Duff House Royal Golf Club

Duff House Royal Golf Club, located in Banff, Scotland, is a renowned golfing destination steeped in history and blessed with natural beauty. This parkland course is set against the stunning backdrop of the Moray Firth, offering views of the North Sea and the River Deveron. The course is known for its challenging yet fair layout, where players must navigate undulating fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and two-tier greens. The club is associated with Duff House, a magnificent 18th century classical country house, once owned by the sixth Earl of Fife and his wife Princess Louise. Duff House Royal Golf Club welcomes golfers of all levels to enjoy a memorable round in a picturesque Scottish setting.

History: Opened in 1910, the original course at Duff House was designed by Archie Simpson (who laid out Royal Aberdeen's Balgownie). However, When Dr. Alister MacKenzie (who later designed the course at Augusta National) first saw the original course from the Hill o' Doune he recognised the potential. MacKenzie wrote to the Club in July 1923. His letter concluded, "I have rarely come across a piece of golfing ground which lends itself so well to the construction of an attractive course..." This letter resonated with the committee and MacKenzie was commissioned to re-design the course. The new course was ready for play in late 1924. Considered to be a northerly masterpiece, the course remains faithful to Mackenzie's design and beliefs. His trade mark two-tiered greens, incorporation of large double greens (of which there are two at Duff House) and his insistence that a course should always remain in outstanding condition are all as much a part of the course experience today as they were when it was originally laid out.    

The sixth Earl of Fife, was the Founder and Patron of the Golf Club. Aged 40, he astonished his close friend, Edward, Prince of Wales, by seeking to marry his eldest daughter, Louise, who was then just 22. Queen Victoria was delighted and the Earl was granted a Dukedom as befitted his marriage to a Royal Princess. He was given a choice of titles but settled for the ancestral Fife. The marriage took place at Buckingham Palace in 1889. Their enthusiasm for the Royal and Ancient game was boundless. They even employed a professional for the maintenance of the few holes which surrounded Duff House. Subsequently, they gifted the house and 140 acres to the communities of Banff and Macduff in 1906, which in turn led to the development of the course and the ultimate ownership of the land by Duff House Royal Golf Club. Eleven years after her husband's death, In December 1923, Princess Louise expressed a wish to become Patroness of the Club. ​Duff House Royal Golf Club – is the only royal golf club where the royal title is used as a suffix and not a prefix. It is believed the reason for the royal title being a suffix to Duff House was as a tribute to Louise, who was known as the Princess Royal, rather than the Royal Princess.

Duff House Royal: The course at Duff House Royal Golf Club is set in beautifully manicured parkland, which surprises with glimpses of the Moray Firth. With an emphasis on natural beauty, its undulating fairways and challenging two-tier greens offer a test to the best of golfers, while still providing great enjoyment to higher handicapped players. The River Deveron borders five holes on the course and flows into the sea through the Banff Bridge. The river and the seven spans of the bridge form the backdrop to the closing holes. The course at Duff House Royal Golf Club is an eighteen hole, par 68 (men), par 72 (women), track. It has tees ranging from 5,526 to 6,118 yards.

SGB Signature Hole: Name: Venus. Number: Hole 16. Measuring 237 yards (M) and 219 yards (W) from the tee this alluring Par 3 is defended by four large bunkers to the front left of the green and by the river for the length of the hole, to the right. In Roman mythology, Venus encompasses beauty and prosperity. This hole is certainly beautiful and if you can achieve a par of better it should be viewed as a prosperous encounter.

Clubhouse & Practice facilities: The team and members at Duff House Royal Golf Club are delighted to share their clubhouse facilities with visiting golfers. The clubhouse benefitted from refurbishment in 2019. Views from the panoramic windows within the clubhouse ensure it's a special place to take in MacKenzie's masterpiece.  Enjoy great food in the clubhouse, where the chefs at 'Double Greens' create menus using locally sourced ingredients, including many sea fish dishes. (see food and dining section). The club has a fully stocked professional shop offering a selection of clothing and the leading brands in golf clubs and golf equipment. Club hire and trolley hire options are also available. Practice facilities: Duff House Royal Golf Club offers excellent practice facilities to visiting golfers. On site, there is a manicured 18 hole putting green, which is cut to the same condition as the greens on the course. Additionally, there is a driving range, nets, a chipping green, wide bunkers and a large double tiered putting green. 

Accommodation: SGB partner with a number of large hotel chains in the North East. While we work with many smaller, more intimate, ones situated across Aberdeenshire, Angus and the North East. In addition, we have partnerships with a number of letting agencies to ensure we provide a fantastic suite of accommodation options across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Dundee & the North East. Whether you want to stay on a country estate, in a hotel, a luxury lodge, an apartment or a signature villa, Scottish Golf Breaks can arrange it for you.

Food & Dining: Double Greens Restaurant, located within the clubhouse, offers a wide range of exceptional food along with fantastic value for money. A main menu and snack menu are available for visitors to enjoy. The clubhouse also has a fully licensed, well-stocked bar, which is filled with an extensive range of drinks, including the newest gins and cocktails, and a wide selection of whisky.  

 

Typical packages include:

• Accommodation in a hotel, lodge or signature villa
• A round on Duff House Royal Golf Club
• A round at Hopeman Golf Club
• A round at Moray Golf Club, Old or New Course
• Dinner Reservations
• Full Scottish Breakfast
• Access to changing & locker-rooms, clubhouse and the practice facilities 

 

Golf packages in Scotland can be designed to your specification and group size, and can include alternative accommodation, additional courses across Angus, Dundee, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, the North East, and or other regions within the country.

 

Additional services:

• Airport or train station transfers (all sizes of groups catered for)
• Executive travel
• Caddie service

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