Cullen GC

Only an hour?s drive away from the championship courses at Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay is a quirky ?must play? track at Cullen. For under £20 you?ll gain access to some of the most unforgettable and well-manicured links land in Scotland. Cullen in Banffshire is a par 63 that plays just 4,597 yards ? easy you say, not entirely.

You might laugh at the prospect of playing a track with 10 par 3s and only one par 5 but each short hole is cleverly designed to test your game. A quartet of par threes from 11 to 14 are the highlight of the back nine and each features Cullen?s signature landmark ? the 80-foot Boar Crag. The 12th and 13th are probably the best of these, playing directly over the big red lump which seriously hampers your view of the green. Avoid contact with Boar Crag and you?ll be rewarded with a decent score.

For some après-golf refuelling we can recommend a trip into the nearby town center for a bowl of legendry ?Cullen Skink?. This creamy white chowder slips down a treat after an exciting few hours on the course.

Best Hole: You?ll always be left with a story after playing 12 and 13. If you get stuck behind Boar Crag you could be there for some time.

Green fees: £15 weekday, £20 weekend

Location: The Links, Cullen, Buckie, Banffshire AB56 4WB

Tel: 01542 840685

Web: www.cullen-golf-club.co.uk