With Royal Approval
BY ED HODGE
6 MINS READ
Fancy a quick 9 holes in The Queen’s Royal garden? Sample a dram next door? Walk in the footsteps of Scottish history and Ryder Cup legend? Tempted yet…?
Aberdeenshire has long been known for golfing ‘royalty’ – Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and Murcar Links to name three of renown on golfing wish-lists – yet the very area itself has various royal connections waiting to be discovered, as well as other delights.
At the city’s heart, Royal Aberdeen is the sixth oldest course in the world. It was founded in 1780 as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen and became the Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815. Until 1888 members played on the Queen’s Links close to the city, before moving across the River Don to the links at Balgownie.
Royal Aberdeen
Originally designed by the Simpson brothers, Archie and Robert of Carnoustie, and later re-bunkered and lengthened by James Braid, the club’s Royal patronage was awarded by Edward VII in 1903 and it is a venue long loved in golfing circles. A former Walker Cup host, Justin Rose claimed Scottish Open glory there in 2014 while Paul Lawrie is defending champion for September’s Scottish Senior Open.
Royal connections an hour’s north of Aberdeen are perhaps less obvious. Duff House Royal in Banff was founded in 1910. It received Royal patronage, at the request of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife, in 1925. Crafted by Braid, it was redesigned in 1923 by the legendary Alister MacKenzie of Augusta National fame.
“It’s immaculate, the greens are fantastic,” says Hector Emslie, Golf Tourism Manager at VisitAberdeenshire. “It’s got MacKenzie’s style, simply a lovely layout. Duff House itself is National Galleries of Scotland property and surrounds the golf club, offering another visitor experience.
Duff House Royal Golf Club
“It’s then only five minutes from there to reach Royal Tarlair, so you could play a few courses with links to the Royal Family in a day or so, quite a unique history.”
George V conferred the Royal prefix on Tarlair in its founding year (1926), based on the patronage again of his eldest daughter, Louise.
The Royal story continues west of Aberdeen, within the area of Royal Deeside. ‘Royal’ as the Queen’s summer Palace is famously at Balmoral Castle, while the ‘Dee’ part comes from the River Dee, a famous salmon fishing river which attracts people from all over the world.
Visitors can enjoy the Royal Deeside Golf Ticket, 3 and 5-day passes, playing the courses at a discounted rate. There are five visitor friendly 18-hole layouts starting at Peterculter on the outskirts of Aberdeen City and following the A93 to join up with Banchory, Aboyne, Ballater and Braemar (interestingly the highest elevation course in the UK). There is also the Royal Deeside Golf Week each July, usually selling out very quickly.
Cruden Bay
Prince Charles is the honorary patron of Ballater GC, while the village itself has the highest number of Royal warrants than anywhere else in the UK – from the butcher to the baker – supplying the Castle with goods. The Royal warrants are proudly displayed above the respective shop doors.
Through Peterculter, there is more to uncover. There, at a cliff edge, you will find a life size statue of the kilted Scottish hero Rob Roy (MacGregor). “Legend has that he jumped across the ravine to escape from the Redcoats,” notes Hector. “Rob Roy is the crest of Peterculter Golf Club, which sits right on the banks of the River Dee. It is overlooked by Maryculter House Hotel, which has links to the Jacobites and the Knights Templar, back in the 12th century.”
Harry Bannerman is an honorary life member at Banchory and still visits up to three times a week. He won two-and-a-half points out of five when he played in the 1971 Ryder Cup in St Louis (including the small matter of a halved match with Arnold Palmer). Lawrie also learnt his trade at Banchory, where he was an assistant to the late Douglas Smart.
Murcar Links
But what about those nine holes on The Queen’s terrain? “That’s the Royal course within the grounds of Balmoral,” continues Hector. “Up until two years ago, it was a private privilege of the royal household and people who worked on the estate, but it has been opened up to public tee times. It’s a fabulous, short 9-hole course within the grounds, available over a short window from April to the third week of July, before The Queen usually spends her summer holidays at the Castle. It’s a nine-hole course with two sets of tees, surrounded by mountains – it’s absolutely fabulous. Groups can have a picnic on the lawn, while your green fee includes admission to the Castle.
“Right next door, you will find Prince Charles’ favourite malt whisky, at Royal Lochnagar Distillery. So, you can have an exclusive game of golf on The Queen’s garden, admission to the Castle and sample some malt whisky in the distillery.”
Tees and (many) tales. Head for the north-east and Aberdeenshire…