American developer Mark Parsinen, known for Kingsbarns Golf Links, sought another spectacular Scottish site and found it along the Moray Firth, between Inverness and Nairn—Castle Stuart. Previewed during Autumn 2008, the course promised to rival Kingsbarns with its stunning coastal views and strategic design.
The layout begins with holes running along a raised beach, offering panoramic vistas of the Black Isle. Tees positioned on cliffs lead to fairways below, creating thrilling starting drives on the 1st and 10th holes. Modern design features like clever mounding and expansive waste bunkers enhance the natural feel of the course, isolating each hole for an immersive experience.
The front nine features holes 4 to 9 and 13 to 18 inland, culminating on both sides of the clubhouse perched on the cliffs. Highlights include the challenging 552-yard par five 6th with its narrow green nestled between waste bunkers, and the daunting 220-yard par three 17th on the elevated back nine.
Castle Stuart, hosting the Barclays Scottish Open in 2011, became a formidable venue alongside Royal Dornoch and Nairn, raising the bar for Highland golf. Subsequent tournaments, including Luke Donald’s victory amidst storms in 2011 and thrilling playoffs in 2012 and 2013, underscored its prestige. In 2022, Castle Stuart’s legacy expanded as development company Cabot purchased the course, planning a new 18-hole layout designed by Tom Doak.
