Two public courses temporarily unavailable
Storm Boelo has forced the temporary closure of both 18-hole golf courses at Hazlehead in Aberdeen, Scotland: the MacKenzie Championship Course and Hazlehead Pines. Fallen trees following a weekend of strong winds and heavy rain have made clearance work necessary before play can safely resume. The courses are run by Sport Aberdeen, the charitable operator of the city's municipal golf facilities.
In an operator statement reported by The Press and Journal on 27 October 2026, Sport Aberdeen outlined a staged response. Its forestry team will concentrate first on Hazlehead Pines, which it hopes to reopen by the end of the week, approximately Friday 30 October. The team will then move on to clear wind-felled trees from the MacKenzie Championship Course, which is expected to remain shut for another week. These are provisional estimates, not confirmed reopening dates. Safety checks and the progress of tree removal will determine when each course is playable.
The architectural significance of the MacKenzie course
Hazlehead's MacKenzie Championship Course is a public-access layout designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie, also associated with Augusta National and Cypress Point. Opened in 1927, it will mark its centenary in 2027. Sport Aberdeen highlights the course's strategic parkland design and its importance as an accessible championship golf facility in north-east Scotland.
Pines is a distinct 18-hole course alongside it. The operator lists it at 5,735 yards, par 67, with largely tree-lined fairways and a more forgiving test for a broad range of golfers. Hazlehead also has a separate nine-hole course; the announcement about the two 18-hole courses does not establish that the nine-hole course is closed.
Advice for golfers and what remains unknown
Sport Aberdeen has not released a verified count of downed trees, a repair budget or a firm return-to-play date for MacKenzie. Reports describe clearance of storm-felled trees rather than a greens renovation or an architectural redesign. It would therefore be premature to claim that its greens, bunkers or individual holes require rebuilding.
The complex is at Hazlehead Avenue, Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen AB15 8BD. Golfers planning a visit should check the specific course's status with Golf Aberdeen on 01224 507766 or through the official tee-time booking system. The closure timetable reflects information available on 27 October and may change as the clear-up progresses.
Sources: Sport Aberdeen's statement reported in The Press and Journal on 27 October 2026; the operator's official MacKenzie Championship Course and Hazlehead Pines information pages.
