Wonderful Castle Stuart & Scottish Golf Tourism Week

Castle Stuart might have opened its doors in 2009, which makes it new as far as golf courses go, but wow, did Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse knock it out of the park when they designed it! It's easily one of the most enjoyable courses you could play. I've had the good fortune of playing there between 15 to 20 times, and even better, I get to participate in the annual 3-day Tomatin Highland Links Pro-Am every October, which happens right there along with Royal Dornoch and Nairn. Honestly, it doesn't get much better than that!

I've had a blast playing on the course numerous times, but I was also super lucky to be an on-course commentator for BBC Radio Scotland when Castle Stuart hosted the world's top players for the Scottish Open from 2011 to 2013. What an experience!

Walking the course with the golf superstars and getting a front-row seat to “how the game should be played” was an unbelievable experience. One of my favourite moments was chatting with Amy Mickelson—Phil's wife—and their kids, about 30 minutes after Phil clinched the win at the 2013 event, beating Branden Grace in a playoff. Amy shared that Phil had been buzzing for months about heading to Scotland for two weeks to play in the Scottish Open, and then The Open Championship at Muirfield the next week.

Amy told me that winning at Castle Stuart meant the world to Phil, especially in Scotland, where golf originated. Just imagine how thrilled he must have been then, only a few days later, to lift the Claret Jug at Muirfield and win The Open Championship. What an incredible couple of weeks for the Mickelson family in the home of golf!

Anyway, let's switch gears from one of golf’s greatest players and chat about my trip! I landed at what's now called Cabot Highlands (formerly Castle Stuart—though it'll always be Castle Stuart to me) … it was taken over in 2022 by the Canadian golf developer, Cabot, and rebranded. I was there to meet up with other tour operators before we hit the links.

The entrance to the venue is something else. The long grass around the narrow road keeps everything hidden for a moment or two before the fantastic art deco-inspired clubhouse appears, with The Moray Firth in the background. Stunning, dramatic, and beautiful.

The long grass around the narrow road keeps everything hidden for a moment or two before the fantastic art deco-inspired clubhouse appears, with The Moray Firth in the background. Stunning, dramatic, and beautiful.

I've mentioned what it’s like to experience Castle Stuart, and it truly is an experience, in every sense of the word. From that remarkable clubhouse and its jaw-dropping views to the top-notch practice facilities, delicious food, the course itself, the incredibly welcoming staff, and, of course, a familiar face in the clubhouse, Elspeth Beardwood, who I've known for years. I seriously doubt there’s a warmer welcome at any other venue in the country!

Once spotted, I got my usual huge smile and a shriek of “Taity how are you big man”, followed by the usual bear hug that normally cracks a rib or two. Now I’m conscious I get a bigger welcome than most, but Elspeth is fantastic with everyone and you’ll be made to feel at home within minutes. All the team is superb, engaging, and unlike Elspeth at least with some of the staff you can get a word in sideways 😊!!

So, the guys I was supposed to play with didn't show up at the first tee. But hey, it's a laid-back day, and even though there's an official draw, we tour operators and players usually just do our thing—pretty much anything goes. I just hopped in with the next group, met the guys, and off we went.

The first hole is a fantastic start. The fairway is as wide as the River Clyde—that big river in Glasgow—but it's funny how it can still mess with your head. You’ve got gorse all down the left side and the Moray Firth on your right, so where do you think your mind goes for that first shot of the day? Bushes or water? Ah, the joys of golf!

The fairways at Castle Stuart are probably the most generous you'll find on any championship-level course. That’s been the idea from the start, and it works. The designers wanted folks from all over the world to come and enjoy golf in Scotland without too much stress on each tee box.

Don't let those big, wide fairways fool you—the rest of the course will put your skills (or lack thereof) to the test. The real deal is the approach shots to the greens. Mess those up, and you're in for a world of trouble, as you'll see from a little mishap I had below! The "runoffs" and the bunkering around the greens are just brilliantly and cleverly done by Mark Parsinen and Hanse.

I could go on about every hole at Castle Stuart, but my absolute favourite must be the short par 3, 11th. From the championship black tee at the very back, it’s just 144 yards. Sounds easy, right? Think again! You're hitting from a raised tee straight towards the Moray Firth with the green ahead. The water is practically kissing the left and back edges of the green, surrounded by deep bunkers left, right, and short.

It’s as intimidating as they come, but the view? Breathtaking. Over the years, I’ve swung everything from a pitching wedge to a gripped down 5 iron there, all depending on the wind and tide. I love the unpredictability. The game would just be boring if it was easy and predictable. Taity loves a good challenge!

After another fantastic day in the Highlands, it was back to the clubhouse for a wee bowl of piping hot soup, a pint, and one of Elspeth’s legendary bone-crushing hugs before I headed back to the conference. And if all this hasn’t been enough for you, guess what? They’re building a second course designed by the brilliant Tom Doak.

I got a little sneak peek before Christmas when my buddy Jeremy Matte, who's the Director of Golf at Castle Stuart, gave me a tour and hinted at what’s coming next. They're planning a "soft" opening for Autumn 2025, and from what I've seen, it's going to be spectacular!

I'm often asked, "What’s your favourite golf course or experience in Scotland?" It changes every year as courses and experiences evolve. But, without stepping on any toes, Castle Stuart has consistently been in my top three since it popped up in 2009. If it's not on your golf bucket list, then it definitely should be!

There's no shortage of places to stay near Castle Stuart either. Inverness has loads of hotels and B&Bs, and it's super convenient. Inverness Airport is just about 5-6 minutes from the course, with regular flights from London making it a breeze for those coming from afar.

During Scottish Golf Tourism Week, we stayed at The Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness, and they were fantastic hosts. Everything from the rooms, and the food, to the service was top-notch. The Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre hosted the dinner and awards on the final night, and it’s a brilliant venue for weddings and events like this.

The only hiccup was that they couldn’t turn off the air conditioning, so it was a tad chilly under the marquee. But that didn’t take away from a fabulous evening filled with great food and even better company.

It was one of the best Scottish Golf Tourism Weeks I’ve ever attended. Kudos to all the hardworking organizers! It was also fantastic catching up with so many good people and friends. My colleague and friend Fabiana, who I went with, might forget our age difference, but that didn’t stop her from leading me astray to Jonny Foxes nightclub in the town center until the wee hours! Thanks for that, Fabi. This old guy is still feeling it!