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Birdie Brae

A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer

Moray Coast

Cullen Golf Club

Cullen, Moray

Plate ILinks course — coastal exposure, firm running turf

Holes
18
Par
63
Type
Links
Moray Coast
Walkability
★★★★☆
Confirmed 2/5
Best Season
May–Sep
Year-round, best Apr–Oct
Visitor Access
Open
Mid-week ideal

Quirky links played around dramatic sea stacks on the Moray coast.

From the Notebook

Cullen Golf Club is one of the most photogenic and idiosyncratic links courses in Scotland. Founded 1879, the course is laid out across two levels — a cliff-top section and a beach-level section — connected by a steep path that descends through a gap in the rock. The 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th holes play around and through enormous natural sea stacks rising from the sand.

Par is 63 across 4,610 yards. Twelve par 3s, six par 4s, no par 5s. This is not a championship test; it is a holiday round, and one of the most fun afternoons of golf you can have in Britain. The 6th — Cathedral Rock — plays a short iron at a green tucked behind a 60-foot freestanding sea stack, and you'll want a picture afterwards.

Visitor fees of £35–£45 make this one of the better-value coastal rounds anywhere in Scotland. The clubhouse is small, friendly, sells coffee and bacon rolls, and is genuinely happy to see you. No booking required outside of summer weekends. The course closes briefly in winter when high tides flood the bottom holes.

The town of Cullen itself is worth an afternoon — Cullen Skink (the smoked-haddock chowder named after the town) at the Three Kings Inn, and the Cullen viaduct walk for non-golfers. Pair the round with Lossiemouth (45 min west) or Royal Tarlair at Macduff (30 min east) for a Moray coast day.

One Hole Worth Talking About

The hole everyone remembers.

6Par 3 · 105 yards

Cathedral Rock

The sea stack that gives this hole its name is 60 feet of freestanding sandstone rising from the Cullen shoreline — natural architecture that no golf course architect could budget for. The green is tucked behind and slightly right of the stack, which means the approach must land in a zone defined by the rock on the left and the cliff edge on the right. The wind at Cullen arrives from the sea and accelerates around the rock face in ways that make even a routine mid-iron occasionally interesting. Par 63 over twelve par 3s and six par 4s: Cullen is the kind of course that reminds you golf doesn't require length to be worth the afternoon.

The Full Scorecard

Everything else you might want to know.

Course

Designer
Old Tom Morris 9 holes 1870; Charlie Neaves extended 1905
Founded
1870
Style era
Old Tom Morris (clifftop curiosity)
Yardage (W)
Contact club
Yardage (Y)
Contact club
Yardage (R)
Contact club
Course rating
Contact club
Slope rating
Contact club
Bunkers
Contact club
Greens
Contact club
Walking time
Contact club
Open season
Year-round, best Apr–Oct

Visitor

Dress code
Smart casual, collared shirts
Spikes
Soft only
Booking
Contact club
Twilight
Contact club
Winter rate
Contact club
Senior
Contact club
Junior
Contact club
Buggy
Not available
Trolley
Contact club
Caddie
Contact club

Practical

Address
Cullen, Moray, AB56 4WB
Phone
01542 840685
Nearest train
Elgin
Nearest airport
Inverness (INV) (60 min)
Parking
Free
Wi-Fi
Yes, clubhouse
Card payment
Yes
Membership
Contact club
Joining fee
Contact club
Waiting list
Contact club

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

What's the weather doing?

Fetching conditions…

Scored 0–10 for golf — wind, rain, conditions · Full 7-region forecast →

Location

Cullen Golf Club on the map

Cullen, Moray · AB56 4WBOpen in OpenStreetMap →

While They Golf

For the non-golfer in the party.

Moray Coast isn't only for the golfers. Walks, drives, distilleries, castles, a long lunch — five picks within thirty minutes of the first tee.

The Moray Coast companion guide →

★ Pair This Round ★

A morning at Cullen, an afternoon worth the drive.

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.

Beach · 0 min below the course

Cullen Bay & seatown

Cullen · Long sand bay; old fishing seatown adjacent

The bay the front nine plays across. The seatown — the original fishermen's village below the cliffs — is one of the photogenic surprises of the Moray coast.

FreeVisit on the day

Restaurant · 0 min in town

Cullen Skink soup

Cullen · Local smoked-haddock soup originated here

Cullen Skink, the smoked-haddock soup, was invented in this town. Three local establishments do their own version; the Cullen Bay Hotel, the Rockpool Café and the Lily-Bank Inn each have their advocates.

Lunch from £10Visit on the day

Distillery · 10 min east

Glenglassaugh Distillery

Portsoy · Founded 1875; reopened 2008 after closure

Coastal Highland malt re-opened by Brown-Forman; tours are quieter than the inland Speyside distilleries. The 'sandy' character is locally distinctive.

Tours from £15Visit on the day

Plan This Round

Three things to sort before you tee off.

Played here? Consider

Three things worth packing.

Picked for links rounds on the Scottish coast.

Outerwear

Galvin Green Andres jacket

Wind off the firth changes club selection two irons. A breathable, fully-waterproof shell that's light enough not to swing in is the single biggest upgrade for Scottish links golf.

Layer

Sunderland of Scotland half-zip

Scottish-made merino — the locals' choice for shoulder-season rounds. Warm enough for a 7am tee time in October, light enough for the back nine when the sun comes out.

Tech

Garmin Approach S70 GPS

Handles blind tee shots and exposed-coastal yardage cleanly. Battery lasts a 36-hole day; the wind-direction overlay justifies the price on its own.

Stays Nearby

Where to stay near Cullen

Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of Cullen. 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

Visitors usually want to know.

Can visitors play at weekends?
Visitors are welcome but mid-week is markedly easier and quieter. Confirm a weekend tee time as far ahead as you can — popular Saturdays book up first.
How early can I book a tee time?
Phone or email the pro shop to confirm. Most Scottish clubs accept visitor bookings 7–30 days ahead; group bookings of 8+ can be arranged further ahead.
Is there a dress code?
Smart casual, collared shirts. Soft only.
Are buggies allowed?
Buggies are not generally available — the course is walked. Hire a trolley at the pro shop if you'd rather not carry.
What's the best time of year to play?
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep for full conditions. Late May and early Sep are quietest with fair value. Year-round, best Apr–Oct.
Cite this page: birdiebrae.co.uk/courses/cullen-golf-clubLast verified 14 May 2026 by Birdie Brae editorial · Report a change

The Sunday Post

A good round, a fair fee, and a story from the clubhouse.

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