Royal Aberdeen Golf Club stands as the sixth-oldest golf club in the world, founded in 1780 as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen. The club moved to its current Balgownie Links location in 1888 and received Royal Patronage from King Edward VII in 1903. The championship Balgownie Links course is a traditional out-and-back links that runs along the North Sea shore, weaving through towering sand dunes on the front nine before returning on higher ground for the back nine. The front nine holes are widely regarded as among the finest links golf anywhere in the world, with tight fairways, deep revetted bunkers, and panoramic coastal views that take your breath away. The back nine plays more elevated and exposed, where prevailing winds transform already challenging holes into a stern examination. This is raw, authentic Scottish links golf where the North Sea is both a visual backdrop and a constant wind factor that demands clubbing adjustments of two to three clubs throughout the round. The course has hosted prestigious championships including the 2005 Senior British Open (won by Tom Watson), the 2011 Walker Cup, and the 2014 Scottish Open, making it a true test that has challenged the world's greatest players.
The championship course—a classic out-and-back links running along the North Sea, renowned for its exceptional first nine holes through dunes and demanding back nine on elevated ground.
A shorter, more approachable companion course measuring 4,021 yards that shares the natural beauty of Balgownie without the same raw difficulty.