Castle Stuart Golf Links
Great news announced today that the Scottish Open will be based at Castle Stuart Golf Links for the next three years, taking over from Loch Lomond.
Here are some photographs of this new links, based a few miles east of Inverness, that I took when I had the opportunity to play it in September 2009.
The fabulous Art Deco designed clubhouse at Castle Stuart Golf Links. The facilities offer the golfer a truly top class experience prior to and then after your round.
The first tee hard against the lapping waves of the Moray Firth on your right.
The various tee positions of the Par5 2nd hole.
Boyne playing out of the greenside bunker on the Par5 2nd hole.
The Par4 third and the last hole of the front nine with the water and beach on your right.
The fourth hole and first Par3 playing to a tiered green with the lovely backdrop of Castle Stuart.
A delightful view of the Par5 6th green from the 5th tee and the now elevated section of the course.
Fairway bunker on the long Par4 5th.
The approach to the heavily bunkered Par5 6th green.
The elevation change on the course is really subtle and affords fantastic views across the Moray Firth this is from the 7th tee looking down to the Par5 2nd green.
The 192 yard Par3 8th has you heading back to the clubhouse and some refreshments at the 'halfway house'.
The drive from the elevated 10th tee, below, takes you back down to the sea shore for the next three holes.
The 11th is a super little Par3, of a 130 yards, with the Moary Firth supplying a magnificent backdrop.
The first and thankfully last steep climb on the Castle Stuart links that takes you from the 12th green to the 13th tee.
The Par4 13th green with yet another great view across to the Black Isle.
Looking down to the 12th green from the 18th tee. This does highlight the change in elevation that occurs after the climb to the 13th tee, it is worth it though.
My playing partners, LB and her brother Tom, taking a moment to reflect on the round as they approach the 18th green.
A return to the wonderful clubhouse after a round of golf that convinced me that this is quite simply the best new golf course to be opened in Scotland since Kingsbarns. As Mr Parsinen, the co-designer, said to me on the completion of my round:
"Everything I learned at the design process and could not incorporate when constructing Kingsbarns has been implemented here at Castle Stuart ".
The Scottish Open is now based at a links golf course and this setting will surely encourage an even stronger field for one of the European Tour's flagship events giving the players a taste of competition links golf, and a perfect warm up prior to the Open Championship.
The first tee hard against the lapping waves of the Moray Firth on your right.
The various tee positions of the Par5 2nd hole.
Boyne playing out of the greenside bunker on the Par5 2nd hole.
The Par4 third and the last hole of the front nine with the water and beach on your right.
The fourth hole and first Par3 playing to a tiered green with the lovely backdrop of Castle Stuart.
A delightful view of the Par5 6th green from the 5th tee and the now elevated section of the course.
Fairway bunker on the long Par4 5th.
The approach to the heavily bunkered Par5 6th green.
The 192 yard Par3 8th has you heading back to the clubhouse and some refreshments at the 'halfway house'.
The drive from the elevated 10th tee, below, takes you back down to the sea shore for the next three holes.
The 11th is a super little Par3, of a 130 yards, with the Moary Firth supplying a magnificent backdrop.
The Par4 13th green with yet another great view across to the Black Isle.
A return to the wonderful clubhouse after a round of golf that convinced me that this is quite simply the best new golf course to be opened in Scotland since Kingsbarns. As Mr Parsinen, the co-designer, said to me on the completion of my round:
"Everything I learned at the design process and could not incorporate when constructing Kingsbarns has been implemented here at Castle Stuart ".
The Scottish Open is now based at a links golf course and this setting will surely encourage an even stronger field for one of the European Tour's flagship events giving the players a taste of competition links golf, and a perfect warm up prior to the Open Championship.
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