Trump International Golf Links Scotland: Course Review, Green Fees, Tee Times, Key Info

Sheer golfing exhilaration on this superb links, blending traditional features with modern styling

Trump Scotland
The spectacular par 3 3rd at Trump International Golf Links Scotland
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Key Information

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0 Row 0 - Cell 1
AddressMenie Estate, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, AB23 8YE
Phone Number01358 743300
Websitehttps://www.trumpgolfscotland.com
Emailmessage through website
Green Fees£195-£365
Visitor TimesAvailable throughout season
Par72
Slope Rating149 (Black), 145 (Gold), 140 (Blue), 133 (White), 130 (Green), 149 (Ladies White), 143 (Ladies Green), 131 (Ladies Red)
Opened2012
Designed byMartin Hawtree
Golf Monthly Verdict

Trump International

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

This is a supremely striking course making use of exceptional, towering dune land. Martin Hawtree has created something very special on the Aberdeenshire coastline. A round here is as much of an experience as it is a game of golf. Fewer layouts consistently deliver the "wow" factor on a hole by hole basis. Views along the coast and out to the north sea are striking.

REASONS TO PLAY TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS SCOTLAND

– Simply incredible stretch of dune land with tremendous views.

– A modern architectural marvel that has to be seen and played to be believed.

– A selection of hugely memorable holes, some great par 3s.

RANKINGS

UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2023/24 - 18

Since opening for play in 2012, Trump International Golf Links on the coast north of Aberdeen, has earned a reputation as one of the very best coastal courses in the country. Whatever views you have on the owners, the golfing offering is spectacular.

Set across an incredible stretch of links land with fairways wending between towering sand hills, past wild grasses and flowers, there are glimpses of the stunning, sprawling beach and great views up and down the coast.

Course designer Martin Hawtree spoke of how fortunate he was to work with this terrain and how keen he was to use the lie of the land to the greatest possible effect. He has managed it fantastically well.

From the par-3 3rd where the beach is revealed just yards behind the putting surface to the stunning 14th where the elevated tee looks down upon a sweeping fairway forging through the dunes, this is a stirring and hugely memorable layout.

There are no weak holes, it’s a triumph of design. There’s a wonderful blend of long and short holes and, with both nines starting and ending at the clubhouse, the wind helps and hurts equally on both sides.

The course can be set up to be supremely challenging and, when the wind blows, even the finest players will find their game receives a thorough examination. But a selection of teeing options means players of varying standards will enjoy a game on the Menie Estate.

It’s a course where simply walking the beautifully maintained pathways through the dunes is enjoyable and good golf would be merely a bonus. The work done on the bunkering has further enhanced the aesthetics and it really is a visually stunning golf course. Off course, the clubhouse is more understated than you might imagine and the practice facilities are second to none – the short game area is a work of art.

Extensive re-development of bunkering under supervision of Martin Hawtree has taken place in recent years. A total of 40 bunkers were converted from revetted to a more natural look with marram grass edging, to blend more seamlessly with the landscape.

Trump International Scotland delivers golfing rock and roll – a real adrenaline kick out on the links.  It’s a stunning design, both as a work of art and a test of golf. Hawtree’s links masterpiece is a fairytale golf course.

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Course Review

The par-3 13th

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Ballybunion Golf Club
Cameron Roy

Routing makes use of the natural terrain and the course plays as a vague figure of 8 and the ever present wind usually plays across you. The fairways are reasonably generous but are punctuated by lots of well placed pot bunkers.

The course is magnificent. A superb modern links which tests every facet of your game. The brilliance of the design means that you are constantly in awe of the spectacular holes which unfold before you. The course is tough and the rough which lines the fairways is thick and unrelenting.

Tim Gorman UK&I Top 100 panel
Tim Gorman

Several lovely views out to the North Sea. Built over oodles of dune filled land providing a very private experience. As with all the very top courses, it is a seriously difficult technical challenge.  Best to aim for middle of the greens for approach shots and then worry about the putting. And pray for calm conditions

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Location

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Green Fees

Green fees vary on the time of year. To find out more, book through the Trump International Golf Links Scotland website.

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Scorecard

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Scorecard

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Scorecard

(Image credit: Trump)

Best Courses near to Trump International Golf Links Scotland

Image

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/royal-aberdeen-golf-club-balgownie-course-review-60485" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">ROYAL ABERDEEN

A classic out-and-back links with a front nine offering a stretch of holes to rival any in the country. From tees set in the dunes, play forges out up the Aberdeenshire coastline via an eclectic selection of holes asking for either power, precision or both.

Image

<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/murcar-links-golf-club-course-review-30443" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">MURCAR LINKS

This is a fabulous and traditional links with elevated tees, gorse and wide views out to sea. The course really enters its stride down by the shoreline from the par-five 4th. From then on, great and engaging golf continues all the way.

Best Places to stay near Trump International Golf Links Scotland

MacLeod House on the Menie Estate - Book through the website
A historic mansion set within the Menie Estate, it's the most convenient place to stay if playing Trump Scotland. It's also extremely luxurious and a good base from which to explore the other golf courses of Aberdeenshire.

Malmaison Aberdeen - Book now at Booking.com
A sophisticated hotel in central Aberdeen. A lively and stylish place to base yourself. Featuring a brasserie and sneaky whisky snug, there's also a nice wee spa.

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Gallery

Trump International Golf Links Scotland Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I

  • 2023/24 - 18
  • 2021/22 - 14
  • 2019/20 – 10
  • 2017/18 - 8
  • 2015/16 - 14

Frequently Asked Questions

How many golf clubs does Trump own in Scotland?

He owns two golf destinations in Scotland - Trump International Golf Links as described above and Trump Turnberry. The latter is a former Open venue having hosted the championship in 1977, 1994 and 2009.

Who designed Trump International Golf Links Scotland?

It was Martin Hawtree. Martin Hawtree is the third generation designer as part of a company started by his grandfather, Frederick George Hawtree. His son Frederick William Hawtree continued the work during World War II and then Martin took over in 1973. Hawtree has also worked on Lahinch, Bearwood Lakes and Dooks.

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?