Cruden Bay (St Olaf)

The St Olaf Course at Cruden Bay is the perfect 9-hole compliment to the 18-hole Championship Course.

The Aberdeenshire venue has been around since 1900, with the St Olaf Course opening in the 1920s, and sitting in the centre of the property.

There are no coastal holes, like on the Championship Course, but there is plenty of gorse and plenty of pot bunkers to give you that links test.

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As a golf club, Cruden Bay’s history dates to 1900, but there is evidence of a Cruden Golf Club, which was founded more than a century earlier.

The original links course at Cruden Bay was opened in 1899, and was designed by Old Tom Morris and Archie Simpson, with the golf club then being founded a year later.

In the 1920s, Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler redesigned the Championship Course, and in doing so, they also did work on the St Olaf Course, which opened as a result.

Like its more well-known and bigger sibling, the St Olaf Course is a links layout, but it is encompassed by the Championship Course, so at no point are you by the coast when playing this 9-holer. There are no par 5s, only a single hole of more than 400 yards in length, and a quartet of solid par 3s. It is less than 2,500 yards in total, but that does not necessarily mean it is simple to play...

The opening hole is a 365-yard par 4, and a good test to get you on your way on the St Olaf Course. There is plenty of gorse down the left side, and another section comes into play to the right of the fairway, which splits the opening hole from the 17th green of the Championship Course. Although there are no bunkers, even down by the green, it is a tough start. The first of the four par 3s comes at the 2nd. Playing back to the north, this 165-yard hole has two bunkers that protect the small green. Gorse behind means you cannot go long.

3 and 4 run parallel to each other, and it is the only time you’ll play back-to-back holes of the same par. The 3rd is the longer of the two at 375 yards, while the 4th is only 345 yards. A pair of bunkers on the right side of the former’s fairway add to the difficulty, while 4 moves round to the left slightly, behind gorse, so a tee shot down the right side of the fairway is perfect. The 5th is the longest of the par 3s, but it is still only 166 yards. A bunker both front left and front right provide protection, along with gorse on both sides of the hole.

The 6th is a tricky dog-leg left par 4, and another hole where the tee shot needs to be down the right side, so you have a view to the green. The surface is long and narrow, with gorse as the protection on its left once more. At just 123 yards, the 7th is the shortest hole on the St Olaf. A bunker in front of this shallow green means you have to carry your approach all the way to the surface.

The Stroke Index 1 comes at the 8th. It is the only hole of more than 400 yards, and it plays as a hole that moves slightly round to the right. Gorse lines both sides, but it is a rather generous fairway. A solitary bunker sits on the left side of the short grass, with the green being guarded by gorse on two sides. The final hole is also the easiest on the St Olaf layout. It is just 125 yards, but there is sand in play on this short par 3. However, it is a good chance to get a final birdie to finish your game.

Where is Cruden Bay located?

Cruden Bay Golf Club is located on the northeastern coastline of Scotland, looking out over the North Sea. It is just 25 miles north of Aberdeen, and less than ten miles south of the town of Peterhead, with the venue perched next to Cruden Bay Beach. The A90 which runs from Edinburgh to Fraserburgh in the northeastern corner of the country, also runs within a couple of miles of Cruden Bay.

Thanks to its proximity to the city, Cruden Bay is also within 25 miles of Aberdeen International Airport – the third biggest airport in Scotland. The largest, Edinburgh Airport, is some 150 miles away to the south. Dyce, the train station that services the airport, is also the closest to the golf club, with no train services running to the very northeast corner of Scotland.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?

Along with the St Olaf Course, Cruden Bay is also home to the Championship Course. There are plenty of stunning golfing venues on the Aberdeenshire coastline, many of which are on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. The likes of Trump International, Royal Aberdeen, Murcar Links, Newmachar (Hawkshill) and Peterhead (Craigewan) are all within 25 miles.

What golf facilities does Cruden Bay offer?

Along with both the Championship and St Olaf Courses, Cruden Bay Golf Club also has some great practice facilities to offers both its members and guests alike. There is a full-length driving range which runs parallel to the 18th of the Championship Course, along with a large short game area next to the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Cruden Bay?

The price of a green fee at Cruden Bay changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Cruden Bay, visit their website here.