Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Aberdeen, Scotland, was founded in 1780 and claims to be the sixth oldest golf club in the world. It was founded as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen, and became the Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815.

The members played on Aberdeen's Queen's Links and over the its Broad Hill until 1888, when they moved to a new links at Balgownie, two miles north of the city. The Balgownie course was designed by Archie Simpson and Robert Simpson, and was later remodelled by James Braid. The club's "Royal" designation was awarded by Edward VII in 1903. There is a second, much shorter course called the Silverburn Course. The club's director is Ronnie MacAskill.

Royal Aberdeen hosted the 2005 Senior British Open and the 2011 Walker Cup.

Balgownie

The course runs essentially out and back along the North Sea shore. The outward nine (which is acknowledged as one of the finest in links golf anywhere in the world) cuts its way through some wonderful dune formation. The inland nine returns south over the flatter plateau. A traditional old Scottish links, it is well-bunkered with undulating fairways. It has an excellent balance of holes, strong par 4's, tricky par 3's and two classic par 5's, with the 8th (signature hole) protected by nine bunkers. The ever-changing wind, tight-protected greens and a magnificent finish makes Balgownie a test for the very best. It was highly praised by participants in the 2005 Senior British Open.

Quotes

The eminent golf writer Sam McKinlay was moved to say "There are few courses in these islands with a better, more testing, more picturesque outward nine than Balgownie".

And this from none other than Bernard Darwin "it represented a huge gap in my golfing education not to have played Balgownie until now, much more than a good golf course, a noble links!"

Dimensions

Balgownie

6,415 yards – 6,850 yards Par 70/71

Silverburn Course

4,021 yards Par 64

External links

• Official website
• Royal Aberdeen Video