Scottish Winter Green Fee Deals – Highlands & The North East
Plenty Winter Green Fee
Deals To Keep The Golf
Clubs Out Over The Winter
There is no doubt that winter is approaching but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the golf season for all of us! The reason I say this is because I have been looking at what some Scottish golf clubs are offering, in terms of winter green fee deals and winter memberships over the coming months.
We are very fortunate in Scotland to have so many links & coastal courses that are playable throughout most of the winter, without having to use winter greens. As a result, this can be a great time to golf on Scottish links/coastal courses for a fraction of the price….albeit, with an extra layer or two of clothing!
Most courses are so much quieter at this time of year and, in many cases, the winter green fee has been discounted by 30-70% or more from the summer rate. Furthermore, if you are lucky enough to have the course to yourself, on crisp winter day, with little or no wind and clear blue skies, you may start to convince yourself that there is no better time, than the winter, to play links golf in Scotland.
I have picked out a number of links/coastal courses in the Highlands and the North East, this week, that are not only offering great discount deals but are also likely to have their full course open all winter. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be highlighting more courses throughout the other regions of Scotland that are also offering great winter green fee deals over the next few months.
Take a quick look at our post from last month ‘Golfing in the Winter’ (click here) – it’s a short checklist which highlights 17 things that you may want to consider before booking your next winter round.
Highlands – Winter Green Fee Deals
Reay GC
www.reaygolfclub.co.uk
The most northerly 18-hole links course on mainland Britain.
Round: £15 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019
Winter Membership: £90 from October to 31 March 2019
Wick Golf Club
www.wickgolfclub.org.uk
The outstanding feature of Wick Golf Course is the sand dunes that run the length of the course. This links course is a classic ‘straight-out-straight-back’ layout, with amazing views over Sinclair Bay, out to the Noss Head peninsula and its lighthouse!
Round: £20 winter green fee from November to March 2019
Golspie GC
www.golspiegolfclub.co.uk
Designed by James Braid, Golspie GC is situated on the Dornoch Firth and is a mix of classic links, heathland and parkland holes.
Round: £15 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019
Royal Dornoch GC
www.royaldornoch.com
Royal Dornoch draws many people to the area because it is regarded as one of the best courses in the world and few would argue with that! This winter you can play the course for £90 which is less than half the price of next summer’s rate.
Round: £90 winter green fee from November to 31 March 2019
Tain GC
www.tain-golfclub.co.uk
Tain is an Old Tom Morris designed links that overlooks the Dornoch Firth. It has everything that you would expect from a top quality links course in this region; undulating fairways, heather and gorse, a meandering burn, sea views and greens that are in good condition throughout the year.
Round: £28-30 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Fortrose & Rosemarkie GC
www.fortrosegolfclub.co.uk
This award-winning links course sits on a peninsula, flanked by the Moray Firth. Fort George lies just across the water, Chanonry lighthouse sits at the end of the course and after your round, you can unwind in the recently refurbished clubhouse which has great views over the course, the Moray Firth and surrounding area!
Round: £25 (M-F) £35 (w/end) winter green fee from 1 November to 10 March 2019
Nairn GC
www.nairngolfclub.co.uk
This is a true championship links course and it has held numerous national and international events over the years. Plenty of gorse and heather guard the fairways, so accuracy will win over length. The views of the Moray Firth, on all the holes, make this former Walker Cup course a scenic delight in the Highlands.
Round: £50 winter green fee from 1 November through to 27 March 2019
Nairn Dunbar GC
www.nairndunbar.com
Nairn Dunbar sits on the east side of Nairn and is a challenging 6,700+ yard, par 72 course. This championship links course is situated on the Moray Firth coast and provides a good test of golf, with great views to match.
Round: £25 winter green fee from November to 31 March 2019
Castle Stuart Golf Links
Castle Stuart Golf Links would be on the ‘Highlands’ list but it closes over the winter from 17thNov until 29thMarch 2019.
North East – Winter Green Fee Deals
Hopeman GC
www.hopemangolf.club
“The 12th hole at Hopeman Golf Club is one of the best par 3s I have ever played”
as quoted by Paul Lawrie, Open Champion 1999.
They have a number of other holes that you’ll enjoy. Furthermore, this is a real hidden gem in the North East and worth stopping at.
Round: £15 winter green fee from October to December 2018
Winter Membership – £100 to 31 March 2019
Moray GC – Old & New
www.moraygolf.co.uk
The Old Course at Moray Golf Club is a fine links course indeed. A classic links, designed by Old Tom Morris, with deep bunkers, undulating, gorse-lined fairways and smooth fast greens. As a result, it’s ideal for winter golf and has a great 6 month winter membership deal at £150.
Round: Old Course – £30 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 December 2018
Round: New Course – £15 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 December 2018
Winter Membership – £150 from October to March 2019
Buckpool GC
www.buckpoolgolf.com
Elevated above sea level, Buckpool Golf Course has great views across the Moray Firth towards the hills of Caithness. You will encounter gorse-lined fairways, challenging greens and cavernous bunkers to test your game!
Winter Membership – £150
Strathlene GC
www.strathlenegolfclub.co.uk
Strathlene is a cliff top links style course with fabulous view over the Moray Firth.
Round: £12 winter green fee from October to 31 March 2019
Winter Membership – £80 from October to March 2019
Cullen Links
www.cullenlinksgolf.co.uk
Cullen Links is a short but interesting true links course. It was originally a 9 hole course laid out by Old Tom Morris but has been extended to 18 holes. The views, from the elevated position on the 7thtee, over the course and out to the Moray Firth are worth the visit and, incredibly, £50 will get you 5 months winter membership until the end of March 2019. Seems like a bargain to me!
Round: £15 winter green fee to 31 March 2019
Winter Membership – £50
Inverallochy GC
www.inverallochygolfclub.com
Inverallochy is an 18 hole links course with sea views on every hole. It is a short course with six par 3s, three of which are around the 200 yard mark. As with most links courses, it will feel like twice the length, if the wind gets the better of you.
Round: £10 winter green fee to 31 March 2019
Winter Membership – £100 from 1 October to 1 March 2019
Peterhead GC
www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk
As you arrive at the car park at Peterhead Golf Club, you may think you’ve taken a wrong turn. Fear not, access, to the course, is by foot across the bridge, over the River Ugie which gives the course a feeling of seclusion. The Craigewan Links at Peterhead has got some great holes once you reach the dunes area and when you add in the views, you’ll be well satisfied at the end of 18 holes.
Round: £35 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Cruden Bay GC
www.crudenbaygolfclub.co.uk
If you haven’t played Cruden Bay before then, I would suggest putting it on your golfing bucket list, if you’re a fan of links golf. In the late afternoon, the shadows cast by the undulating fairways, in the setting sun, make this course all the more dramatic. Additionally, the views looking down onto the course, from the elevated clubhouse at the end of the day, are spectacular and will leave a lasting memory. It is £55 to play over the winter but more than double that to play the course next summer.
Round: £55 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Winter Membership – £235 from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Newburgh on Ythan GC
www.newburghgolfclub.co.uk
Another hidden gem in this region, Newburgh on Ythan has been overshadowed by Cruden Bay to the north and Murcar & Royal Aberdeen to the south. Go and play it and then tell everyone about it.
Round: £30 winter green fee from November to 8 March 2019
Trump International
www.trumpgolfscotland.com
On my first visit to Trump International Golf Links at Aberdeen, I couldn’t help but feel similarities with Cruden Bay, in terms of the views looking down on the course from the clubhouse. Unsurprising really, as there is only 16 miles between them. £75 (plus proof of Scottish residency) will get you a game here which is a sizeable discount off their standard summer green fee.
Round: £75 winter green fee from 1 Nov to 31 Dec 2018 for those with proof of Scottish residency
Murcar Links
www.murcarlinks.com
Murcar Links is 10 minutes from Aberdeen and sits amongst the sand dunes, heather and whins of this fine golf coast. It held a European Tour event in 2015, the Paul Lawrie Match Play, where Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Robert Karlsson in the final.
Round: £55 winter green fee from 1 November to 31 March 2019
Winter Membership: £180 from November to 28 February 2019
Royal Aberdeen GC
www.royalaberdeengolf.com
Right next door to Murcar is Royal Aberdeen – the Balgownie links at Royal Aberdeen has been host to many national and international events throughout the years but the most notable recent European Tour event was the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in July 2014 where Justin Rose won by 2 shots over the chasing pack. You can play between the end of October and 14 April 2019 for £90, which is less than half the price of a round next summer.
Round: £90 winter green fee from 26 October to 14 April 2019
Stonehaven GC
www.stonehavengolfclub.com
The cliff top course at Stonehaven Golf Club maybe short but the elevation changes and the wind will make it feel longer. The stunning views of the North Sea, Stonehaven Bay and also Dunnottar Castle will simply add to the experience.
Round: £12 winter green fee from October to 31 January 2019
NEXT BLOG POST: Wednesday 31 October 2018 – If this week’s blog is too far north for you, I’ll be taking a look, next week, at what the courses in the Angus & Fife regions are offering over the winter.
An opportunity, not to be missed, is that you have the chance to play 
available to many destinations within the Highlands including Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
