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The Global Golfer Top 100
Cruden Bay Golf Club
Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland · #12 in the World
Location: Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Ranking: #12 — The Global Golfer Top 100
Type: Links | Partner Stay: Kilmarnock Arms Hotel; Marcliffe Hotel, Aberdeen
Editor’s Note: Bram Stoker stayed at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel in Cruden Bay and wrote Dracula here in 1897, inspired by the ruined Slains Castle on the clifftop above the course. The golf is equally dramatic — a serpentine links through enormous sand dunes that hide each hole from the next, giving a profound sense of isolation and discovery. Cruden Bay is Tom Morris’s most naturally dramatic creation, and its Aberdeen location means it remains gloriously under-visited compared to its quality.
1. Travel & Logistics
- How to Get There: 23 miles north of Aberdeen on the A90 and A975 coastal road. From Edinburgh, approximately 2h 30m.
- Nearest Airport: Aberdeen International (ABZ) — 35 mins.
- Car Hire: Essential from Aberdeen Airport. The drive along the Aberdeenshire coast past Slains Castle is magnificent.
2. Contact & Booking
- Tel: +44 (0)1779 812285 | Website: crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk
- Visitor Policy: Open to visitors 7 days — book in advance. No handicap certificate required. Green fees from £130.
- Course Rating / Slope: 73.9 / 138
3. Championship Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 35 |
| Yards | 416 | 289 | 286 | 193 | 454 | 529 | 396 | 392 | 462 | 3,417 |
Par 4
Par 3
Par 5
Total
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 70 |
| Yards | 386 | 150 | 431 | 475 | 390 | 399 | 239 | 506 | 416 | 3,392 | 6,809 |
4. Key Strategy Notes
- Hole 3 — Par 4, 286 Yards: The shortest par 4 on the course — a drive up and over a ridge to a hidden fairway, approach blind over a hill. Drive right; the green sits at the base of a dramatic dune hollow.
- Hole 5 — Par 4, 454 Yards: The most demanding hole — a long two-shotter into prevailing wind along the Ythan estuary. The green complex requires precise distance control.
- Hole 14 — Par 4, 390 Yards: “Port Erroll” — the most photographed hole, playing along the shoreline of the bay with Slains Castle ruins visible on the clifftop.
5. The 19th Hole
- Kilmarnock Arms Hotel: Where Stoker wrote Dracula — now a comfortable traditional Scottish hotel directly in the village. Book via Expedia →
- Marcliffe Hotel, Aberdeen (5★): Aberdeen’s finest hotel — 35 minutes from Cruden Bay. Exceptional Scottish produce in the restaurant.