Longside Golf Club

The drive into Longside Golf Club near Mintlaw feels properly rural - you're deep into Aberdeenshire farmland before the course appears. It's a nine-hole layout that punches above its weight for a village club, with genuine character rather than manicured perfection. The greens are quick and true, and there's enough water hazard and rough to keep you honest without feeling punitive. You'll need to ring ahead to book a round - they're welcoming to visitors but it's not a drop-in affair. Allow a couple of hours for nine holes, or four if you fancy playing it twice, which many people do given the compact nature of the course. It's the sort of place where the clubhouse does proper tea and biscuits, and you'll spot the same faces you saw on the first tee chatting on the veranda afterwards. Golfers of all levels get something from it - beginners won't feel out of their depth, and there's enough subtlety in the design to keep low handicappers engaged. If you're staying at Aden Caravan & Camping or Peterhead Marina Bay Holiday Park, this makes an easy morning or afternoon detour. The real draw is authenticity. No fancy fees, no pretension, just a well-kept course where golf still feels like something people do for the love of it rather than the Instagram moment. Winter can get muddy - spring through autumn is your sweet spot.