A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer
Royal Deeside
Aboyne, Royal Deeside
Plate II — Parkland course — tree-lined fairways, year-round play
Royal Deeside parkland. The original 9 holes were laid out in 1883.
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.
The Full Scorecard
Fields marked “Contact club” aren’t public-facing in a way we’ve been able to verify. Call the club directly for these — we’ll update the entry when we have it from source.
Conditions This Week
Scored 0–10 for golf — wind, rain, conditions · Full 7-region forecast →
Location
Aboyne, Royal Deeside · AB34 5HPOpen in OpenStreetMap →
While They Golf
Royal Deeside isn't only for the golfers. Walks, drives, distilleries, castles, a long lunch — five picks within thirty minutes of the first tee.
The Royal Deeside companion guide →★ Pair This Round ★
Three things within an hour of the first tee. Each open to visitors; each chosen for what suits a golfer's pace, not a tour bus's.
Distillery · 35 min west
Crathie · By Royal Warrant since 1848
The smallest distillery in Diageo's Classic Malts collection, sitting in the shadow of Lochnagar mountain opposite Balmoral. Tours are well-run and the location alone is worth the drive.
Distillery · 45 min east
Oldmeldrum · Founded 1797
One of Scotland's oldest working distilleries. The Highland character pairs better with parkland golf than peatier Islay malts.
Castle · 25 min west
Crathie · Royal residence since 1852
Open to visitors April to early August only. The grounds, ballroom and exhibitions are worth the detour even for non-monarchists — the Balmoral story is also why this corner of Scotland became 'Royal Deeside'.
Plan This Round
Where to Stay
Hotels, lodges and self-catering near the first tee. Map-style search via Stay22 covering Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb and Vrbo.
How to Get There
Aberdeen (ABZ) is 30 minutes away by car. Train + onward taxi works for the carless visitor.
Insure Your Round
Most home contents policies don't cover golf clubs in transit. The picker matches you to the right kind of cover in two minutes.
Played here? Consider
Picked for parkland rounds in Scotland.
Outerwear
The mid-weight option for parkland — fully waterproof but lighter than the wind-spec links jackets. Packs into a back-pocket pouch when the sun comes out.
Layer
Scotland's premium sportswear name. Cut for a swing rather than a jog; the moisture-wicking suits warmer parkland rounds where the wind isn't doing the work.
Tech
Tree-lined parkland holes are exactly the situation where a rangefinder pays for itself. The V6's slope mode is allowed in any non-tournament round.
Stays Nearby
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Aboyne. Tap any property to check rates.
Rates and availability via Stay22. We may earn a small commission if you book — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.
Frequently Asked
Nearby courses
Aberdeen & Moray golf hub
Browse all Aberdeen & Moray courses →
Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay, Trump International — the underrated east-coast links circuit. Plus the Moray clubs at Lossiemouth and Cullen that locals would rather you didn't write about.
While they golf — Ballater
For the non-golfer in Ballater →
Balmoral's ballroom and walled gardens are 7 miles west. Fourteen miles northeast, Craigievar Castle's pink harling tower has stood unchanged since 1626.
Getting there by train
On TripSCOTAbout 35 minutes by taxi from Aboyne. Edinburgh Waverley in 2hr 30; Glasgow in 2hr 40 by ScotRail.
Read more about Aberdeenshire
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