Aberdeen: Trump International Golf Links Scotland

Trump Aberdeen is a golf resort located about 30 minutes north of the town of Aberdeen Scotland, situated so that pretty much every hole has a view of the nearby North Sea. Unlike most of the golf courses you will regularly be playing in Scotland, this course is very much a modern golf course layout built with bulldozers. Raised tee boxes with forced carries to the sculpted fairways accompany with the view of the North Sea come together for a truly majestic feeling golf course. The greens are very large, and seemingly have all sorts of big game buried under them to make no Green in Regulation a guaranteed three putt. And as seems to be a theme with Trump golf courses the fescue is death, and the bunkers are no joke.

Despite the golf course being built in 2012, Dr. Martin Hawtree certainly created a course that fits into the landscape and pays homage to the heritage of Scottish golf course design which he knows so well as he is the descendent of generations of golf course designers.

A couple features to note: When on the 10th tee box look to your left — you’ll see a house with a bunch of trees built right in front of its giant picture windows that look toward the sea. Legend has it that Trump wanted to buy the house to tear it down but the owner would not sell. As retribution Trump planted the trees to block his view. Also be sure to check out the giant flagpole in the front lawn easily seen from hundreds of yards away. Note if the flagpole is flying the ultimate Scottish protest to Donald Trump. The Mexican flag, which it does many days of the week. Actually many Scottish households fly the Mexican flag in protest.

Be sure to climb to the championship tee box at the 18th fairway, and good luck making the carry to the fairway which is littered with so many pot bunkers it looks somewhat like the moon’s surface. This is certainly one tradition carried over from ancient Scottish golf courses. While American golf tends to put hazards in places where errant shots go, the Scots are not shy about putting them right in the middle of fair play to gobble up a well struck shot.

The bunkering at number 4 (pictured above) is truly iconic and the oblique green at number 5 is definitely a memory (positive or negative depends on if your ball winds up on the correct plateau of the green)… don’t go long!

The other thing that is very modern about this golf course is the clubhouse the McLeod House and Lodge. We didn’t stay on the property, but the restaurant was very good with very competent service — and one of the more upscale meals you’ll find at a golf course in Aberdeen.

Many of my buddies said Trump International Golf Links was their favorite modern golf course we played in Scotland. Even one said it was his favorite course overall. Personally, I enjoyed playing the ancient courses more for the trip we were on. And given the choice of one or the other I would rather play the other modern golf course we played, Kingsbarns

The caddies at Trump are younger guys in their 20’s with a passion for golf, a lot of fun to play with, and unlike the caddies at most other courses, where a member goes out with you.

Ranking

Bucket list rank (from 1to 5 buckets):2 Buckets

Caddies: 9

Location:7

Spectacle/ visual: 8

History: 2

New/ancient: Modern

Playability : 6

Memorability : 4

Buddy-a-bility : NA we did not stay here

Service/etc: 8

Value: 5

Shopping: 8 The pro shop is truly well done, a tribute to Donald Trump’s ego. And as such is unbelievably overpriced. See if the bottle of signed Scotch is still available in the glass case. I believe they were asking £40k

Warm up facilities/Range: 8 Full grass range with putting and chipping area, there is no lack of a chance to warm up here, and therefore no excuses either.

Food & Drink: 8 Very helpful and attentive staff with a very good restaurant if not somewhat pricey.