Newmachar (Hawkshill)

Newmachar Golf Club is blessed with two sublime 18-hole golf courses – the Hawkshill Course being the championship offering.

Along with the Swailend Course, both were designed by former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas, and the Hawkshill opened in 1990.

The course has played host to the European Legends Tour, European Challenge Tour and PGA EuroPro Tour in its short history, and continues to challenge all those that take it on to this day. 

Visit Newmachar’s website here. 

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Newmachar Golf Club, as a whole, is one of the younger venues you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list, having only opened in 1990.

However, this was a full decade after the original meetings were held in regard to the formation of a golf club in the area.

Both the Hawkshill and Swailend Courses were designed by Dave Thomas, the four-time Ryder Cupper turned golf course architect. The Swailend opened in 1997, seven years after the Hawkshill.

In recent years, the Hawkshill Course has played host to the Scottish Senior Open on the European Legends Tour, along with hosting the PGA EuroPro Tour and the European Challenge Tour as well.

The Hawkshill Course has nestled into its surroundings beautifully over the past four decades. It sits inland from the Aberdeenshire coast, but there is plenty of water to avoid throughout a round on the Hawkshill. Birch and pine trees line the fairways, and off the Black tees, the course pushes towards 6,750 yards. Even off the Whites, the Hawkshill is more than 6,500 yards, making it a tricky test for golfers of all abilities.

You come across water, and lots of it, on the opening hole! Although it is only 400 yards from the tips, it might feel like more due to the nature of the challenge that lies ahead. The tee shot is played over water to what is actually a generous fairway. From there, a large hazard looms in front of the putting surface, making the green feel much smaller than it actually is. The 2nd is the longest hole on the course at more than 540 yards, and plays as a sharp dog-leg right. Two bunkers sit in the inside corner of the hole, to make the tee shot even more tricky. Even the longest of hitters might not even fancy their chances at cutting the corner. Starting par, par is no mean feat...

There is some respite through the middle of the front nine, with the three easiest holes on the opening side coming in a four-hole stretch. The 3rd is a gentle 335-yard par 4 and although there is a narrow fairway, driver is not necessarily needed. The 5th is five yards shorter and plays as a slight dog-leg right. Tee shots that end up on the left side of the fairway might be blocked from a view of the green due to the two large trees that sit just short of the surface. The shortest hole on the course comes at 6 – a 180-yard par 3 that has a large and welcoming green.

Those three may be gentle, but the 4th, which sits in between them, is the Stroke Index 1 on the Hawkshill. At 381 yards, it is not the longest par 4 you will ever see, but the tee shot is played through a narrow funnel with two bunkers on the far edge of the fairway that must be avoided. The green is also guarded by two traps, both of which sit short of the surface, while trees sit on three sides of the green. The 7th is another tough par 4, at almost 420 yards in length. There is some space to the right of this fairway for those that [push their tee shot, but the green is narrow and well protected.

The front nine has a par 5, par 3 finish. The 8th is the shortest of the three par 3s on the Hawkshill Course, and a good birdie opportunity if you can get a good drive away down a narrow fairway. The hole moves slightly to the left around the trees, so the perfect drive will find the right side of the short stuff to give you a view if you fancy going for it with your second. The 9th is a tricky short hole – one of 180 yards – and with a water hazard to the right of the putting surface. A par is a great score on this par 3.

The back nine begins with a quintet of par 4s. Like the 1st, the 10th also features plenty of water. One long hazard that starts around 100 yards from the tee runs all the way to the front of the green, meaning you have to avoid it with both tee shot and approach. 11 is more straightforward, and although it is almost 400 yards, the fairway is generous, and the danger comes only in the form of a solitary greenside bunker. 12 is the longest hole on this run, but this 425-yard par 4 is arrow straight. The 13th works back in the opposite direction, and water encroaches on the right side of the fairway and along by the green once more, while the 14th has OOB down its right side due to the boundary of the property.

The closing stretch on the Hawkshill begins with the longest of the trio of par 3s. The 15th is almost 210 yards from the tips, and has a massive bunker to the left of the green. Trees line the right side so the only place to go is right at the flag. The 16th is the final par 5, and like the 2nd, plays as a strong dog-leg right. OOB lines the inside corner of the turn as well, so don’t try and take too much of it on with your drive. The penultimate hole is a tough par 4, the longest on the course at 430 yards. Water sits in front of the green as protection, with a bunker on the right as well. The closing challenge on the Hawkshill Course at Newmachar is a pretty simple 360-yard par 4. Just the one fairway bunker on the right needs to be avoided, while the front of the green is protected by three more. It is a good scoring chance to finish your round!

Where is Newmachar Golf Club located?

Newmachar Golf Club is situated just outside the city of Aberdeen in the northeast of Scotland. Aberdeen is just ten miles to the southeast of the venue, while the eastern coastline of the country is even closer to Newmachar. The A90, which runs from Edinburgh all the way around the coast to Fraserburgh, is only a couple of miles from the golf club.

Thanks to its proximity to the city, Aberdeen International Airport is the closest major airport to Newmachar Golf Club. The airport is just five miles to the south, while Edinburgh Airport – the busiest airport in the country – is 130 miles to the south. Dyce, the train station which services Aberdeen International Airport, is also the closest railway stop to Newmachar. Trains run between Inverness and Aberdeen on a regular basis.

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

There are plenty of cracking venues on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list in and around the city of Aberdeen. Within just ten miles of Newmachar are the likes of Trump International, Murcar Links and Royal Aberdeen, while Cruden Bay – with its Championship and St Olaf layouts – is only 25 miles to the north.

What golf facilities does Newmachar Golf Club offer?

Along with the two glorious 18-hole golf courses, Newmachar Golf Club is also home to some stunning practice facilities. There is a full-length driving range with double-digit target greens to aim at and to help work on your game. TrackMan technology is also in use on the driving range at Newmachar. There is also a short game area by the range with practice bunkers and a large chipping green, while the putting green sits between the driving range and the 1st tee of the Hawkshill Course.

What are the green fees at Newmachar Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Newmachar Golf Club 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 Newmachar, visit their website here.