Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

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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 and Robert Simpson and later remodelled by James Braid. The club's "Royal" designation was awarded by Edward VII in 1903. There is a second course called the Silverburn Course.

Balgownie

The course runs essentially out and back along the North Sea shore. The outward nine (which is arguably acknowledged as one of the finest in links golf anywhere in the world) cuts its way through some wonderful dune formation and the inland nine on the plateau. A traditional old Scottish links, it is well bunkered with undulating fairways. It is 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 10 bunkers. The ever changing wind, tight greens and a magnificent finish makes Balgownie a test for the very best.

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!"

Balgownie Championship Links
6,415 yards - 6,850 yards
Par 70/71

Silverburn Course
4,021 yards
Par 64

Royal Aberdeen hosted the 2005 Senior British Open, and has been named host for the 2011 Walker Cup.