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Low sun over a green with a red flag, beyond grassy mounds.
Aberdeenshire

Ballater Golf Course

Heathland golf by the Dee since 1892, par 70 over 6,102 yards. Several holes run close to the river.

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Welcome

There's something special about a round of golf in the hills, and Ballater is one of the loveliest places to play one.

The course sits at the southern edge of the village on Royal Deeside, laid out on old river terraces beside the Dee, with heather hills all around and Lochnagar to the west. It began with nine holes in 1892, and James Braid and Harry Vardon came to play when it grew to eighteen. The opening six holes are the hardest, with two difficult par threes among them. Afterwards, the Coyles Restaurant in the clubhouse looks out over the 18th green to the hills.

The clubhouse of Ballater Golf Club across the course at dusk, beyond gorse and broom, with a forested hill behind.
The clubhouse on Victoria Road, across the course at dusk.Press a mark to look closer.
The card

18 holes. Par 70 and 6,102 yards from the white tees, down to 5,244 from the red.

Ballater Golf Course
Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
NameThe DookerGlengairnLang StrachtLarickThe CoylesThe DeeBrockie's Pond
White4654222234101863705093282163,1293894884021583193683461753282,9736,102
Yellow3873991814001793354483212062,8563764143711573093343161552942,7265,582
Red3873901783901122754482851902,6553734123641522693273101522302,5895,244
Par · White543434543354543444343570
Par · Yellow443434443334443444343467
Ladies' par543534543364543444343571
Stroke index113151135717912421814681610
Ladies' stroke index751531891111462416131081712
Score

The holes tinted yellow are the highlights below. Press one to read about it.

Hole highlights

Ballater saves its hardest test for the opening six holes, with two difficult par threes, and several holes run close to the River Dee.

  1. 3

    The Dooker

    Par 3 · 223 yards

    The longest of the short holes, and one of the two difficult par threes in the opening six. There's a lot of dead ground between a ridge and the front of the green, and the green is well guarded by bunkers.

  2. 5

    Glengairn

    Par 3 · 186 yards

    A small target, with the narrowest green on the course and two bunkers beside it. The club's own guide says it's considered a sin to miss on the left.

  3. 7

    Lang Stracht

    Par 5 · 509 yards

    The only hole over 500 yards, and a three-shotter for most. A good drive has to carry the ridge, and the green needs a careful read.

  4. 9

    Larick

    Par 3 · 216 yards

    Downhill and partly blind, so a shot that comes up short will run on, but there are bunkers on both sides of the green. Larick is the Scots word for the larch.

  5. 13

    The Dee

    Par 3 · 158 yards

    A short hole beside the river and one of the prettiest on the course. Anything short breaks to the right, and anything left is out of bounds and in the Dee.

Playing here

Heathland golf beside the Dee at Ballater, played since 1892 inside a ring of heather hills with Lochnagar to the west.

Holes
18
Par
70
Yards
6,102
Founded
1892

Booking

01339 755567

Book up to four weeks ahead. Green fees are paid at the professional’s shop.

Green fees, 2026

  • May to September£90
  • April and October£65
  • After 3pm£55 or £65
  • UK residents£55 or £65
  • Four rounds in a year£199
  • A week, three rounds£149

To hire

  • Buggy£30
  • Clubs£25
  • Electric trolley£10
  • Push trolley£5
  • Lesson, half an hour£25

The clubhouse

The Coyles Restaurant in the clubhouse is open to visitors as well as members.

Two tennis courts and a bowling green sit beside the course; pay at the pro shop.

Did you know

James Braid and Harry Vardon played an exhibition match at Ballater in August 1906, to celebrate a new pavilion and the course's extension to eighteen holes.

1 of 3
Where it is

The club is on Victoria Road, AB35 5QX, at the southern edge of Ballater and a few minutes' walk from the middle of the village.

Ballater is about 42 miles west of Aberdeen, and the 201 bus from Aberdeen stops on Victoria Road. There's no railway this far up Deeside, and Aberdeen Airport is about 40 miles away.

Directions
The Balmoral Arms' dining room, dark walls hung with pictures above tartan banquettes.RestaurantsBalmoral Arms0.3 miles
Stone arched bridge crossing a river below forested hills in autumnAttractionsBallater0.3 miles
Cappuccino and sliced cake on a wooden table in a caféCafeBridge House Café0.3 miles
ÖSLEY's granite front on Bridge Street, Ballater, a navy sign above the door.ShoppingÖSLEY0.3 miles
The Strong Water Co, AberdeenshireShoppingThe Strong Water Co0.3 miles
The granite front of the Deeside Deli on Bridge Street, Ballater, flowers hanging by its windows.ShoppingDeeside Deli & Garden Shop0.3 miles
Fish Shop Restaurant, AberdeenshireRestaurantsFish Shop Restaurant0.4 miles
The Albert Memorial Hall, with a red telephone box outside its turreted stone facadeRestaurantsLunch and a Wander in Ballater0.5 miles
Darroch Learg, AberdeenshireBallaterDarroch LeargPlace to stay · 0.5 miles
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For further reading, before you go.