A round with... Michael Buchan

Captivating and challenging Cruden Bay

Cruden Bay is little more than 30 minutes from Aberdeen International Airport, and just two hours drive from the ‘home of golf’ at St Andrews, yet is often overlooked by visitors seeking a truly Scottish links experience.

Having played some 5,000 or more rounds of golf at Cruden Bay over the years I’ve witnessed first hand many of the changes which have helped establish this golf course as one of Scotland’s top ‘must play’ venues.

Cruden Bay provides a true Scottish links experience guaranteed to wow golfers with its magnificent views over the North Sea and incredible history going back more than 220 years. The current club proudly posses a ballot box from an earlier incarnation inscribed Cruden Golf Club 1791, along with a winner’s medal from a competition played on nearby Ward Hill dated 1883.

The original course on the present site was commissioned by the Great North of Scotland Railway following the expansion of the railways at the end of the 19th century. It was designed by Old Tom Morris of St Andrews, with help from Archie Simpson.

The opening of the course was celebrated in grand style with an inaugural professional two day open tournament on 14-15th April 1899 with prizes totalling £120 - the equivalent of around £15,500 today.

By 1908 the course had been extended to 5,929 yards as it became a major attraction for the great and the good, including politicians Winston Churchill and Herbert Asquith who played there in 1908.

In 1926 the partnership of Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler oversaw a major redevelopment of the course. Despite all the changes many of Tom Morris’s original greens and basic routing are still in evidence.

There are many stories surrounding the history of the links-land at Cruden Bay. One of the most famous is of the epic battle between the Viking King Canute of Denmark and Norway and the army of King Malcolm II in AD1012.

Legend has it that the Viking horde landed their longboats onto the beach and marched towards the village but their advance was blocked by an army of Scots warriors.

The bloody battle that ensued is believed to have taken place over what is now the 7th and the adjoining 17th fairways of the golf course. As a mark of respect to

this historic event a large burial cairn can be found in the middle of the 17th fairway. It is said to mark the final resting place of the remains of the Viking army.

To celebrate his victory King Malcolm II commanded a chapel to be built on the site and dedicated it to St Olaf, the patron saint of Denmark and Norway.

Only a fresh water well remains on the spot named ‘St Olaf’s Well’ and the golf club has since dedicated the naming of the 9 hole course as the St Olaf course.

In more recent times small alterations have been made to the course, such as the addition of new tees and bunkers, with the length now standing at 6,270 yards off the yellow forward tees, 6,545 yards off the white medal tees and stretching to a challenging 6,830 yards off the blue championship tees.

In 1998 a new clubhouse was added and is situated in a prime position to watch golfers play both the 9 hole course and the main course 1st Tee, as well as several other holes on the main course, including the 18th.

The signature hole at Cruden Bay is the par 3, 4th hole, which from the back tee measures 194 yards and from the forward tee is 135 yards. It crosses a deep gully to a wide green from left to right, but is narrow from front to back. The green is deceivingly undulating and sits in a secluded hollow with a backdrop of huge sand dunes.

Almost every where you look the views are spectacular, especially from the 5th tee back to the clubhouse. The sensation of playing on the beach at the Bay of Cruden, along the home holes to arguably the ‘Best view in Scottish Golf’ from the 9th tee, is to feel a part of the very fabric that makes up Scotland’s unique golfing heritage.

Below the 4th tee lies the quaint old fishing village of Port Erroll and the ‘Ladies Bridge’ which stretches from the old village to the spectacular two mile long beach.

To the left of the 4th tee begins a trail that leads up to Slain’s Castle where the famous Irish author Bram Stoker, while holidaying at the local Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, found inspiration to begin writing the first chapters of ‘Dracula’ during his solitary walks along the cliffs.

Over the years Cruden Bay has been host to many top level amateur and professional tournaments and can easily stand alongside some of the other famous Scottish links courses such as Royal Dornoch, Gullane, Western Gailes and Royal Aberdeen. It is easy to see why it is universally regarded as one of the top 20 courses in Scotland.

However, the one thing Cruden Bay has above all the others is an undoubtedly immersive aura which seduces golfers and non-players alike with a need to return.

Cruden Bay is a warm and welcoming golf club. It caters for both members and visiting golfers from across the globe. Experienced pro shop staff, a first class bar, catering facilities and the club’s administration team ensure that every visit is one to remember.

*Michael Buchan is one of the founding directors of Buchan & Byers Golf Tours Ltd