Duff House Royal Golf Club

Barnyards,

Banff, Aberdeenshire AB45 3SX

  • Office

    +44 (0)1261 812 062
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1261 812 075
  • Fax

    +44 (0)1261 812 224
  • Golf pro

    James Calam
  • Academy

    James Calam Golf

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Relatively flat terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Riverside (River Deveron) and woodland.

  • Designer:

    Original course laid out by James Braid (1910). Later redesigned by Dr Alister MacKenzie, working with his brother Major Charles A. MacKenzie (1923).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6019
5849
5457
Par
68
68
72
SSS or slope
69
68
72

Location

Latitude:

57.661393

Longitude:

-2.520064

How to get there:

45 miles NW of Aberdeen

Heading west on the A98, just before entering Banff, cross over the River Deveron and take the next turning left into the Golf Club. From Aberdeen, take the A947 through Oldmeldrum and Turriff to Banff (45 miles). The A947 joins the A98 just before the River Deveron Bridge outside Banff.

Duff House Royal Golf Club

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.

Est. 1910

Duff House Royal Golf Club is pleasantly located on the banks of the River Deveron, next to the town of Banff. Just a short distance beyond the course, the river flows into the North Sea. Originally designed by the great James Braid, and later modified by the revered Dr Alister Mackenzie, the layout boasts a distinguished architectural pedigree.

Lightly tree-lined in places, more open in others, this well presented layout plays at just under 6,200 yards from the back-tees. The par of 68 includes just one par-5 and five par-3s. Occupying relatively flat terrain, the course is more parkland in character than coastal links, perhaps taking its cue from elegant Duff House, which borders the course.

Duff House Royal's easy-going appearance, with relatively little rough to speak of, belies the challenges that you'll encounter along the way. The large "Mackenzie" two-tiered greens, many well positioned bunkers and some tree-lined fairways ensures a good and fair test for golfers of all abilities.

With one side of the course bounded by the river, care will be needed with your tee-shots at the 7th, 16th and 17th holes, where the river lies in wait for anything too wayward.

List of courses: Scotland - North East

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season (June thru' Aug): £70 (all days). Shoulder season (May & Sept) £50.

Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Players generally walk this course.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

Although golf is thought to have been played in Banff for over 400 years, it was only in 1871 that a golf club was formally organised. The members of Banff GC played on the seaside Banff Links (a course that no longer exists). The club continued with varying degrees of success until the end of 1924, at which time the club merged with Banff's second golf society ... the Duff House Golf Club (the name of which was retained for the amalgamated club). Duff House Golf Club had previously been established in 1910, with its members playing on a strip of land alongside the River Deveron, which the Duke of Fife had gifted to the towns of Banff and Macduff.

Duff House Royal is one of 10 golf clubs in Scotland that received its 'Royal' prefix from a reigning British monarch. The Royal title was conferred on the club in 1925 by George V, following the patronage of Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife, George V's eldest daughter. The 10 Scottish 'Royals' are: Aberdeen, Royal & Ancient (St Andrews), Burgess, Dornoch, Duff House, Montrose, Musselburgh, Perth, Tarlair and Troon.

Adjacent to the golf course is Duff House, an 18th century William Adam mansion, filled with fine paintings, furniture, tapestries and artefacts drawn from the National Gallery of Scotland and several private lenders.

Published ranking

Scotland's 62nd best course (Golf World, 2022).

Where2Stay

  • Banff Springs Hotel3-star

    8 Golden Knowes Road, Banff AB45 2JE

    +44 (0)1261 812 881

    Visit website

    Banff Springs Hotel has 35 bedrooms offering comfortable accommodation, many with views over Boyndie Bay and the North Sea. The hotel is also home to a popular restaurant, a bistro which is renowned locally.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Duff House Royal

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      No

  • Tufted Duck Hotel

    Corsekelly Place, St. Combs, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire AB43 8ZS

    +44 (0)1771 653 207

    Visit website

    The small village of St Combs is located on the coast about 4 miles outside Fraserburgh.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Fraserburgh

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      No

Find a course

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