The Boss Golfs: Cruden Bay Golf Club - Best of Scotland Day 4

Cruden Bay Golf Club: A Must-Play on Any Scotland Golf Trip

Cruden Bay Golf Club makes a compelling case for being the best course on my incredible journey through Scotland’s top golf courses. It has everything a golfer could want: a fun layout, stunning views, dramatic elevation changes, unique holes, and that elusive "it" factor that sets truly special courses apart.
The towering dunes at Cruden Bay are a defining feature, beautifully framing the fairways and providing elevated tee boxes that lead to some truly epic shots. Several holes offer panoramic views from the top of these dunes, and it’s impossible not to pause and snap a few pictures—they're that breathtaking.

The course itself is a delightful mix of challenging holes and short, fun scoring opportunities. Cruden Bay struck me as having more of an Irish feel, reminiscent of courses like Ballybunion and Tralee, but with a distinct touch of Scottish design. In fact, I would rank Cruden Bay slightly above both of those exceptional Irish courses.

Overall, Cruden Bay is a truly magnificent course that offers everything you could hope for in a links experience. It should undoubtedly be considered a must-play when visiting Scotland. Rankings: Golf Digest: No. 21 International, Golf.Com: No. 56 Best Course in the World, Top100golfcourses.com: No. 68 Best Golf Courses in the World, No. 24 Best courses in Great Britain and Ireland.

Note: Cruden Bay has a great practice space with full range and well-manicured short game area.