5 experiences just 1 hour from Carnoustie
27 June 2018
Scotland is famous as the birthplace of golf and this July the country will play host to two major golfing events –the ASI Scottish Open and The Open. Did you realise that Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire can be found just over one hour from Carnoustie? Hop on the train or drive the short distance to experience another side of Scotland. Here are five things you’ve got to experience as a golfer in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire:
Designed to perfection by renowned international architects, our championship golf courses are some of the most scenic, and well-known, in the world, and you won’t have to travel far to play them. In 2014 our own Royal Aberdeen hosted The Scottish Open and more recently jointly hosted The Amateur with adjacent links course (and one of the top 100 UK courses) Murcar Championship Links.
2. Some of the world’s most challenging golf
In the sandscapes of Aberdeenshire you are invited to tee off from some of the world’s most challenging golf courses. Cruden Bay consistently features in the top 55 best golf courses in the world. Another feature of the magnificent links is being able to view the famous ruins of Slains Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula stories. Set amidst the great dunes, Trump International Golf Links is incredible in its own right; not just because of its masterful design but down to its breathtaking location 7,400 yards along the Aberdeenshire coast.
You’ll never be far from a rolling green fairway in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire; take your pick of 35 parkland and heathland courses in the city and deep in majestic countryside. Did you know you can play golf in the Queen’s estate at Balmoral? Or on the course of local championship golfer, Paul Lawrie? Pretty impressive if you ask us. But how about teeing off from the highest golf course in the UK at Braemar? Sold!
After a day on the course kick back and relax with a wee dram in hand. Take the ‘Secret Malts of Aberdeenshire’ trail to see how our “water of life” is so lovingly created. You’ll visit eight whisky distilleries including Ardmore, Fettercairn, GlenDronach and Knockdhu distilleries, out on the coast at Glenglassaugh (its fans say you can taste the sea), and into the Cairngorm mountains for Royal Lochnagar.
5. Ancient and spectacular castles
Playing golf with castle views ticks many boxes but if the sights leave you wanting to discover more then explore Scotland’s ‘Castle Country’ whilst here. Deep in an ancient pine forest, beside a fast flowing river and perched on cliffs some 50 feet above the sea. These are some of the spectacular settings for Aberdeenshire’s castles; there have been more here per acre than anywhere else in the British Isles (you can even stay in a castle).
Experience all of this just over one hour from Carnoustie, host of The Open this year. For more information about golf in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire just go to https://www.visitabdn.com/what-to-do/golf/.