Peterhead (Craigewan)

Peterhead Golf Club is home to two great layouts, with the Craigewan Course being the 18-hole offering at the Aberdeenshire venue.

The Craigewan has been around since the 1890s, when it was originally a 9-holer. It was then extended to 18 holes less than two decades later.

Today, the course features water in the form of the River Ugie and the North Sea, along with an abundance of bunkers and gorse, all to try and trip you up on a relatively short layout.

Visit Peterhead’s website here. 

Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.

Although the Craigewan Course that is played on today was first constructed in 1892, Peterhead’s history as a golf club dates all the way back to 1841, some five decades earlier.

Willie Park Jr, winner of the Open Championship in 1887 and 1889, was the man who designed the original 9-hole layout of the Craigewan Course. It was then extended to 18 holes in 1908.

The New Course was then built in the 1920s, and started out as an 18-hole layout, giving Peterhead 36 holes of golf. However, due to a lack of resources during the Second World War, it was shortened to a 9-holer, which it remains to this day.

Peterhead Golf Club is set among the dunes and the Craigewan Course is a classic example of Scottish seaside golf. The club sits on the opposite of the town from the River Ugie, which comes into play on the opening couple of holes. There are only two par 5s on this layout, which plays as a par 70 with a total yardage of around 6,100 yards. The Ugie isn’t the only water in play either, with much of the course running along the coastline of the North Sea. As you might expect, it’s very rare that you will enjoy a still day at Peterhead!

The opening hole on the Craigewan Course is named ‘Ugie’ thanks to its proximity to the hole. The tee shot, especially from the Whites, is played over the Ugie to find the fairway. It plays as a slight dog-leg left, with the green guarding by a single bunker. The 2nd tee box backs on to the river, and plays away from the hazard. It is one of two very short par 3s on the Craigewan, coming in at just 140 yards. The 3rd then brings you back towards the coastline, with the green guarded by four bunkers that sit at the front of the surface. The 4th is one of several holes affected by a burn that runs through the course. It comes into play on the second shots, and is especially in the way for those that like to run the ball up the green.

The 5th is a dog-leg right par 4, with the tee shot needing to avoid the two bunkers on the right side of the short stuff. However, go too far left and you’ll find another burn. The green is square, with three traps on its right. The 6th is the next of the short holes on the Craigewan, and this 170-yard par 3 features five bunkers to swallow up anything mishit. The tee shot on 7 sees you hit over plenty of gorse and bracken to find the fairway, but there is plenty of space when you clear the trouble. The 8th is the first of the two par 5s on the layout, and at just 480 yards, it is a good scoring opportunity. It truly plays among the dunes, with plenty of hillocks on your right, blocking you from the view to the sea at times. The closing hole on the front nine is the Stroke Index 1, and it is not difficult to see why. More than 450 yards, playing as a par 4, and with an undulating fairway among the dunes. If you don’t find the short stuff with your drive, don’t go for the green with your second...

The back nine begins with the shortest hole on the course. 10 is just 130 yards, even from the tips, but it is play to a miniature green, and one guarded by five bunkers. A run of five par 4s follows, with the 11th and 12th both having OOB down their right thanks to the boundary of the course. The latter also has eight bunkers to avoid, to add to the difficulty. 13 and 14 are both longer than 400 yards, with the former having a burn running across the fairway, so work out whether to try and take it on from the tee before hitting your drive. The burn that runs across the 14th should only be in play for the longer hitters, but it is more pronounced than others you will have already encountered. The 15th is the last of that run of par 4s, and if you can avoid the four fairway bunkers (two on either side) then there is a good birdie chance on offer.

The Craigewan Course finishes 3-4-5. The closing stretch begins with the par 3 16th, which is 170 yards in length. Like the other short holes on the course, there is plenty of protection, and even some of the bunkers from the 7th green come into play on the left. 17 is a short par 4 and a great scoring opportunity late on. Driver is not required for most, and with a wide fairway, there is plenty of space to leave yourself in a good position. If you can avoid the three fairway bunkers, including one in the centre, then there is also a chance to score on 18. The closing hole is a par 5 of just short of 500 yards, but the green is also guarded by four traps. Those laying up have plenty of room to do so before hitting their third to the putting surface.

Where is Peterhead Golf Club located?

Peterhead Golf Club is situated on the northeastern coastline of Scotland, with the golf club just to the north of the town of Peterhead itself. The course sits between the North Sea to its east and the River Ugie to its west. The A90 – which runs from Fraserburgh through to Edinburgh – is close by the western side of the course, with Edinburgh being around 160 miles from Peterhead Golf Club. Aberdeen is the closest major city, some 30 miles south of Peterhead.

International visitors have several options when it comes to visiting the northeast of Scotland. Aberdeen Dyce Airport is the closest, situated around 35 miles from Peterhead, With Inverness and Dundee Airports also within two hours. Edinburgh Airport, the busiest in the country, is 160 miles south. There is no train service in the very northeastern corner of Scotland, with Aberdeen having the closest train station for those coming from further south.

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

Peterhead sits in the very northeastern corner of Aberdeenshire, but there are still plenty of golf courses nearby. Cruden Bay, with its Championship and St Olaf Courses, just ten miles to the south. Both Fraserburgh and Inverallochy are within 15 miles to the north, while the likes of Duff House Royal, Trump International, Royal Aberdeen, Murcar Links and Newmachar’s Hawkshill Course are all within 35 miles of Peterhead.

What golf facilities does Peterhead Golf Club offer?

Along with the Craigewan, the club is also home to the 9-hole New Course. Peterhead also has some great practice facilities, including the driving range area which sits in the middle of the New Course. There are also hitting nets to warm up on, along with a dedicated practice chipping green, and an 18-hole putting green in front of the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Peterhead Golf Club?

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