Murcar Links Golf Club

Stunning course. Good practise facilities & very friendly/helpful staff in the pro shop/ club house. Fabulous variety of holes & views of the sea/course & Royal Aberdeen next door (there is a close rivalry about which course is better - making Murcar great value for money vs its more famous rival) - a must play if in the area. When you think of links golf, this place ticks all the boxes.

I played Murcar Links for the first time in fairly calm conditions, which i am led to believe does not occur often given its seaside location. The course, especially from the yellow tees, is not long but in places it is tight and a ball straying offline is often severely punished. There are numerous well positioned bunkers, thick rough and banks of gorse spread around the course. True to many links courses there are several blind shots to be played and the correct line can be hard to find at times from in amongst the humps and bumps. Having hosted the Scottish Amateur Championships 3 weeks prior to my visit, the course was in immaculate condition with the greens fast and true - a real delight. The professional and staff in the clubhouse were very friendly also. If you are in the area i would thoroughly recommend a visit to Murcar Links.

Classic links with lots of dunes, gorse, bumps, and good conditions. Good challenge, can't spray the ball around (fairly tight) and some interesting elevation changes. Would recommend.

This was the seventh and last stop on a golf tour in July 2007 by four Swedish golfers. It's difficult for me to give a fair assessment of Murcar because my own game was a long way from its best on this particular day. Before going on to the course itself, I'd like to say that we received a warm welcome in the pro shop and the clubhouse was definitely the best we've seen on our tour. The BLT baguette that I bought to take with me on the course was the yummiest I've ever had! We has a pre-booked tee time, and although there was at least one competition going on and the course was full of players, there was never a sense of being hurried. We hardly ever had to wait on tee and there was no pressure from behind, either. It may be due to my poor play on this day, but my impression is that Murcar is one of the most difficult courses I've ever played. The holes are not very long, but they require accuracy. Unlike the other links courses we played during our tour, Murcar is totally merciless if you veer off the fairway. Nowehere else (Brora, Tain, R. Dornoch, Strathlene, Fraserburgh) did we find such dense gorse and broom thickets so close to the fairways. At the same time, it has to be said that Murcar has many very fine golf holes. I'd like to play it again on a day when my game is in better shape. I especially liked the first four holes which are close to Royal Aberdeen, with their hummocks, undulations and bunkers. The front nine as a whole was definitely better than the back nine, in my opinion. The course was in good, but not exceptional condition. I think it's a bit overpriced, but I suppose that has a lot to do with its proximity to Aberdeen.

I recently played Murcar for the first time after having read favourable reports from other contributors and I wasn't disappointed. The pro' was very friendly and helpful and he assured me I was playing on a typical 'links day' which I didn't fully grasp the meaning of until I got out on the course - the wind. It wasn't blowing a gale, although it felt like it at times, but to someone used to playing on inland parkland courses it made for a real challenge. The course isn't particularly long and the fairways are well defined and generously wide on lots of holes but the rough can be treacherous - bracken, heather and gorse. I'd say the back nine are easier than the front nine but when I played the wind assisted me on the front nine and was against me on the back nine. On some holes I was taking two clubs more than I normally would and still came up short. I'd guess the signature hole is the 7th on which you need to carry a burn with your drive. There are several blind tee shots with marker posts to guide you. The 13th is a really difficult test - a blind uphill tee shot into a strong wind and then an elevated green protected by a burn which of course I found. The 14th was just as difficult and despite a good tee shot I came up 50 yds short of the green with my second despite clubbing up by two. There are 3 par 3's the most difficult being the 12th. The course is well provided for bunkers and some are so deep I took the coward's way out and played sideways. The weather was beautiful, despite the wind, and for most of the round I didn't see another golfer. The grren fee was £30 which is reasonable for a course like this. The only slight drawback was that winter mats were in use (£10 deposit required) and as I hadn't used these before it took me a little while to get used to them. Nice modern clubhouse with good food at a reasonable price. Overall, a really enjoyable visit and one I'd definitely repeat.

A group of us came over from Ireland to Aberdeen for a couple of days and literally stumbled across Murcar a couple of days before and were we glad we did. The course was a pleasure to play on. Fabulous condition and exceptionally testing. Hole after hole we were not only blown away by the course but scenery was stunning also. Murcar dispells the misconception that a so called short course is any less of a challenge. We were glued to the stroke savers and I don't think I took my woods out all through the round. Murcar is golf at its pinpoint, accurate best. Showboating is punished and consistancy is rewarded. To top the whole day off the welcome we recieved in the bar was one which I personally have never experienced before. They just couldn't do enough for us. Murcar has to be top of any golf trip to Aberdeen.

On this trip we had played Royal Dornoch, Nairn, and Cruden Bay (all of which were return visits)and several other courses, when we had Murcar and Royal Aberdeen scheduled for the same day. Little did we know that Murcar would turn out to be our "find" of the trip. We teed off at 8:00 AM and the only caddy available was the caddy master. He joined us, made us feel truly welcome and was terrific. Even in a gale wind we loved the course. The dunes and views were spectacular. The greens were excellent. The par 4's were particularly outstanding. But, one had better stay on the fairway, or it is a long day. Murcar is why Scottish golf is so rewarding -- a relatively unknown course that turns out to be even better than some of its better known neighbors! We can't wait to schedule a match on our next trip.

This course is absolutely outstanding. The front nine is likely the best contiguous nine holes I've played. The inward nine is good too. We recently played Royal Aberdeen as well as this one. Loved both, but we all liked Murcar more. Just a great place and a can't miss if you're in the Aberdeen area.

Played the Murcar Open on 3rd August 2003. Arrived late the night before and the clubhouse staff could not have been more accomodating in providing a meal and a terrific welcome. Many of the holes are on a par with its more illustrious neighbour, Royal Aberdeen, next door (I know for a fact as I played that course last October). It really is an excellent test of golf. Was going well on a beautiful day for playing golf, with not more than a five on the card until losing a ball in the gorse on both holes 13 and 14. Punishment is severe for going too far astray and this keeps you on your toes throughout! 'Hidden gems' is a much used phrase in golfing books, but believe me, because it is overshadowed by Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay, this links is truly a hidden gem, up there in my top five or six courses played.

This is the first course i played in Scotland and it was a wonderful experience. The course was in great shape and all four seasons came to visit in the one round: sleet, hail, rain, and sunshine. Not a long course, play from the back tees or else there are no par 5's. I birdied two of the first four holes and still shot 94. Great links course, enjoyed every minute of it. And only a few minutes from Aberdeen. First and last holes are pretty bland, but the rest of the course makes up for it. You appreciate the easy start and the easy finish.

Just returned from a golf-weekend in Aberdeen. Played Murcar for the 3rd time in recent years and although there were several short par 4s the course again was in great condition. Played once in a strong wind which makes it a totally different course. Members and staff very friendly, looking foward to our next visit in 2001.

I played Murcar in June of 1997. Arrived at the Club as a single on a Tuesday, and the pro paired me with two gentlemen playing their usual Tuesday competition. This is a wonderful links courses with spectaucular sand dunes. If I had not been playing with members, after I putted out on the 3rd hole, I could have easily teed off on Royal Aberdeen's number 10, which is adjacent. This course provides scenic views of the ocean. After the round, I was treated to ale by my playing companions. Murcar is a definite play course.

Played Murcar In May 1996 On A Glorious Day With A Moderate Breeze. If You Are Looking For A Classic Links Course In Excellent Condition Then Look No Further. I Will Definitely Go Back.