No course designer of sound mind would dream of creating a course like Cruden Bay in this day and age. There are too many blind shots and hidden targets. The fairways and greens are shaped by nature – some are remarkably expansive, others are so confined by towering dunes they can trigger a bout of claustrophobia. There are back-to-back par threes and par fives, and par fours so short that it’s possible to reach the green with an iron. Cruden Bay is an anomaly; an outlier; 18 holes of unmatched quirkiness.
It’s also absolutely glorious. Playing here is unforgettable and a trip to this quiet corner of northeast Scotland is a treat for any golfer. Every shot feels like an adventure, requiring precision and feel. The course encourages creativity and rewards imagination. In short… it’s a thrill.
Things get off to a gentle start. The first two holes are short par fours which should present few serious difficulties. The 3rd is also a short par four but far sportier, it tumbles downhill over rolling dunes and a well-struck tee shot can make it all the way to the putting surface.
Then we reach the 4th – one of golf’s great short holes. Only a purely struck shot will reach the putting surface, situated just beyond a steep valley. The 5th offers a memorable tee shot over rippling, wild sand dunes while the 6th is one of the great par fives – playing to a green shoe-horned between dunes, bunkers and a deep, deep burn.
The greens at the 7th and 8th are cradled between towering dunes after which a steep climb is required to get to one of the most beautiful spots in all golf. The 9th tee offers spectacular views in every direction while the hole itself – a long par four which skirting a steep ravine – is one of the toughest on the course. The 10th, 11th and 12th offer the senses a little respite before the challenge of the 13th, another incredibly testing par five which plays to an elevated green.
The 14th is a par four wedged between sand dunes and a golden beach, playing to a ridiculously long and narrow green. The 15th is a blind par three, playing from a beach-side tee to a green hidden behind a dune. The 16th, another par three, is a less unorthodox but equally enjoyable one-shotter.
The 17th requires players to skirt round a sand hill which is dramatically placed right in the middle of the fairway. The 18th, with out of bounds to the left, is a testing closing hole and a fitting finish to a round to remember.
No visit to Cruden Bay would be complete without spending some time in its clubhouse, where staff and members pride themselves on the warmth of the welcome offered to visitors. Sitting at a window table, looking out across this spectacular golfing vista and re-living your round, is a slice of golfing heaven.
