A Journal for the Thrifty Gowfer
Aberdeenshire
Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Plate II — Parkland course — tree-lined fairways, year-round play
Parkland in Ellon town. Natural stop on the route from Aberdeen to Cruden Bay.
McDonald Golf Club is an 18-hole parkland course in the town of Ellon, 15 miles north of Aberdeen on the A90 — exactly on the route between Aberdeen and Cruden Bay. Founded 1891, the course uses the river meadow and woodland ground around the town, with the River Ythan running alongside several holes on the inward nine.
Par 70, 5,991 yards. The layout is honest parkland without dramatic ambition — wide fairways, the river as a consistent strategic element, and greens that play true throughout the season. The 13th, played alongside the Ythan with an approach over the river, is the most remembered hole. The club is well-run and welcoming to visiting golfers.
Green fee is £35–50. For golfers making the Cruden Bay pilgrimage from Aberdeen, McDonald provides a useful warm-up or wind-down round at a practical stopping point. Arriving the night before a Cruden Bay tee time and playing McDonald that afternoon is an efficient use of the journey; equally, a McDonald round after Cruden Bay on the way back south makes a comfortable two-round day.
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
Ellon, Aberdeenshire · AB41 9AWOpen in OpenStreetMap →
While They Golf
Aberdeenshire isn't only for the golfers. Walks, drives, distilleries, castles, a long lunch — five picks within thirty minutes of the first tee.
The Aberdeenshire companion guide →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 Ellon. 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 — Aberdeen
For the non-golfer in Aberdeen →
Dunnottar Castle — a cliff-top fortified settlement — is 15 miles south. Aberdeen Art Gallery's Rossetti and Millais collection, city centre, is free.
Getting there by train
On TripSCOTAbout 30 minutes by taxi from Ellon. Edinburgh Waverley in 2hr 30; Glasgow in 2hr 40 by ScotRail.
Read more about Aberdeenshire
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