With professional golf seemingly forever being contested on one-dimensional, uninspiring courses, the next couple of weeks are a revelation for those of us who are tired of the “same old” offerings from the PGA and European Tours. Ahead of next week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, the gaze of observers of the men’s game will fall upon another layout that has received a royal seal of approval.

The Scottish Open, which has long served as the official warm-up act to golf’s oldest and greatest championship, travels to the north east of the country to set up shop on the hugely underrated Balgownie links of Royal Aberdeen.

Originally designed by Archie and Robert Simpson, with the legendary James Braid later remodelling it, the Balgownie has long been a highly appreciated layout by those fortunate enough to have come across it. Although that isn’t as lengthy a list as it deserves to be. With most golfing eyes gazing upon the Scottish hotbeds of St. Andrews, Ayrshire, Angus and the Highlands, the far north east often doesn’t receive the recognition that its courses merit.

Cruden Bay has secured its reputation as a gem of the Scottish golfing portfolio, but Royal Aberdeen should certainly be included in the conversation. And one has to expect, after this week’s event, that many individuals, players, fans and observers alike, will be adding the course to their obligatory ‘bucket lists’.

It has certainly attracted many of the best, with one of the strongest fields to have been assembled on the European Tour this season in attendance. Phil Mickelson, whose Scottish Open triumph at Castle Stuart last year was the first leg of a remarkable double-header, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose are the headliners of a line-up bustling with star power.

American stars Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, no doubt influenced by Mickelson’s heroics last year, have seen fit to add the event to their schedules. European Ryder Cup regulars; Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez will also attract large galleries, with legendary figures in the form of Ernie Els and Sir Nick Faldo adding a bit of major championship lustre to Scotland’s third city.

But for most, this will be their first visit to the Balgownie, although it has had some pretty influential reviewers. According to six-time major champion Faldo, who is competing in the event for the first time since 2009, Tom Watson claimed that Royal Aberdeen has perhaps the best nine holes on the planet.

Presumably that will be in reference to the opening nine holes, which cut through a spectacular dune landscape. The back-nine is perhaps not quite as pleasing to the eye, but with its undulating fairways and plentiful bunkers, the course is a superb examination of links golf.

And that fact will please the players, many of whom are here for some useful competitive preparation for the Open Championship.  

For the past three years, the Scottish Open had been contested at the thoroughly enjoyable Castle Stuart, but its wide fairways and modern design was perhaps not an accurate representation of the challenge that awaits the following week. However, that crucial opportunity to play the variety of shots required on a links would surely be considered a factor in the last three Open winners; Mickelson, Els and Clarke all claiming the Claret Jug a week after competing in the Scottish.

Other players will have seen that, and they are here in the hope of replicating that form. Being tighter and more defined, Royal Aberdeen will play much closer to the challenge presented by the links of Hoylake next week, and that will in theory place those in attendance in Scotland in strong shape going into the Open.

The Balgownie will serve as just one part of a celebration of the game’s purest form in the coming month, with the ladies competing at Royal Birkdale this week, and the game’s elder statesmen contesting their Open at Royal Porthcawl in a fortnight. It’s truly a feast of links golf.

Royal Aberdeen will certainly be an appetizing dish to consume, and it may prove to be one that readies the pallet for next week’s Open Championship.

And don’t be surprised if person, whose name is soon to be engraved on the Claret Jug, had just experienced some Aberdonian hospitality.