Deemed quirky by some, a classic by others, Cruden Bay is a paradox - feted and under-rated at the same time. Golf has been played on the land since the late 18th century, but it was Old Tom Morris, in 1899, who formalised the original layout before, in 1926, Tom Simpson and Hebert Fowler produced the magnificent sand hill paradise we play today. If your passion is for links golf, you surely can’t fail to be inspired. Huge dunescapes, tees from which you can see the whole vista of the bay, rolls and ridges for fairways which conjure and conspire to send your ball in all kinds of different directions, it is nothing if not sensational on the eye. The course begins with three par 4s that sit inland to get you down to the North Sea coastline. The opener is pretty straightforward, providing you avoid the pot bunker on the left side of the fairway. 2 and 3 are both slight dog-legs, the 2nd to the left and the 3rd to the right, but both are less than 375 yards, and offer up good scoring chances if you can find the fairway off the tee.
The par 3 4th is named 'Port Erroll' after the village found near to the course. Looking out towards the sea, and the prevailing wind, it kicks off a short run of holes around the coast. The green is elevated, looking like it was always part of the Aberdeenshire shore, while just one formidable pot bunker protects those looking for a safer line. Too far left is gone, too short and balls will come to grief in the depression that stretches from the tee to the green.
You then comes to one of the longest stretches on the course to take you to the turn. However, with a trio of par 5s, you might make some birdies... Those come at 5, 6 and 9, with the first two both being more than 500 yards. The 6th green sits way off to the left from the fairway, so if you're laying up short of the burn, make sure to stay to the right to give yourself the best angle. At just 460 yards from the tips, the 9th provides a great scoring chance, with many being able to reach the green in two. Four bunkers surrounding the green may deter those who fancy their chances, though. The 7th is a tough par 4, one of more than 450 yards. The ideal line is over the sandscape that sits in front of the tee. From there, it will be a long approach into a narrow green. Though there is no sand to avoid, the width of the putting surface is the problem here. Along with the par 5s, the 8th is a good scoring chance as well, at just 250 yards. The play is to take it on, with space short and right of the surface. A burn comes into play on 10, but only for the longest hitters. Otherwise, it is an easy drive down the middle, avoiding the two bunkers on the left side, before a wedge or low iron to the green. 11 is the first of three par 3s on the back nine on the Championship Course at Cruden Bay, and plays back over the same burn. At just 155 yards, though, it shouldn't be that difficult, right? 12 is narrow, but short at 315 yards. Driver is not necessarily needed, especially with all the trouble down the right side. You then come to the longest hole on the property, the 565-yard par 5 13th. It is a hole that winds its way around the coastline, with the North Sea constantly in play on your right side. A burn around the 280-yard mark is also in play for the longer hitters, though most will be able to stay short and then knock it over with their second. There is no danger on the lay up providing you're far enough to the left, before an approach to a deep green. 14 is also right by the beach, and a tough par 4 at 430 yards. Gorse on the left makes it feel even narrower. The closing stretch on the Championship Course starts with back-to-back par 3s. 15 pushes past the 200-yard mark, but it has a large, round green to attack. 16 is 175 yards, and almost a carbon copy. Neither has sand, and both have plenty of space if you do miss the green. 17 and 18 are par 4s of 420 yards in length, and a real test to finish. The penultimate hole has a mound in the centre of the fairway. That is your line off the tee. Cruden Bay's closer is a dog-leg right, with the aiming point being just to the right of the fairway bunker. There is also only one trap by the green, and it is another large surface to deal with, should you end up far from the flag.
