Castle Stuart Golf Links

Castle Stuart Golf Links is already being tipped to take its place amongst the great courses of the Scottish Highlands such as Royal Dornoch and Nairn. Castle Stuart opened on July 13 2009 and is the focal point of a luxury development that will eventually include a second seaside course. New links courses are rare but Castle Stuart, designed by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, is being spoken about as a gem of the traditional links game. The views of the Kessock Bridge and Chanonry Point lighthouse certainly tick the traditional links requirements of stunning setting.

What more can you ask from a golf course? A challenging, yet playable championship course in a breathtaking setting with first class facilities and personality.

Castle Stuart is really a treat to experience. Created as a sequel to Kingsbarns, the design team worked hard to create a course that is challenging to better players yet enjoyable to the average player. Whilst most courses have that goal in mind, Castle Stuart achieved it.

The wide fairways, the whispy, natural rough, the authentic bunkering all combine to present a golf course that encourages recovery rather than punishment. We are not saying you cannot loose a ball or shoot a high number, but the course only punishes those shots that deserve to be punished. For the most part, the tee shots present you with views that offers a number of options. The greens are built naturally into the land and require precise iron play to score well.

The course is designed to make the most of the location. The opening holes sweep down and along the Moray Firth, before taking you back towards Castle Stuart itself and back to the clubhouse. After a welcome visit to the halfway house, the back nine follows the same script, taking you by the Firth to begin before coming back around to finish with the sweeping par-5 18th hole.

Playing the course, you get the sense that each hole has been carefully considered and designed to a) make the most of the breathtaking surround scenary, b) form around the natural lay of the land and c) test your eye as much as your game. The infinity greens, natural bunkers and run-off areas demand that you carefully consider each shot, yet offer you a chance to salvage your score should you stray off-course.

Everything about Castle Stuart inspires the keen golfer. The art-deco clubhouse peers out to the Moray Firth and the golf course. The practice areas are accessible and extremely well maintained. The staff and caddies are well trained, friendly and ready to make your day at Castle Stuart one to remember.

Castle Stuart achieves what many courses have attempted: a truly, wonderful, yet challenging, links golf experience for all levels of golfer. Easily one of the finest courses we have played.