Ranked in Scotland's top 40, Murcar a tough links ready for the best

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Murcar is not a name that flows readily from the lips of any golfer visiting Scotland's rugged northeastern coastline, yet this low profile, links gem might be one of the country's most under-rated seaside courses.

Overshadowed by its royal neighbor, Murcar is every bit as deserving of visitor attention.

Scottish golf owes its prominence in large part, to the North Sea, that body of unrelentingly rough, cold water that separates Norway from Britain. Over the centuries its winds and waves have fashioned Scotland's eastern seaboard, creating some of the best linksland in the country, if not the world. From Royal Dornoch and Brora in the north to North Berwick and Dunbar in the south, Mother Nature's influence in the design of these courses has been even more important than the architects whose names they bear. These are the world's greatest links layouts.

Traveling from St. Andrews or Edinburgh in the southeast of the country, to the Scottish Highlands, most visitors take the inland motorway, avoiding the slower, coastal route. In doing so they sadly miss some of the lesser known links of the east coast and among them, a selection of the finest. Two of the very best are located just a few miles from the bustling city center of Aberdeen.

Royal Aberdeen and Murcar are two classic links that literally run one into the other and share many similar qualities. Similar however does not mean identical and there are subtle differences between the pair that leads to the long-standing argument as to which is the better course Although more attention is often paid to Royal Aberdeen, no doubt created by its Royal seal, be neither misled nor overly impressed, Royal Aberdeen is certainly a great course, but Murcar is nothing less.

Murcar - skill and strategy will be more useful than brute strength.

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Originally designed by Archie Simpson, Murcar opened in 1909, immediately gaining notoriety by being the first private club in the North of Scotland to permit play on Sundays -- considered almost a heathen act back in those days!

In the 1930's five time British Open Champion, James Braid was brought in to advise on improvements. Braid undertook some extensive remodeling, including the addition of his trademark and cunningly placed bunkers. Today's Murcar remains very much as Braid left it a century ago. Murcar is a thinking man's layout where skill and strategy make the difference and brute strength takes a back seat

The keys to success at Murcar are quite simple -- firstly, don't miss the frighteningly narrow fairways. They snake and twist their way between and around sand dunes, fearsome pot-bunkers and a winding burn. Ferocious rough like nothing you may have experienced before hems fairways in every inch of the way. Murcar insists on accuracy and provides severe penalties for any who fail.

The second rule is always take enough club to the greens - this is a layout where it's usually better to be long than short. There are a few blind shots, an inevitable happening on any turn of the century design. Just look upon these challenges as a part of the charm of playing a vintage links.

Braid's notorious bunkering only adds to the Murcar challenge.

Murcar is a classic links and a stern one at the best of times, but never quite as problematic as when the wind blows in off of the same North Sea that gave it birth. This is when it transforms into a monster, becoming as big a challenge as any course you will ever be confronted by. Be warned, Murcar's calm days are a rare occurrence, as is the case along this entire northeast coast. Go in prepared to do battle with everything in the course's defenses and you can bet on the fact that blustering, on-shore winds will be a part of a formidable arsenal.

Despite some recent lengthening, Murcar remains deceivingly short at a shade over 6,500 yards from the tips, but the level of pure golfing skills the course demands more than compensates for any perceived lack of length. Murcar's test is strong enough to make it a frequent venue for a host of important tournaments, the Scottish Amateur and British Seniors Championships among them.

Whether Murcar is a better course than Royal Aberdeen is strictly a personal matter, best decided after each has been tested. But before you do, a word of advice. Both courses are traditional out and back layouts, and literally run into each other with no fence or barrier separating the two.

Sand dunes, gorse, pot-bunkers, fiendishly undulating fairways and a devilishly fickly wind - who could ask for anything more.

There's the story of a visiting group of Americans who set out from the first tee of Royal Aberdeen. Absorbed in their game and perhaps distracted by the stunning views of the North Sea, they failed to make the necessary left turn at Royal Aberdeen's ninth green, continuing in a straight line. Several holes later they reached the clubhouse of Murcar Golf Club, where realizing their error, sheepishly asked for directions back to Royal Aberdeen's clubhouse. It's one way to compare the two courses, but not really recommended.

The area surrounding the impressive city of Aberdeen is filled with golfing surprises - unfamiliar names that once played, will most assuredly become firm favorites to be passionately recommended to others. The longer you stay here, the more will be discovered and your eyes will be opened to the reality that Scottish golf is deeper and far richer than you had ever dreamed.

For more ideas on how to include more of Aberdeen's best golf courses in your Scottish golf trip, click here.

©2008 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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