Cruden Bay. Wednesday 27 August 2014.

Yet another perfect day greeted us as we awoke at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, Cruden Bay.  We boarded the coach and made the two minute journey to Cruden Bay Golf Club.

This is the view seen from outside the clubhouse, looking down the first hole, with the ruins of Slains Castle in the distance.  We will discuss Slains Castle in more depth later.

Yesterday's champion, Helen Angus, preparing to commence her round today.

Here we have the view seen from the tee on the par three 3rd hole.  Cruden Bay has some absolutely stunning outlooks, and this is no exception.

This is the view across the fourth green from the fifth tee.  The fourth is a 450 yard par four that approaches the green from the right of the picture. The shot is partially blind, and then you are faced with a green that is 50 yards long.  Having the correct distance on the approach is vital, for if you are on the wrong side of the steeply tiered green, the putt is nigh on impossible as I found out today!

Alan Pritchard waving to us on the eighth green from high up on the ninth tee.

This is the view from behind the eighth green, on the path leading up to the ninth tee.

As we reach the ninth tee, this is the outlook we receive.  It kind of makes up for the poor golf being played!  Again you can see Slains Castle in the distance.

Sharon Marks is pictured here preparing to play her bunker shot.

This is located directly off the right side of the 13 hole.

Patrick Carlisle blasting his way from the green side bunker on hole 14.  This hole, a par four, is the first of three holes in a row with blind shots into the green.  The next two however are par threes!

This is the green on the first of these blind par threes, the 15th. The hut you see in the distance is located behind the green on the 16th, the second blind par three in a row.

Michael Merrett approaches the 18th green.  Scoring was again difficult today with the rough areas being really thick and lush, and quite long.  Gorse is plentiful, and on many occasions not far from the fairways or greens.

James Angus showed that the ability to play more golf is the key to success, well for some anyway, taking the chocolates with a great 37 points.  It also created the second husband / wife winning double of the trip thus far.  Great job James, well done.

All players agreed that they would love to return.  Tomorrow we play the new, divisive, and also spectacular Trump International prior to making our way to Dornoch.