Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
The Society of Golfers in Aberdeen are recorded as being established in 1780, however it is very likely they were playing golf on ‘The Auld Town Links’ of Aberdeen well before this date. After a short break, members of the early Society formed The Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815 and for over 70 years they continued to play golf on a variety of ever changing courses formed on the City lands of the Queens and Kings Links.
With many other activities, sports and otherwise over the Town Links, The Aberdeen Golfers decided in 1888 that it was time to move on, to a golfing paradise on the northern side of the river Don, Balgownie Links. In 1903 the ‘Royal’ title was bestowed on the Club and slowly over the ensuing decades the course evolved into the magnificent championship layout it is today.
Regarded by many as one of the most natural challenging links courses anywhere on the planet, and when the north easterly wind bears its teeth, the test can be daunting. Over the last 20 years or so the Course and Club have moved on to the top table in world golf, having hosted The Walker Cup, The Scottish Open and The Amateur Championship. In some of the most recent and highly regarded world course rankings Royal Aberdeen’s Balgownie Links has continued its upward procession, now sitting proudly ahead of several esteemed Open and US Open venues.
