Played Royal Aberdeen and Trump Golf Links Scotland

Chilidog · July 22, 2012

While in Aberdeen for the weekend, I played Royal Aberdeen on Friday and Trump International Golf Links Scotland on Saturday. Here are my observations:

Friday at Royal Aberdeen

My flight was continually delayed and got into Aberdeen at 2:30 for a 3:10 tee time. Weather was perfect with just a little wind. Got to the course 10 min before my tee time and checked in and went straight to the 1st tee to join up with a member and one of his mates. I was told immediately that the first 5 holes are the hardest and once we got through those it would be easier. I also noticed that the fairways were extremely tight and the gorse was up to your waist if you missed the fairway. Their club championship is next weekend and apparently they have cut them in and grown the rough to get ready for it. I also noticed a huge windmill on the left side of the course that looked out of place and apparently has caused a huge amount of controversy as it was erected in 48 hours without the club knowing or being notified. I played great through the first 7 playing it in E par from the tips. Then the wheels came off. Played the next 11 in 14 over and losing 7 balls off the tee. Some were rather unfair as I hit it straight down the middle of the fairway but they cut the rough in as swatches throughout the fairway and it would roll into the gorse in the middle of the fairway and we wouldn't be able to find it. Overall, I thought it was a very nice course and probably the hardest set up I've ever played in my life.

Saturday at Trump

Let me first say that this course was the most visually breathtaking course and best course I've ever played in my life. As some of you know, I've played 25 of the world's top 30 courses and this one ranks 1st in my mind. It literally made Royal Aberdeen look like a muni compared to Trump. Love him or hate him, Trump made a spectacular course here. The only thing I can really compare it to is Whistling Straights but more visually breathtaking. The only 2 things I noticed was they did not have tee markers set out for the golds and blacks (both playing over 7000 yards with the blacks playing 7400). The other is that there wasn't a single ball washer on the course. I don't use them much, but found that strange. There also are no waterfalls. : ) I played the blues and scrounged it around to an 80 on Trump and felt like a 75. I took pics but don't want to waste my limited data while oversees trying to post them. If you have Instagram, follow "Fisherjemail" to see the pics. The 651 yard 18th into the wind was a great way to finish (I hit driver, 4 wood stinger, 8 iron into it)....just can't say enough about this course. The girls they hired to run the clubhouse and grill were knockouts as well.

On to the Irish, River course and Whistling Straits starting Wed! : )