Newmachar (Swailend)

The Swailend Course at Newmachar Golf Club is one of two great offerings at the Aberdeenshire venue. 

Designed by Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas, it provides the perfect complement to the Hawkshill Course at the golf club.

The Swailend is the shorter of the two layouts at Newmachar, and it is slightly more forgiving, but that doesn’t mean it is easy...

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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.

Though similar to the Hawkshill Course, the Swailend Course is slightly gentler and more forgiving than its bigger brother. The Swailend is the shorter of the two layouts at Newmachar Golf Club, but still pushes past the 6,300-yard mark from the tips. Its defence comes with its bunkering and the runoffs from the greens, all of which can catch anything slightly mishit on your approaches. 

The opening hole is one of three short par 4s on the front nine of the Swailend Course. It is 310 yards, and plays as a slight dog-leg left around the trees. There is a wide fairway on offer for your first tee shot of the day, making it a real birdie chance early on. The 2nd is 100 yards longer, and the Stroke Index 2. The ideal line off the tee will be over the top of the right bunker to provide the shortest and best line to the green. The 3rd has another 100 yards added on top, making it the first par 5 on the layout at 515 yards. It is a strong dog-leg left, with the tee shot needing to make it to the corner to give yourself a chance of making it to the putting surface in two. There is plenty of space for those laying up, with the four bunkers by the green all within 40 yards of the surface. 

The next of the short 4s comes at the 4th. For some, this 304-yard hole will be drivable, especially with the right wind direction. Two fairway bunkers are in play off the tee for those not taking it on, while the green is large and circular. Keep it close to the flag to avoid a possible three-putt. A pair of par 3s come within the next three holes - at 5 and 7. The 5th is 170 yards from the tips, with runoffs behind the green towards trees on the right, and the OOB wall on the left. The 7th is the shortest hole on the Swailend at just 150 yards. The green sits behind two bunkers, which are front left of the surface. In between those lies the medium-length par 4 6th. Like a lot on the front nine, it is a dog-leg left, and is played around a water hazard that is hidden by trees. Keep the tee shot out to the right to give yourself the best view of the green. 

The par 5 8th is the longest hole on the course at 520 yards from the tips, and is also brings water into play. That comes on the approach, whether it is the second or third shot, with a pair of lakes, one left and one behind, the putting surface. The 9th is another drivable par 4 at just 300 yards. A quartet of bunkers are in your eyeline, including two by the putting surface. The back nine begins with the longest of the par 3s. 190 yards from the tips, and played to a shallow green which is protected by a pair of large greenside bunkers – a par is a good score. 11 is a good scoring opportunity, the shortest of the par 5s on the Swailend Course. It is 485 yards and move slightly from right to left as the hole progresses. The green is long and narrow, so take note of where the flag is before choosing your club. 

The last of the par 3s comes at 12. It is 160 yards and played to a green guarded by three bunkers, though none of those are tucked right into the putting surface. The 13th is a dog-leg right par 4 of 400 yards, with a thick copse of trees on the right side to be avoided. 14 is the last of the par 5s, and another that turns from right to left. Two bunkers sit on the inside corner of the dog-leg, with four more down by the green. For those laying up, the decision is whether to lay short of the bunkers that sit 80 yards from the green, or to try and get past them on the left?  

The closing stretch on the Swailend Course consists of a quartet of par 4s. Both 15 and 17 are 420 yards in length, with the former moving from left to right. A single bunker on the right of the fairway is in play off the tee. 16 is the shortest of the final four, at 335 yards, and provide a good birdie chance on the way home. 17 has a trio of fairway bunkers to be avoided, before firing your approach to a small, circular putting surface. The final hole is another strong dog-leg, this time to the right. Three bunkers sit on the inside corner of the dog-leg but if you can avoid those, then this 375-yard par 4 offers up one final chance for birdie!

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. Along with the venue also being home to the Hawkshill Course, 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.