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A masterpiece that’s very thrilling to play – I’m in love!
Cruden Bay is a stunning golf course and it’ s totally in my taste. It’s a very inspirational golf course with a natural design using the original lie of the land.
It is located on rugged links land along the cold North Sea shore. It has huge dunes, elevated tees high into the dunes, hollowed fairways finding their way among the dunes and an interesting mix of punchbowl and elevated greens. The views are amazing.
Cruden Bay is world-class golf entertainment and extremely enjoyable to play. You’ll have quirky holes, a blind par 3, drivable par 4, short but challenging par 5’s, etc. It’s not a very long course, but it’s a very challenging one – you’ll also always have wind and it’ll determine how challenging the links course will be!
To me personally, Cruden Bay is right up there together with the Dunluce links at Royal Portrush Golf Club and the Championship links at Royal County Down Golf Club. Simply challenging enjoyable world-class links golf – totally brilliant!
Cruden Bay Golf Club is also very welcoming and the atmosphere is very friendly.
There are so many fantastic holes and it’s very hard to pick a few favorites, but here they are:
Hole 4 – 195 yards par 3
Very scenic hole as the Water of Cruden runs along the left hand side with the old fishing village Port Errol on the opposite bank. Playing right in to the wind from an elevated tee and you need to carry all the way to the green – it’s serious business, indeed. Pete Dye once said, this is a hole that every golfer needs to play before they die – I totally agree. Played a 3 iron short of green followed by a miracle pitch in the hole for a birdie 2!!!
Hole 5 – 455 yards par 4
What a view from the tee box located on top of a huge dune! Two straight long shots are needed to get on green. If you can’t reach in two or are in trouble, be happy with a bogey 5. I was in trouble twice and finished with a double bogey 6 – not happy!
Hole 13 – 575 yards par 5
The second testing par 5. Keep the drive and second shot to the left to open up for the approach shot. You’ll most likely only see the top of the flag because there’s a sand dune in front of the green. Also be aware of the burn crossing the fairway about 280 yards off tee. I followed the instructions and made a par 5.
Hole 14 – 389 yards par 4
A quirky and great driving hole! You’ll have North Sea on your entire right hand side and two deep fairway bunkers on your left, so be precise off tee. The approach shot is blind and in to a punch bowl. Great fun golf hole. Great fairway wood off tee in good position, an 8 iron on to green and 3 bad puts for a bogey 5.
Samo was again my playing partner together with Robbie Stewart (PGA Director of Golf at Cruden Bay) and Stewart (member at Cruden Bay). Fantastic company and we had a fun an fantastic day on the links course. Robbie and Stewart are not only pleasant and fun golfing mates; they also gave tremendous insight about the history of the club and other very interesting bits and pieces.
My game was a mix of many different shots – good and bad. Didn’t hit the ball well, but for whatever reason the score came up OK. 41 OUT and 38 IN for a total of 79 (gross). The highlight of the day was the birdie 2 on the signature 4th hole.
I fell in love with this fantastic golf course and I know for sure that I’ll come back and play it many more times. This is pure entertainment and a true challenge for any golfer – world-class!! You need to come and play it!
GREAT THINGS ABOUT GOLF
Looking for your opponent’s ball when you’re on the fairway
Using phrases like, “It’s pretty thick isn’t it,” and “Surely it didn’t get this far,” will further improve the experience.
Cruden Bay Golf Club
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