The front 9 quite honestly is rather dull and uninspiring, from 10 on it ramps up, and as you climb up towards the hills it becomes rugged and wild. 10-14 are without a doubt, by some distance, the best holes. 15-17 are nice parkland holes and 18 is just a par three 240 yards uphill to a green, a shame for a finishing hole. The course itself was in good condition with great greens, all told the rest was nice but not my favourite.

The 2nd hole was a better but, sad to say, I found the outward 9 a tad on the bland side, although the 5th is a good hole and the 9th, driving over the water, interesting. If the front 9 is underwhelming the back nine is delightful with brains rather than brawn required. Challenging par 3’s, difficult dog-legs a plenty, the best being the wonderful 13th, with the 16th just behind. The 18th is a mirror image of the first, taking you back to the clubhouse. The course, is in excellent condition and although the front nine didn’t get my pulse racing the inward half is very good, and enough to make you consider a return visit, if you are in the area. MPPJ

The front nine is really rather uninspiring - I made only one note on my scorecard about holes 1 to 9 and it referred to the par four 5th (rated stroke index 2) and its raised, two-tier greensite -- but the back nine more than makes up for the relative tedium of what’s gone before.

Starting at the uphill par five 10th and continuing through to “Queens Hill,” the par four 17th, Aboyne suddenly comes alive with tumbling terrain, blind drives, sharp doglegs and interesting green contours.

Only the pond at the 16th jarred the golfing senses on this fabulous stretch, which was highlighted by the wonderful left doglegged 13th, “Fernie Brae,” which is well worth its stroke index 1 rating. It’s a pity the round ends as it starts with a long par three hole (worse still, it’s uphill this time) but it doesn’t really diminish the exhilaration of playing the earlier holes on the inward half.

Combine the back nine here with the front nine at nearby Ballater and you’d have a composite Highland 18-hole course of some stature.

Jim McCann.

The course is very much 'a game of two halves' - to coin a cliche. The front nine has very little of note, although the 6th is a nice hole. The course completely changes character on the back 9 with the Loch of Aboyne a visual feature and some fine holes notably the 11th and the par 3 12th. There is a strange loop of newer holes towards the end. Overall, worth playing if you're in the area.