Fraserburgh Golf Club (Corbiehill)

Fraserburgh is the most north-easterly town in Aberdeenshire, 42 miles north of Aberdeen and it boasts one of the finest links courses in the country. Its location exposes the course to air currents from both the Moray Firth and the North Sea so this par 70, 6,308-yard layout offers a stiff challenge when the wind blows from whatever source.

In addition to its 18-hole Corbie Hill course, Fraserburgh also has an interesting 9-hole course, the Rosehill, which may be short at 2,400 yards but few can match its par of 33. The courses are well protected by sand hills that fringe the length of Fraserburgh Bay and both are fine examples of traditional Scottish links.

Fraserburgh has records of golf played as far back as 1613. The Parish Kirk Session of that year contains details of young man called John Burnett who, “for playing at the gowff” on a Sunday instead of attending church, was sent to “the maisters stool” for correction!

Fraserburgh Golf Club was founded in 1777, meeting every third Tuesday during the season. The club moved to their present location, the Philorth Links, in 1891 and much of today’s course was shaped by the great James Braid in 1922.

A couple of substantial alterations to Braid's layout have been made down the years. In the 1950s, three new holes (at 15, 16 and 17) were brought into play then, in the 1970s, a pair of adjacent holes were laid out at the 8th and 9th, 11th and 12th by Alex Swan and Henry Cotton.

Fraserburgh Golf Club are always pleased to see visiting golfers and, unusually for many clubs, they offer a choice of tee to the visitor – “whether you want to play the full distance of the course from the medal tees or would rather play off the yellow boxes is entirely your option” – now there’s a refreshing attitude that many other clubs (who are over protective of their medal tees) should note!