Four friends, one van and a week that moved between ancient links, modern ambition, generous clubhouses and the constantly changing weather of Scotland's northeast coast.
Our Eighth Scottish Golf Odyssey - Aberdeen, September 2026 The trip in one view This was our eighth Scottish golf journey, but our first built around Aberdeen. Four Winged Foot friends flew into Edinburgh, collected a van and travelled north for seven days of golf, using the Sandman Signature in central Aberdeen as a single base. The route was ambitious without becoming a procession of hotel changes. Montrose provided an enjoyable opening stop on the drive north. From Aberdeen we ranged south to Edzell, north to Cruden Bay and Balmedie, and only a short distance to Royal Aberdeen. The decision to remain in one hotel made the week easier: clubs could stay organised, breakfasts became routine and the city offered enough variety for the evenings. The golf was deliberately repetitive in the best sense. Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen were each played twice, allowing first impressions to mature. Cruden Bay became the most distinctive and hospitable overall day; Royal Aberdeen emerged as the finest pure course and the most complete golf experience. Trump International offered the clearest contrast: the original course was a demanding and memorable finale, while the New Course felt over-designed and considerably less rewarding. What made the week successful was not simply the quality of the courses. The caddies, professional-shop teams, clubhouse staff and the easy warmth of the smaller clubs mattered enormously. The trip confirmed that Aberdeen is not just a staging point for golf. Its granite architecture, working harbour and North Sea character gave the week a sense of place, while meals at the clubs, the New Inn in Ellon and The Silver Darling added a welcome social dimension away from the courses. A serious golf itinerary, but never merely a checklist of famous courses.
The opening and closing journeys
Edinburgh worked well as the gateway. The drive to Montrose took about one hour and forty-five minutes, then a further hour brought us to Aberdeen after golf. On the final day we drove directly from Balmedie down the A90 and M90 and returned the van at Edinburgh Airport.
The important logistical lesson is to treat the airport rental depot as the group meeting point. The shuttle journey is short, and assembling everyone there is simpler than collecting passengers and golf equipment at the terminal.
The Sandman as headquarters
The Sandman was better inside than its grey exterior suggested. Rooms were comfortable, breakfast was reliable and the staff were consistently helpful. On-site parking was particularly valuable with four sets of clubs. The compromises were the awkward one-way approach through Crooked Lane and rooms that became stuffy during an unexpectedly warm week.
Aberdeen versus Ellon
Aberdeen remains the stronger choice for a mixed golf-and-city trip: it offers restaurants, the harbour and a fuller evening experience. Ellon, discovered through dinner at the New Inn, has a persuasive case for a future trip concentrated on Cruden Bay, Trump, Murcar and Royal Aberdeen. It would reduce urban driving and place the group closer to most of the golf.
Meals and endings
Clubhouse meals became part of the experience rather than a convenience, especially during the full day at Cruden Bay. Dinner at the New Inn highlighted Ellon as a possible future base, while The Silver Darling, overlooking Aberdeen harbour, was the standout city dinner.
What we would preserve - and change
What worked best
Royal Aberdeen offered the best combination of natural architecture, conditioning, challenge and welcome. Cruden Bay provided the most characterful day, especially when the main course, St Olaf, meals and clubhouse atmosphere were allowed to fill the schedule. Montrose was an excellent arrival-day choice, while Edzell supplied a friendly and enjoyable change from links golf. Trump's original course was a worthy final test, with spectacular views and the wind making 6,300 yards quite sufficient.
What we would alter
The New Course would not be a priority on a return visit. The 36-hole Edzell and Royal Aberdeen day was rewarding but demanding, and could be softened if the trip were extended. We would also use phone-based navigation from the outset, confirm every rental-document requirement in advance and consider Ellon if the programme were concentrated north of the city.
The broader verdict
Northeast Scotland proved ideal for a golf journey of this kind. The courses are close enough to create a coherent itinerary but different enough to avoid repetition. The landscape moves between Angus farmland, towering dunes, granite city and working harbour; the clubs range from historic and formal to quirky and intimate; and the people consistently made visitors feel welcome.
The week ended as it should have: a challenging final round, lunch collected for the road and the long drive south. The scorecards mattered, but the lasting memory is of a shared journey with a strong rhythm and a real sense of place.
Royal Aberdeen may have been the course of the trip; Cruden Bay may have been its soul.
For a future visit
The most useful first decisions are the base and the balance of golf. Aberdeen is the more rounded choice for restaurants and city life; Ellon has the logistical advantage for an itinerary concentrated on Cruden Bay, Trump International, Murcar and Royal Aberdeen. Either way, booking the principal tee times, caddies and larger vehicle early should simplify the rest of the planning.