If you want to experience Cruden Bay golf for yourself, the course lies a short drive from Aberdeen and just two hours from St Andrews. Internationally revered, Cruden Bay is famous for being one of the best-respected links courses in Scotland. The club is well known for offering visitors a warm welcome and the course itself is rich in unique challenges. Set like a jewel against a backdrop of stunning panoramic views, it was voted in as the second ‘Top Fun Course in Great Britain & Ireland’ by Golf World Magazine in 2012.
November 2015 saw Cruden Bay presented with the Scottish Golf Tourism Award for the top Course in Scotland. In summer 2013 it was awarded 29th position in the world thanks to Golf Course Architecture magazine, thanks to votes by more than 240 golf course architects from 28 countries. Cruden Bay is a genuinely special course.
About Cruden Bay – A Brief History
- Golf was played in the pretty village of Cruden Bay way back in 1791, a nine hole course
- Commissioned in 1984 by the Great North of Scotland Railway and opened in 1899
- Designed by Old Tom Morris and Archie Simpson
- Cruden Bay Golf Club formed around 1900
- By 1908 the course had been extended to 5929 yards
- Home to one of the most famous games ever, the epic semi final between Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in Summer 1914
- Redesigned in the 1920s by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler, who at the same time also redesigned the St Olaf course
- Ranked no. 70 in the world by Golf Digest in their 2013-14 Top 100
- Named the 54th best course in the world in 2013 by the US Links Magazine
- Awarded the honour of being placed No. 52 in the world by Golf Magazine in 2015
- Recent improvements include new tees and bunkers
- Today the course stands at 6263 yards
Cruden Bay scorecard
View Cruden Bay scorecard
Featured hole – Hole 4
Hole 4 comes with a yardage of 195 yards, a par-3 and a Stroke Index of 11. The setting is an experience in itself, right beside the beautiful Water of Cruden with views to the pretty, historic fishing village of Port Erroll. This is an exceptional short links hole that you'll usually play into a stiff prevailing wind. You'll enjoy a great par-3 with a wonderfully tricky green. If you miss to the right you'll get the best chance of a chip and putt. But take things even a little bit too far and you'll end up out of bounds.
Known as home to two fabulous courses in one
As well as the championship course itself, Cruden Bay's excellent nine hole St Olaf course is also at your fingertips, a superbly enjoyable test of links golf. Expect to bring all your shot-making and course management skills into play on St Olaf's beautifully formed and protected greens, which also offer panoramic views. Your challenge includes tricky blind shots, a proper Scottish burn – also known as a sparkling stream – plus enormous sand dunes and a keen North Sea wind blowing in every imaginable direction.
Cruden Bay golf vacations
Are you keen to tee off at Cruden Bay? The Experience St Andrews is home to some of the most enjoyable Scottish golf holidays and we can arrange your perfectly tailored Cruden Bay golf vacation. A genuinely special experience, including top class accommodation and guaranteed tee times. Contact us to arrange your golf vacation, or find out more about our great British golf packages.
St Andrews and North East/Highlands 7 -night Progam – Experience 7 rounds of Golf at some of the world’s best courses, alongside 7 nights’ accommodation split out over three perfect golfing locations, one of which is the St Andrews Old Course Hotel. This golf package includes a guaranteed round at the Old Course, club lunches in style when in St Andrews, daily transfers and the chance to experience the stuff of golfing dreams, taking on the best of old and very new courses. This golf deal is fully customisable to ensure you get best out of your golfing experience.