Murcar Links

Murcar Links and Royal Aberdeen share the same strip of dune country north of Aberdeen, separated by a boundary fence rather than any meaningful difference in terrain. Both clubs sit on the Balgownie links; the same enormous marram-covered dunes that define Royal Aberdeen's front nine continue uninterrupted into Murcar's coastal stretch. Archie Simpson laid out the original course in 1909. James Braid extended it in the 1930s. The result is a genuine old links with the rougher, less manicured character that comes from sitting next to a more prestigious neighbour — Murcar has always been slightly second, and the course has developed accordingly.

The routing takes you out through the dunes closest to the sea. The 7th hole — 'Serpentine' — earns its name from the burn that wanders across the fairway and into the approach zone, forcing a decision about line off the tee that the name makes clear is not straightforward. The 8th and 9th continue along the coast, with the North Sea close enough that you can hear it from the putting surfaces. The middle section of the round is the stretch that rewards a second visit; first-timers are often surprised by how the course opens out and then closes in again.

The comparison to Royal Aberdeen is unavoidable and, for Murcar, usually flattering. The green fee at Murcar is £115–£145. The course next door costs £225. The two rounds are not identical in quality — Royal Aberdeen's back nine through gorse is tighter and more demanding — but Murcar's best holes are genuinely excellent, and the visitor experience is less formal. No Tuesday-Thursday restriction; visitor tee times are available most weekdays with reasonable advance notice.

For golfers planning an Aberdeen dune-coast day, the standard itinerary is Murcar in the morning and Royal Aberdeen in the afternoon, or vice versa depending on which visitor day you've booked. Add Cruden Bay (40 minutes north) for a second day. Trump International Aberdeen (10 minutes north) is on the same coastal strip and worth considering if you want a more modern layout. Aberdeen city centre hotels are the practical base for the whole route.