Kinneskie Road,
Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 5TA
Office
+44 (0)1330 822 365Pro shop
+44 (0)1330 822 447Fax
+44 (0)1330 822 491Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Dean Vannet (PGA, Club Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Riverside (River Dee) and residential.
Designer:
Unknown
57.050400
-2.507914
20 miles W of Aberdeen
From the A93 at the western end of the town of Banchory, turn south into Kinneskie Road, and follow road to golf course.
Banchory
Banchory Golf Club: Heading west into the Scottish Highlands from Aberdeen, you'll travel for many miles through an area known as Royal Deeside, with the famous River Dee always close by. The first town you pass through is the pleasant market town of Banchory, home to an equally pleasing golf course. Laid out on the banks of the River Dee, this part-open, part-wooded course provides a fine test for golfers of all levels, and is a firm favourite with Aberdeenshire's golfers.
The well-maintained fairways and greens are arranged over terrain that occupies two tiers, with several interesting holes connecting the "riverside" tier of land with the "upper" tier, on which the clubhouse is found. With a good mix of testing holes as well as others that present some attractive scoring opportunities, this sheltered parkland course provides a fine array of Scottish highland and riverside scenery.
Pick of the holes: the very short 16th (known as Doo'cot), is one of many memorable holes to feature in this layout. This blind par-3 connects you from the "lower" tier of the course to the "upper" tier. Guided by a marker post, your uphill tee-shot of no more than 80-90 yards, definitely needs elevation. If (improbably) it produces a hole-in-one, you'll not know that until you climb-up to the hidden green, beside which stands the eponymous dovecote.
Visitors welcome on weekdays; more restricted on weekends.
Must book in advance.
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire.
Good
Just a couple of miles east of Banchory is a popular Scottish visitor attraction - Crathes Castle. Building of the castle started in 1553, and was not competed until 1596, with the east wing added in the 18th century. The castle stayed in the hands of the Burnett family until 1951 when Sir James Burnett presented Crathes to the National Trust for Scotland. With its portraits, oak ceilings, heraldic shields, Elizabethan fireplace and more, Crathes is uniquely preserved.
The castle is particularly famous for its Jacobean painted ceilings, which can be seen in the Chamber of the Muses, the Chamber of Nine Worthies and the Green Lady's Room, which is said to be haunted. One of the most historic objects is the Horn of Leys, a jewelled ivory horn on display in the hall. It is thought to have been given by Robert the Bruce to the Burnetts in 1323 when he granted them the Lands of Leys.
Inchmarlo Road, Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 4AB
+44 (0)1330 822 242
Visit websiteThe Tor-na-Coille Hotel is a privately owned and professionally managed Country House Hotel, set in 8 acres of magnificent woodland, opposite the picturesque Banchory golf course.
Banchory
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Braemar Road, Ballater, Aberdeenshire AB35 5RQ
+44 (0)13397 55 421
Visit websiteA traditional, family run Victorian Hotel in the picturesque village of Ballater, Royal Deeside. A relaxed and comfortable 'home from home' with 10 individual bedrooms and excellent Scottish cuisine.
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Ballater
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