Sᴛᴏɴᴇʜᴀᴠᴇɴ GC

I rather enjoyed Stonehaven.

Half an hour south of Aberdeen city centre is this clifftop playground. On one of the most interesting sites on the North East Coast, there is certainly no shortage of drama here.

The First plays from alongside the charming clubhouse down to a green perched on the very edge of a cliff. This sets the tone for what’s to come. From a tee set alongside another precipitous drop, the Second is a wonderful par 3 back over the cliff. It’s a thrilling start.

The next couple traverse the clifftop site before the Fifth sees you driving the ball over a dramatic ravine, only to navigate it again two holes later in the form of a par 3.

The next four are rather plain parkland holes on the other side of the railway track but re-emerging back on to this side presents another exhilarating hole. This time driving over the perpendicular Fourth fairway infant of us and down to the Twelfth fairway, falling away in the distance towards another clifftop peninsular.

Three consecutive par 3s play us back up the far cliff edge - the greens either set alongside or just beyond a dizzying drop.

It might not be pure links golf, nor the championship style test of unerring consistency that the recent run of Aberdonian links has spoilt us with - but Stonehaven provides a thoroughly enjoyable style of golf nonetheless. Recently just entering the Scottish Top 100 in Golf World, I think this unashamedly fun and dramatic wee course is entirely deserving of its inclusion.

I’d heartily recommend you pay it a visit.