In 1894 the Great North of Scotland Railway Company commissioned the building of a course at Cruden Bay to accompany the Cruden Bay Hotel that was being constructed at the same time. The course – designed by Old Tom Morris of St Andrews – and the hotel were opened in 1899.

The magnificent pink granite hotel was sadly demolished after the Second World War but, thankfully, the golf course lived on

Plateau greens, undulating fairways, blind shots, streams and gorse, Cruden Bay is an absolute joy to play Looking out over the links from the elevated clubhouse, the duneland here looks as though it was designed for golf.

This is a rugged and natural link where the golfing test has remained consistent for the past 100 years. Visible from most parts of the course is the imposing ruin of Slains Castle – supposedly an influence for Bram Stoker; the author holidayed in Cruden Bay when writing Dracula.

The rest of the course’s surroundings have less of the gothic about them. In fact, this is an extremely picturesque and peaceful location.

Out amongst the sandhills, with the call of skylarks drifting on the breeze, the real world seems rather distant. This is golfing escapism at its best.