything off the fw was a lost ball. Holes 2 - 7 played as if - functionally - there were parallel water hazards down both sides of the fw's from tee to green. The fw's were also relatively narrow. The playing choices seemed to be centerline or death. The architectural lesson I took was that a beautifully 'linksy' hole might not be a very good hole.

Contrary to the reviews I had read before playing RA, I thought RA got better starting at the 8th. The holes thereafter on the way back to the clubhouse were more open and full of intriguing (if obviously man-made) features.

So help me out here. I've only played RA once, but what was I missing?

Bob

 

Like the first time that Iplayed County Down, after a few pulled drives I wondered about the course, which is now one of my top 5s, and so is Royal aberdeen. Cruden Bay is good, Roayl Aberdeen is great. so is Anthony

[Tony_Muldoon]

Gary and others. I've not played RA but I have played with Bob and I have played
Cruden.   It's great but it woudn't make my top 5 of the 16 courses I've played in Scotland. 
Why should I plan to play RA beyond it has a great front 9 (or not)?

[Brian_Ewen]

 
Why should I plan to play RA beyond it has a great front 9 (or not)?

Ran Morrissett 1999 :
"Absolutely no one should miss this course, as it is the genuine article"

[Adrian_Stiff]

Ive never played either but from what I have read/learned I would have a greater desire to play CB.

[Anthony Gray]

  CRUDEN BAY vs DITKA.................................CRUDEN BAY


    Anthony

 

[Ralph Thompson]

Can I play the first nine at Royal Aberdeen and the back nine at Cruden Bay?

I am afraid that even with the changes made on the back nine at RA i still think it is just a "long walk home."

[ChipOat]

This could be a National/Shinnecock thread in a heartbeat.

"Shinnecock is clearly the superior championship golf course, but..................."

[Brian_Ewen]

Can I play the first nine at Royal Aberdeen and the back nine at Cruden Bay?

There has been groups played the 1st 9 holes at RA, then found themselves playing in, on Murcar !

I am afraid that even with the changes made on the back nine at RA i still think it is just a "long walk home."

Having made your score on the downwind outward half, I think heading home into the prevailing wind at RA, is a great test of your golfing skill .

Something i have always failed miserably at.

[Anthony Gray]

This could be a National/Shinnecock thread in a heartbeat.

"Shinnecock is clearly the superior championship golf course, but..................."

  I think Chip's hit it on the head.If you want a championship course than the pic is RA.If you want fun and great architecture than CB is your choice.Well put Chip.

  Anthony

[Mark Pearce]

This could be a National/Shinnecock thread in a heartbeat.

"Shinnecock is clearly the superior championship golf course, but..................."

  I think Chip's hit it on the head.If you want a championship course than the pic is RA.If you want fun and great architecture than CB is your choice.Well put Chip.

  Anthony

Are there any holes at RA as bad as 15 at CB?  Or as out of place as 9?  Or as mundane as 10?
CB is the epitomy of an uneven golf course.  Utterly brilliant (3 to 7) at best.  Awful (15) at worst.