Aberdeenshire occupies a commanding position in world golf. The region's North Sea coastline has shaped some of Scotland's most exhilarating links, combining centuries of tradition with an untamed landscape that tests and delights in equal measure. The ranking was updated in March 2026.
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Cruden Bay is an inspirational golf course, regarded by some as quirky and considered by others as a masterpiece. Either way, this is a thrilling place to play golf because the designers used the original lie of the land to fantastic effect.
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Championship links golf routed through spectacular dunes on Scotland's North Sea coast. Martin Hawtree's 2012 design stretches 7,428 yards across the Menie Estate at Balmedie, hosting the DP World Tour's Scottish Championship from 2025. Located 16km north of Aberdeen, with the New Course adjacent.
The Balgownie at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club is a traditional out and back links course running along the shore of the North Sea and it has one of the finest first nine holes in golf.
Trump International's New Course opened in July 2025 across three distinct landscapes on Aberdeenshire's coast. Designed by Martin Hawtree, Christian Lundin and Christine Fraser, the course completes Scotland's premier modern 36-hole links destination for Aberdeen golf holidays.
Murcar Links Golf Club is located on a classic stretch of links land with huge sand dunes, crumpled fairways, whins, burns and heather.
Fraserburgh Golf Club was founded in 1777 with the present course opening in 1891 and redesigned by James Braid in 1922.
Butch Harmon declared to those members present when he visited the golf club in 2005 that Peterhead Craigewan Links course was a "hidden gem" which he really enjoyed playing.
Newmachar is one of the most progressive golf clubs in this area of Scotland, boasting two exceptional 18-hole courses, Swailend and Hawkshill...
Duff House Royal Golf Club is a beautiful parkland course with large double–tiered greens (Alister MacKenzie design features) and well positioned bunkers...
Additional land on higher ground was acquired in 1994, allowing Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club to form a new front nine – a round at Newburgh is now a game of two contrasting halves.
