September saw the annual NCG Top 100s Tour visit to Aberdeenshire, but 2024 was the first time that we had made the trip to Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Links.
The course offers up stunning views of the Ythan Estuary, Newburgh Beach and the North Sea, and our players were fortunate enough to play the course on a glorious sunny afternoon.
There are just the three sets of tees at Newburgh Links, with the back tees only taking the course back as far as 6,400 yards, and with a Course Rating of just 71.7. The Par 72 layout features three par 3s and three par 5s, with the yellow tees bringing the yardage down to just over 5,800 yards. The Course Rating for the Yellows is only 68.5, 3.5 shots below par.
For the Ladies, the Red tees measure at just over 5,400 yards. All those yardages may make it seem like Newburgh Links is a short golf course, and on paper it is… But the hills on the front nine make it a much more difficult prospect.
What is the course like and what are the best holes?
Newburgh-on-Ythan is very much a traditional links layout, with two nines taking you to and from the clubhouse. However, those two nines have very different characteristics.
The front nine was only designed three decades ago, and incorporates the hills to the south of the clubhouse. There are severe undulation changes throughout the front side of the layout, with long par 4s playing uphill, short par 4s playing downhill, and even a pair of par 3s that play more than 200 yards long.
The back nine of the current layout is the original course, which was first laid out back in 1889. It is the much flatter part of the course, and plays more like a proper links course. There are some cracking holes on the closing side, with the signature hole on the property being the par 3 16th. It is the picture perfect hole at Newburgh, playing along the coastline of the River Ythan, and the Ythan Estuary.
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The course comes to a conclusion with a glorious par 5, and one with trouble down both sides. Teeing off from the edge of the land, and at times with the high tide at your back, gorse lines the fairway. The green then sits behind some of that gorse, and with a semi-blind shot as your final approach of the day, make sure to get your club selection and direction correct…
What did our competitors think of Newburgh?
Looking for other opinions on Newburgh Links? Check out what some of our players had to say about this championship venue here:
“The course is sublime, and the view from the clubhouse is one of the best I have ever seen!” – James Noone
“I didn’t even know about Newburgh until I saw the NCG Top 100s Tour was visiting. Now, I’ll definitely be coming back!” – Lynda Munro
“Incredible. Absolutely incredible! – Ewan Gilliland
What about the off-course facilities?
Although there is not a driving range at Newburgh-on-Ythan, there is the ability to get warmed up prior to your round on the Aberdeenshire coastline. There is a glorious putting green in front of the clubhouse, along with a pair of nets on the walk round to the first tee.
The glorious clubhouse building, which looks stunning from all angles, offers panoramic views of the back nine of the golf course. There are also views of the River Ythan and the sand dunes in the distance. The clubhouse building houses the bar and lounge area, pro shop, locker rooms and a state-of-the-art simulator.
How can you play at Newburgh?
Tee times are available every day of the week for visitors at Newburgh-on-Ythan, with prices for a game being more expensive on the weekend.
You can check out the green fees for a game at Newburgh here, and you can book a tee time through the visitor booking system on their website, here.
Newburgh is located on the northeastern coastline of Scotland, around half an hour to the north of Aberdeen.
This was the first time that the NCG Top 100s Tour visited Newburgh, but we are looking to get the Aberdeenshire venue back on the schedule for 2025.
- Keep up to date with the ever-expanding 2025 NCG Top 100s Tour schedule here.
Get in touch with Newburgh-on-Ythan
For more information about the club and course, visit the club’s website.
To get in touch with Newburgh, you can call them on 01358 789058, or you can send them a message via the contact form on their website – which you can find here.
Now have your say
Have you ever played at Newburgh-on-Ythan before, or played on the NCG Top 100s Tour before? Let us know with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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