Links ClassicHidden Gem

Murcar Links Golf Club

Bridge of Don, Aberdeen · Designed by Archie Simpson (1909), revised by James Braid · Est. 1909

Murcar shares its stretch of the Aberdeenshire coast — and its rumpled, dune-laced character — with its more famous neighbour Royal Aberdeen, and many good judges reckon it is only a fraction behind. Founded in 1909 and shaped by Archie Simpson with later revisions by James Braid, it is a classic northern links of tumbling fairways, blind shots and fast greens set among big dunes above the beach north of the Bridge of Don.

At around 6,600 yards and par 71 it is a stern but hugely enjoyable test, especially into the prevailing wind on the way out along the sea. It is far less expensive and easier to get on than the marquee names, which makes it one of the best-value serious links in Scotland — and an easy add-on to a round at Royal Aberdeen next door.

Murcar has quietly been one of the country's best-value serious links for over a century: Archie Simpson's 1909 layout, refined by James Braid, has changed little, and the run of holes out along the sea is proper championship stuff. It shares the same magnificent duneland as Royal Aberdeen right beside it, which makes the pair one of the great one-two punches in British golf — and one of its best-value days.

Holes worth knowing

17th "Serpentine" (par-4, ~423 yards) — the undisputed signature: from an elevated tee to a skinny fairway with the Serpentine Burn snaking up the right and gorse down the left, then a green guarded by a ravine. Miss either way and you are in trouble.

Highlights

Classic dune links next to Royal Aberdeen
Archie Simpson (1909), revised by James Braid
Outstanding value for a serious links

Good to know

→Play Royal Aberdeen and Murcar back to back — they sit side by side and it is one of the great value double-headers in Scottish golf.
→The front nine runs out along the sea into the prevailing wind, so the card is often made or lost early; the turn for home eases with the breeze behind.
→Book direct — Murcar is welcoming and far cheaper than its royal neighbour, 15 minutes from Aberdeen airport.
→Murcar shares the great Aberdeen dune ridge with its neighbour Royal Aberdeen — play both in a day for one of the best links pairings in Scotland.
→It is 15 minutes north of Aberdeen; the granite city, its harbour and the long beach esplanade are close for a non-golf hour.

Visitor Information

Getting There

15min drive

Common questions

How does Murcar compare to Royal Aberdeen next door?

Murcar shares the same rumpled dune coast as its more famous neighbour and many good judges reckon it is only a fraction behind. Founded in 1909 (Archie Simpson, later revised by James Braid), it is a classic northern links of tumbling fairways, blind shots and fast greens — and it is far less expensive and easier to get on than the marquee names.

Is Murcar good value?

Very. It is one of the best-value serious links in Scotland, which makes it an easy and rewarding add-on to a round at Royal Aberdeen right next door. At around 6,600 yards and par 71 it is a stern but hugely enjoyable test, especially into the prevailing wind on the way out.