Located just ten miles north of the city of Aberdeen, past Royal Aberdeen and Murcar, and along the A90 on a fabulous stretch of coastline, the links of Trump Aberdeen at Balmedie is one of the newest in Scotland and the British Isles having opened only in 2012. Dr. Martin Hawtree, the R&A’s ‘go-to’ man for any changes made to an Open rota venue, was tasked with transforming this stunning piece of coastline into a championship golf course, and he was undoubtedly created a supreme test of golf. The canvas with which Dr. Hawtree was presented was near perfect. A beautiful coastline and beachfront that consisted of towering dunes allowed him to route a 6,770yard test in and around this fabulous piece of links land.
The opening four holes at Balmedie provides a fabulous introduction to the rest of the golf course while offering some superb holes, and they give you a good sense of Hawtree’s design approach. The first is a gentle opening, weaving as it does, between two natural dune complexes. This testing par five can be reached by the longer hitters on a calm day, provided the cross bunkers are avoided short of the green, which sits on a natural plateau again framed amongst the dunes. The 3rd hole is likely to become the signature hole on the course over time if only for the vista from the tee, where the North Sea comes entirely into view. At 205yards from the tips, this is not a straightforward hole, especially as the wind will oft-times play havoc with the flight of the ball. The green is an upturned saucer and protected by the beach to the right and a deep pot bunker to the left. However, it is the walk through the dunes, down a sunken path towards the green that produces one of the wow moments of the round. The fourth hole is a firm favorite of the Pro. At over 500 yards from most of the tees, set high in the dunes, this is the first point on the course where you need to avoid the Blairton Burn that runs the entire length of the right side. The green on the 4th is one of the most contoured on the golf course and is said to be a favorite of Hawtree.
Trump Aberdeen provides a stern test for the mid-handicapper, and even for those in single figures, requiring above all great accuracy from the tee to avoid the deep rough. As a modern development, the service levels and off-course facilities are superb with the golf course always presented beautifully. A visit to Balmedie is well worth it when in the Aberdeen area, and we at The Consummate Pro can take you there.
