At Balmedie, Trump International Scotland extends along approximately three miles of North Sea coastline, roughly 16km north of Aberdeen, and since July 2025 it has been a genuine 36-hole destination. Martin Hawtree’s original 2012 Old Course links now sits alongside a New Course that crosses dunes, heathland and wetland, with MacLeod House and the newly opened Great North Sea Residences completing the estate. My three playing partners and I recently put the whole resort through its paces, playing at the ‘Greatest 36 hole destination’, finishing with a fourball match that went to the 36th hole!

The Old Course

We took on the original layout just before the NEXO Championship, and the condition of the course was pristine. Playing in a 25 mph, two club wind brought a challenge of it’s own and meant consideration and execution were imperative on every shot. 

From the championship tees, Hawtree’s par-72 links covers 7,428 yards, using a classical out-and-back routing through dunes that reach 100 feet in places, with some fairways sitting 40 feet below the surrounding peaks. Obviously, playing from the tips is paramount to suicide for mere mortals, so we chose to play from the blue tees, measuring roughly 6,800 yards. The front nine hugs the shoreline and the back nine climbs into the biggest sandhills, with the 14th tee perched high above the fairway and the North Sea beyond, this stood out as one of the great vantage points in Scottish golf. 

The Old Course demands strategic discipline. It defends itself aggressively off the tee, punishing erratic driving and demanding precise placement over brute force. The fully revetted bunkering and Hawtree’s waved green edges reward smart plotting, and the 617-yard 18th, played generally into the prevailing wind through a plethora of bunkers, gives nothing away at the finish. With at least five tee positions on every hole, the course can be set up for a range of abilities.

As the older sibling, it’s reputation is widely established as one of the great tests in Scottish golf and it currently boasts a position well inside the world ‘s Top 100 golf courses in most course rankings. 

The New Course

The New Course, design was led by Eric Trump, supported by a team of experienced golf architects, engineers, agronomists, and environmental consultants. The project builds on the original links master plan developed by golf architect Dr. Martin Hawtree. It was opened by President Trump on 27 July 2025, who was immediately impressed us with its maturity. Playing it shortly after the 2026 Legends Tour visit, the fairways and greens were remarkably firm, fast and established for a layout barely a year old. With the winning score of -12 from Darren Fichardt on the Legends Tour from the blue tee boxes, it’s clear this is a stern test, especially when the Scottish breeze off the North Sea reaches over 30 mph. 

It is a deliberate contrast to its sibling. Only six holes occupy the coastal dunes. The rest of the 7,589-yard routing moves through heather-clad heathland and wetland terrain threaded with ancient burns, and the design includes a natural sand bunker on the 9th hole, said to be the world’s largest. 

Each hole is laid out in front of the player with many of the holes playing from elevated tee boxes. The wider fairways are considerably forgiving off the tee, letting you open your shoulders and give it a rip on most of the par 4’s, with some incredibly inviting fairways and superb aim-point bunkers to fire at.

The real test begins on the approach, as the greens are enormous and intensely undulating, and missing in the wrong quadrant leaves extremely difficult putts.

The standout moment arrives at the elevated 9th tee, a sweeping panorama of hole and ocean, before a tantalising risk-reward drivable par 4 at the 10th, where absolute precision is required to hit and hold the green for those attempting the challenge.

Overall, I felt the New Course was more ‘fun’ as opposed to the technically demanding design of the old. It’s incredibly fair and enjoyable to play and allowed for some imagination and creativity on the greens, which is rewarded if executed correctly. A player hoping to score well here will need to chose their tee boxes carefully, as many of the holes exceed 400 yards in length and require a strong drive to give any opportunity of reaching the greens in regulation. 

The course finishes with an elevated par 5, reachable in two but requiring both shots are delivered with precision and power. As you approach the 18th green the size and scale of the venue becomes apparent, with superb views of both courses and the immense practice facilities on-site. 

MacLeod House

We arrived slightly later than planned at MacLeod House, so we missed out on the full dining experience. However, Deputy Manager, Suyog Dahal, was on hand and happy to organise a delicious treat of club sandwiches when we arrived, which went down incredibly well when accompanied with a pint of the special 36 lager. 

MacLeod House provides a luxurious and sumptuous retreat. With only 18 rooms on site, the hotel is very personal and tranquil and the staff are highly trained to ensure the service is swift and professional. The restored country house is lavishly appointed with rich fabrics and a Scottish heritage aesthetic, while remaining indulgent without feeling gaudy or austere. The beds in the lodges were incredibly comfy, I can only describe the experience as synonymous of sleeping in a giant warm marshmallow!

Clavis Whisky Bar is wonderful place to settle bets and sample a wee dram from the extensive and eclectic bottles on display. Many of the finest Scotland’s finest whisky’s feature and if your wallet can handle it you won’t be disappointed with the selection of single malts on offer. 

For those wanting a bite to eat and a beverage in the 19th, The Dunes Restaurant & Bar in the granite clubhouse serves from 06:30 to 21:00 daily, and the food is some of the best clubhouse fare in the UK. 

The Great North Sea Residences

The newest addition to the estate is a collection of five serviced residences created from a 19th-century Coastguard Station on the coastal escarpment overlooking both courses. Unveiled in August 2026 during the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship week, the Great North Sea Residences retain their Belhelvie Blue granite façades and pair cast-iron log-burning stoves and bespoke joinery with five-star hotel and concierge services, private terraces and a residents’ putting green.

 

“Any visitor – be they golfers or not – will be thrilled to stay in such luxurious residences. They have brought a whole new dimension to the accommodation at the resort,”

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley

As reported by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. Four of the residences sleep up to five guests, the fifth up to three, with packages from £1,500 per night.

Prices and Packages 

At the time of writing, green fees on the New Course start at £495, with a combined 36-hole package across both courses at £900, while two-night MacLeod House packages are priced from £2,500 and include 36 holes, dinner, bed and breakfast.

Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ) is 20-25 minutes away and offers a direct route network of around 15 to 20 European countries, heavily focused on major international hubs, Scandinavian and Northern European corridors, and Mediterranean cities. It’s also a key destination from London Heathrow, with multiple flights every day. 

Advance booking is essential between May and September. The location also anchors a wider itinerary, with the world ranked Royal Aberdeen GC and Murcar Links located around 20 minutes drive south, with Cruden Bay GC roughly 30 minutes north.

Verdict

As the proclaimed ‘Greatest 36 Hole Destination’ Trump International Scotland is far more than a stay-and-play golf experience. Each course offer something  unique and special, which is in some way removed from traditional Scottish links, yet at the same time manages to deliver as many, if not more, of the challenges and demands golfers desire when playing links golf on the coast of Scotland. The experience will stand long my memories, as standing on the 36th green with our match hanging on a final putt, framed by dunes and the North Sea, it was evident Aberdeen’s 36-hole offering is a serious contender among the world’s leading golfing destinations.