Best golf courses in Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire is on the northeastern side of Scotland, with a lengthy coastline overlooking the North Sea. Links courses, as you would expect, are the key to golf to Aberdeenshire, but there are also a number of inland layouts that will also turn your head.

Golf first came to be not too far south of these parts, and it wasn't too long before it made its way up to Aberdeenshire. There is a stunning array of courses in the county, many along its 165-mile stretch of coastline.

As the largest city in the region, Aberdeen is a great base to stay for those visiting the northeast of Scotland. There is a cracking stay-and-play option for those who want to sleep next to a world-class golf course. That comes courtesy of Trump International, Scotland - with the Old Course playing host to the Staysure Senior PGA Championship on the European Legends Tour for the last few years.

Along the same stretch of coastline just north of Aberdeen sit Murcar Links, Royal Aberdeen and Newburgh-on-Ythan, three more splendid links courses on the North Sea coast. There is also the 36-hole joy of Cruden Bay, with the Championship Course and the St Olaf Course on offer. 

It is not just links courses that Aberdeenshire has in its armoury, though. The Haughton Course at Deesside, along with Newmachar's two layouts - the Hawkshill Course and the Swailend Course - all provide great parkland golf.

How we compiled our Aberdeenshire list
We updated our Aberdeenshire list when we created our NCG Top 100s list of the best golf courses in Scotland. If one Aberdeenshire course is above another in our Scotland list, then it will also be above it in our Aberdeenshire list.