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Fraserburgh (Corbie Hill), Scotland |
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Fraserburgh Golf Club
Philorth Links
Fraserburgh
Aberdeenshire
AB43 8TL
Scotland |  | James Braid |  | Not known |
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 | +44 (0)1346 516616 |  | 40 miles N of Aberdeen off A90 |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Welcome - contact in advance |  | Lindsay Schuitema |
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Fraserburgh is the most north-easterly town in Aberdeenshire, 42 miles north of Aberdeen and it boasts one of the finest links courses in the country. Its location exposes the course to air currents from both the Moray Firth and the North Sea so this par 70, 6,308-yard layout offers a stiff challenge when the wind blows from whatever source.
In addition to its 18-hole Corbie Hill course, Fraserburgh also has an interesting 9-hole course, the Rosehill, which may be short at 2,400 yards but few can match its par of 33. The courses are well protected by sand hills that fringe the length of Fraserburgh Bay and both are fine examples of traditional Scottish links.
Fraserburgh has records of golf played as far back as 1613. The Parish Kirk Session of that year contains details of young man called John Burnett who, “for playing at the gowff” on a Sunday instead of attending church, was sent to “the maisters stool” for correction!
Fraserburgh Golf Club was founded in 1777, meeting every third Tuesday during the season. The club moved to their present location, the Philorth Links, in 1891 and much of today’s course was shaped by the great James Braid in 1922.
There are twelve par fours on the Corbie Hill course and nine of them are less than 400 yards in length, indeed, five of them are less than 360 yards long so plenty of opportunities for birdies here!
Fraserburgh Golf Club are always pleased to see visiting golfers and, unusually for many clubs, they offer a choice of tee to the visitor – “whether you want to play the full distance of the course from the medal tees or would rather play off the yellow boxes is entirely your option” – now there’s a refreshing attitude that many other clubs (who are over protective of their medal tees) should note! | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |   | | The seventh oldest course in the world, but does it still stand up to the advances in modern playing equipment? If the wind is blowing then it does most certainly. The 1st and 18th share the same expanse of flat land with light rough and the odd bunker separating the two, and both have flat, lightly-defended greens. So the start and finish are quite relaxing.  That is probably the one area where the course could most do with alteration if the greens committee were so minded. The 18th could easily be turned into ma downhill par5 with a tee box on the hill. The bunkering could also be beefed up or have the two fairways become one of the world’s widest as per you know where. Beyond the 1st green the hill looms large, like at Gullane, and you know that level lies may be quite rare for most of the holes. Holes 10, 13 and 14 reminded me of Hayling in Southern England with good compact and fairly flat holes, enhanced by bunker placement in sympathy with the natural mounds. The temptation is there to play aggressively and take consequences if it fails. Holes 1-3 and 15-18 form two blocks of holes that run in the same direction but other than that you are presented with frequent changes in playing and wind direction. Very few holes play North-South though as the course is on a fairly slim parcel of land between dunes and road. If the long rough can be avoided you can make a good score even if the wind is up. I’m sure the nine year old in the group behind who plays off nine would agree. Lucky young chap learning his golf here. |
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| 28 June 2012
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| | This is a great choice for the golfer seeking a Scottish links experience, but at a lower cost and with a less punitive layout than some of the longer, narrower links courses. A number of very strong holes and a very welcoming staff. |
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| 16 April 2012
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| | just finished playing fraserburgh ,and must say i had a great time, the rain was coming down steady but it was a nice calm and warm day, Was made very welcome in the club before tee off , secretary was great and off we went, .1st hole takes you in to the wrong image of this course its dead flat and straight,but after that and a small climb you break into the real course ,thought the 1st 9 was good but the back 9 is nothing but superb,a lot of short par 4s but really good and a will say the par 3s on this course are brilliant, typical James Braid , i would recommend this course to any links golfer who likes the challenge and again made very welcome hear, cheers Fraserburgh
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| 06 April 2012
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| | Played Fraserburgh for the second time last week and it definitely rose in my estimation. This is probably because there was a decent breeze whereas on my first visit it was flat calm. Don't be put off by the unexceptional opening hole or indeed by the fiendish uphill 2nd. Once atop the hill with its fine views back to the north there is a driveable par 4 followed by the excellent 4th with its elevated green and then the short 5th called The Hump (which is exactly what I took when my ball kicked right off the aforementioned mound). The wee 7th is a gem and the fine downhill 9th merits its stroke index 1. The back nine continues in similar intriguing vein with great enjoyment to be had at many holes. The standout on this nine is the par 5 15th through the dunes. With my critical hat on I would identify 8 and 12 as weak holes along with 1 and 18 but these did not detract from an enoyable and challenging experience on a course in first-class condition. |
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| 12 July 2010
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| | Speak to any of my fellow Glaswegians and they will tell you that they have encountered some tough old birds in their time. Well, I’ll bet that few will have met many tougher than Fraserburgh Corbie. Now, give her wind and she can get a wee bit cantankerous and as tough as a Legionnaire. However, underneath this exterior there is warmth that reveals itself more and more as the round progresses and you will gradually fall in love with this faux battleaxe leaving you desperate for a second date.
Fraserburgh exudes charm and friendliness. I have played many courses in Scotland but never once has the club captain walked to the first tee to have a chat with me to explain that the greens are not at their best and hoping that it doesn’t spoil my enjoyment too much. Sometimes it is the little things that leave a lasting impression.
Fraserburgh can be a wee bit down its self. I say that after talking to a few of their members I can’t understand this perceived inferiority complex it seems to have because it is as good a course as I have played and overseas visitors would rave about it. So, my advice here would be promote your self more and tourists might not just come over to play the Cruden Bay’s or Balgownies of the world.
There are so many good holes on the course that it is easier for me to single out the weaker ones and I have to be honest and say that I found the first and the last, which are on the flat, a bit prosaic but this is more than compensated by the rest which are a magical mixture which sees you up hill and down dale with many greens playing peek a boo with you from behind hollows and bunkers.
Chances are you will be playing many shots into the stiff prevailing wind but don’t let that spoil your fun. Embrace it, forget playing to your handicap and enjoy the ride.
I agree with Jim’s opinion of the second hole which, on the day we played it was a beast which seemed to play double its 363 yards. It is some hole and if you can score par here I suggest that you are a member of the magic circle.
So I will finish off by calming the captains fears. Don’t worry, experienced golfers can see past a few patchy greens. These can be repaired but class is permanent. And believe me, Fraserburgh has class. MPPJ
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| 13 September 2008
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| What a great unpretentious, uncompromising track the golfers of Fraserburgh have – and what a beast when the wind is up! I lost four balls on the front nine into a stiff breeze (anything off line was dead in the rough) to go three down at the turn in my informal match play. -jim-review.jpg) Now at that point I could, maybe should have been hating the place but I was loving every minute, despite my playing performance (don’t worry, I turned it around big time on the back nine for a 3&1 win). The overall yardage from the regular tees is a very modest 5835 yards but this feels like a very big course, with loads of unused space between holes. The second hole (“Braid’s Bellow”) is played to a shelf green on the side of Corbie Hill and it has to be one of the toughest in Scottish golf when the wind is in your face, despite the fact that it measures a mere 363 yards from the yellow tees. The back nine are a fine collection of links holes and they contain a) one of the most undulating fairways I’ve ever played, the appropriately named “Hillocks” on the 13th and b) one of the toughest greens I’ve ever putted on at the triple-tiered 14th hole. The overriding feeling I got though was that Fraserburgh was in need of a little golfing TLC, as it looks like most visiting golfers bypass the Corbie, depriving the club of income, which is a great shame. If only a certain D.Trump (a little known US golfing philanthrophist) was so serious about providing sporting support in the land of his mother’s birth, he would abandon plans to develop the coastline a little south of here and plough some dough in to the Corbie to realise the full potential of the landscape and turn it into a world class links – now there’s a thought! Jim McCann |
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| 26 August 2008
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| | Fraserburgh is a real hidden gem, to borrow a cliche. Apart from being a real test of golf, it has to be one of the most photogenic golf courses in Britain, with classic vistas of links fairways meandering among towering dunes and acres of swaying bent grasses.
There is hardly an easy drive off the white tees and the course will test the player's full armoury of shot-making abilities. Definitely not one to be missed.
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| 24 September 2007
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| | A fine test of seaside links golf and one of my favourite layouts in the Aberdeen area alongside Cruden Bay and the fabulous Balgownie. Set in some great dunes which provide a natural amphitheatre through the valleys on a number of holes. The course was in great nick on the three occasions that I’ve played here and there are some great short par 4s and Plateau and Hillocks spring immediately to mind. The variety of holes hold your interest all the way round and they seemingly play in all directions so the wind is a real issue especially when it blows across the holes. great value and very welcoming… a must-play if in the area. |
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| 11 September 2007
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| | What a friendly club at Fraserburgh and a links course that will get the heart racing. The course is on the top right corner of Aberdeenshire and boy does the wind blow! My pals and I had a great time here and there are plenty of quality golf holes – loved the shortish par 4 4th and the par 3 named the ‘Well’, very memorable… Tip for a great golf trip – fly to Aberdeen and play Royal Aberdeen, Murcar, Cruden Bay and then Fraserburgh, then do what we did do all four again in reverse order – Quality coastline for a weeks golf. |
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| 20 November 2006
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| Response: | | | Jim McCann | 26 August 2008 | | Don't forget Peterhead (Old) as it's well worth including on a trip along that stretch of coast. |
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