Stonehaven Golf Club

Some Holes Rival Pebble Beach - Yes You Read That Right

Played Stonehaven Golf Club in spring 2025, the rate to play this gem was a fraction of what you’d pay at Scotland’s marquee names. But dollar for dollar, pound for pound, and view for view—it might just be the best value-to-experience ratio in the country.

Stonehaven isn’t a championship-level brute—it’s a par 68, and yes, it has a few extra par 3s. So if you're looking for a traditional par 72 with grandstands and history books, look elsewhere. But if you want cliffside drama, jaw-dropping views, and a course with personality to spare, you’ve come to the right place.

This is a true cliff-top links. And I mean cliff. The course hovers, teeters, and dances along the edge of the North Sea in ways that’ll leave you breathless—partly from the views, and partly from a few uphill climbs that’ll make you rethink skipping leg day.

Several holes look like they were designed by Mother Nature herself, then polished off by a daring architect with a love of risk-reward. And no stretch better captures that than holes 6 and 7.

Hole 6 is a downhill par 3 that hangs on a ledge like it’s defying gravity. The green juts out into the sea, daring you to go pin-seeking. If the flag is visible, you can take dead aim—but bring the sea into play and you’d better hit it pure. There’s also a safer route out to the right, where you can use the slope to chase your ball down toward the pin. It’s a “choose your own adventure” kind of hole—with equal chances of glory or a splashy disaster.

Hole 7 follows with another par 3, and this one’s just as bold. You’ll fire your tee shot across a rugged gorge into a taco-shaped green that rewards creativity. It’s all about shaping your shot to match the contours—fade it in, draw it back, or go straight at it with spin. Pull it off, and you'll be standing over a very makable birdie putt. Miss your line, and the gorge waits like a hungry caddie with a ball magnet.

And that’s just one stretch. The entire course is full of moments like this—where beauty meets challenge and the line between risk and reward is one well-struck shot wide.

If Pebble Beach had a scrappier, wilder cousin across the pond, this might be it. Stonehaven might not have the worldwide fame (yet), but for those in the know, it's a round you won't soon forget—and one you’ll brag about discovering before everyone else catches on.

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Based on my experience: I would play the course again.