The Real Walker Cup Winner: Royal Aberdeen?

Excellent Pond Scrum this week from Elling and Huggan talking about the Walker Cup, and this stood out:

Elling: The whole competition was thoroughly enjoyable, with one slight exception. It's hard to fathom why the BBC had to adopt such a paternalistic, pandering tone when talking about the GB&I side. Ken Brown, normally a level-headed analyst, was shown hugging a GB&I player Saturday in an attempt to console him. Veteran and beloved analyst Peter Alliss repeatedly referred to the team as "we" and "us." Alliss also offered a mocking version of a Southern accent that included the words "Goddamn," after a U.S. player was heard muttering following a bad shot. Come on guys, you are better than that. I think.

Huggan: You have a point. But at least you were spared five minutes of commercials after every two minutes of golf.

Elling: Touche.

Huggan: The real star of the weekend was the course. Royal Aberdeen, for reasons I have never been able to fathom, is always overshadowed by nearby Cruden Bay. Give me Balgownie every time, if I have to choose between those two.

Since we saw only Royal Aberdeen's "lesser" back nine with the limited online coverage, I was left to wonder how incredible the front nine must be. Granted, some modern redo work by the usual UK suspects stood out, but even then the place came off beautifully.

Thoughts from anyone who has played there?