Aboyne Golf Club

Aboyne Golf Club sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, the strip of countryside following the River Dee inland from Aberdeen towards Balmoral. The original 9 holes were laid out in 1883; the second 9 followed in 1981, with both halves using the natural undulation of the land between the river and the woods.

Par is 68, distance 5,910 yards. Short by championship standards but with a balanced layout that mixes parkland and gentle moorland — the front 9 is more open, the back 9 winds through pine and birch. The 11th, a short par 4 played downhill to a green protected by water, is the photographed hole. The 14th and 17th are the others worth talking about.

Visitor green fees of £45–£65 are excellent value for a course of this condition. The clubhouse is friendly, with a bar that runs reasonable hours and a kitchen serving lunch and afternoon meals. Buggies available, but the course is genuinely walkable — about 4 miles, with no extreme climbs.

Pair Aboyne with Banchory (15 min east) or Ballater (12 min west) for a Royal Deeside golfing day. The wider area is best known for Balmoral Castle and the Cairngorms; the golf is the quiet bonus. For visitors driving north from Edinburgh, this is the most pleasant midway round you'll find on the route to Aberdeen.