History of Cruden Bay:

Cruden Bay is to golf, what Dracula is to horror; a cult classic. The eerie Slains Castle, known to have provided the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, can be seen from the course. However, the experience of playing Cruden Bay, though certainly challenging, is not quite so frightening.

Another course with origins in the 19th century, Cruden Bay (#63 in the world according to GOLF Magazine) was originally laid out by Old Tom Morris then revised by Archie Simpson. The Great North of Scotland Railway Company originally owned the course and, within a month of opening, staged a professional open tournament. The tournament attracted many of the leading players of the time. Harry Vardon, James Braid and Ben Sayers were among those competing for the whopping £30 first prize (pocketed by Vardon).

Course Overview:

Golf at Cruden Bay is full of surprises with humps, hollows and greens tucked into unimaginable spots. As befits a course over one hundred years old, Cruden Bay demands its fair share of blind-shots. While some modernization has occurred, the links stands largely as a reminder of bygone days. It serves as a fine example to modern architects of what a course created primarily by nature should look like.

While each hole is an undeniable gem, probably the finest sequence of holes is between the 4th and the 7th. The homeward nine does not disappoint either. Cruden Bay is certainly one of Scotland’s finest courses with three blind holes, the closest thing to a dogleg par 3 that one could imagine, and a panoramic backdrop.

This links may not be one of Scotland’s better-known courses. Many who arrange their trips around the more famous Scottish venues often overlook Cruden Bay. In time, though, the fun, quality and spectacular nature of golf here will pervade, and the course will command the recognition it deserves. Ask about Cruden Bay and the other courses listed in our Ultimate Mixed Bag trip.