Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
Encyclopedia
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Aberdeen
, Scotland
, was founded in 1780 and claims to be the sixth oldest golf
club in the world. It was founded as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen, and became the Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815.
The members played on Aberdeen's Queen's Links and over the its Broad Hill until 1888, when they moved to a new links
at Balgownie
, two miles north of the city. The Balgownie course was designed by Archie Simpson and Robert Simpson, and was later remodelled by James Braid
. The club's "Royal" designation was awarded by Edward VII in 1903. There is a second, much shorter course called the Silverburn Course. The club's director is Ronnie MacAskill
.
Royal Aberdeen hosted the 2005 Senior British Open and the 2011 Walker Cup
.
shore. The outward nine (which is acknowledged as one of the finest in links golf anywhere in the world) cuts its way through some wonderful dune formation. The inland nine returns south over the flatter plateau. A traditional old Scottish links, it is well-bunkered with undulating fairways. It has an excellent balance of holes, strong par 4's, tricky par 3's and two classic par 5's, with the 8th (signature hole) protected by nine bunkers. The ever-changing wind, tight-protected greens and a magnificent finish makes Balgownie a test for the very best. It was highly praised by participants in the 2005 Senior British Open.
And this from none other than Bernard Darwin "it represented a huge gap in my golfing education not to have played Balgownie until now, much more than a good golf course, a noble links!"
6,415 yards – 6,850 yards
Par 70/71
Silverburn Course
4,021 yards
Par 64
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, was founded in 1780 and claims to be the sixth oldest golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
club in the world. It was founded as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen, and became the Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815.
The members played on Aberdeen's Queen's Links and over the its Broad Hill until 1888, when they moved to a new links
Links (golf)
A links is the oldest style of golf course, first developed in Scotland. The word "links" comes from the Scots language and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes to open parkland. It also retains this more general meaning in the Scottish English dialect...
at Balgownie
Balgownie
Balgownie may refer to:*Balgownie, New South Wales*Brig o' Balgownie, Aberdeen...
, two miles north of the city. The Balgownie course was designed by Archie Simpson and Robert Simpson, and was later remodelled by James Braid
James Braid (golfer)
James Braid was a Scottish professional golfer and a member of the Great Triumvirate of the sport alongside Harry Vardon and John Henry Taylor. He won The Open Championship five times...
. The club's "Royal" designation was awarded by Edward VII in 1903. There is a second, much shorter course called the Silverburn Course. The club's director is Ronnie MacAskill
Ronnie MacAskill
Ronnie MacAskill is a Scottish professional golfer and director of golf. He was born in Alness, Ross-shire, Scotland and moved to Aberdeen in 1971. In 1975, he became head PGA Professional at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, one of the longest serving professionals in Scotland...
.
Royal Aberdeen hosted the 2005 Senior British Open and the 2011 Walker Cup
2011 Walker Cup
The 43rd Walker Cup Match were held 10–11 September 2011 at the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. Team Great Britain and Ireland won 14 to 12.-Format:...
.
Balgownie
The course runs essentially out and back along the North SeaNorth Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
shore. The outward nine (which is acknowledged as one of the finest in links golf anywhere in the world) cuts its way through some wonderful dune formation. The inland nine returns south over the flatter plateau. A traditional old Scottish links, it is well-bunkered with undulating fairways. It has an excellent balance of holes, strong par 4's, tricky par 3's and two classic par 5's, with the 8th (signature hole) protected by nine bunkers. The ever-changing wind, tight-protected greens and a magnificent finish makes Balgownie a test for the very best. It was highly praised by participants in the 2005 Senior British Open.
Quotes
The eminent golf writer Sam McKinlay was moved to say "There are few courses in these islands with a better, more testing, more picturesque outward nine than Balgownie".And this from none other than Bernard Darwin "it represented a huge gap in my golfing education not to have played Balgownie until now, much more than a good golf course, a noble links!"
Dimensions
Balgownie6,415 yards – 6,850 yards
Par 70/71
Silverburn Course
4,021 yards
Par 64