Stonehaven Golf Club was founded on Friday, April 13, 1888, and the first clubhouse was opened in June 1889.
The original chimney stack still stands by the 7th tee. At that time, the course had ten holes, reduced to nine a year later, and it was not until July 7, 1897 , that the “new” course and clubhouse on the present site was opened.
For a short time, the professional was George Duncan, who later won the Open Championship in 1920 and who played three times in the Ryder Cup team, being winning captain in 1929.
Also to grace the fairways was another, (5 times) Open champion, the legendary James Braid, who played a challenge match on August 18, 1906 , against his nephew and twice Open Championship runner-up Archie Simpson, the professional at Royal Aberdeen.
Afterwards, Braid and Simpson planned improvements to the course.
A much less welcome visitor called in August, 1940, when a German aircraft, fleeing home after a raid, dropped a bomb on the course only a hundred yards or so from the clubhouse.
The crater it left, known as Hitler’s Bunker, remains clearly visible today -- and very much in play between the first and second fairways.
Our course sets a stiff challenge for all standards of golfer and will be a test of your short game, featuring a number of dramatic short holes played over deep gullies and along the top of steep cliffs.
Lush inland-turf fairways and beautiful greens renowned for being among the best in the NE of Scotland.
The course also provides stunning views of the North Sea, of Stonehaven Bay and the town itself, and of the ancient fortress of Dunnottar Castle.
Porpoises, dolphins and seals can often be seen in the bay – though we would expect that your concentration on the next shot means you may not notice them!
The course is also of particular interest to geologists as it lies on the Highland Fault Line, which divides Scotland from west to east.
