
Championship Course
Cruden Bay Golf Club



About this course
Cruden Bay Golf Club, a place where the North Sea wind whispers tales of golfing triumphs and challenges, began with Old Tom Morris's vision in 1899. This exhilarating links course near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire dives and soars across wildly undulating terrain, a raw canvas of dunes, burns, and unforgiving gorse. Playing here is less about brute force and more about embracing the elements, anticipating the bounces, and navigating blind shots that reward intuition and a touch of Scottish daring. Herbert Fowler made significant alterations in the 1920s. The course’s rugged charm is undeniable, and its inherent difficulty lies in the natural hazards rather than penal design. A precise short game is essential, and the unpredictable wind demands creative shot-making. Many holes leave the player second-guessing and some claim that the course has no bad holes and rewards the creative player. While Cruden Bay has never hosted a major championship, it is a cherished destination for discerning golfers seeking an authentic links experience. It remains a test that humbles even the most skilled golfers while offering a sense of camaraderie among those who appreciate the game's purest form. Adding to the club's mystique is the storied "Stonewall Bar," a sanctuary within the clubhouse walls. It's a place where tall tales are spun, victories celebrated, and defeats mourned. Legend has it that many a canny golfer has secured a vital birdie after a quick half-pint and a hearty discussion of the day's trials and triumphs.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in UK
Best in Scotland
Quick facts
- Location
- Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1899
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Old Tom Morris
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,599 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.4/138
- Course Vaults score
- 9.1
Getting there
Most visitors to Cruden Bay Golf Club arrive via Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ), a compact and efficient gateway roughly forty minutes north along the A90 coastal corridor. The drive itself is a study in contrasts - industrial outskirts giving way to open farmland and glimpses of the North Sea, before the final descent into the village reveals the course draped dramatically across clifftop dunes. For those seeking discretion, Aberdeen Airport also accommodates private aviation, though the real luxury here is the unhurried transition from modern Scotland to a landscape that feels untouched since the links were laid out in 1899, the clubhouse appearing like a sentinel above the shore.

FAQ
Common questions about Championship at Cruden Bay Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Championship at Cruden Bay Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 9.1 out of 10 based on 86 logged golfers.
Championship was designed by Old Tom Morris.
Yes. Championship at Cruden Bay Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Championship is 70.
Championship plays 6,599 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Championship is 138.






