Castle Stuart at Castle Stuart Golf Links

Castle Stuart Golf Links occupies a dramatic stretch of linksland on the Moray Firth, roughly ten miles northeast of Inverness. Opened in 2009, the course represents a collaboration between developer Mark Parsinen, who previously worked on Kingsbarns, and American architect Gil Hanse. The property sits on the historic Castle Stuart estate, with the restored 17th-century tower house visible from several holes. The routing takes full advantage of elevated terrain that offers views across the firth toward Fort George and the Black Isle.

The layout moves through varied duneland topography, with several holes playing along clifftop plateaus and others descending into lower corridors. The front nine works inland before turning back toward the water, while the back nine features more dramatic coastal exposure. The closing stretch from the 15th onward plays directly along the shoreline, with the par-three 17th sitting on a promontory above the beach. The design emphasizes wide fairways and strategic bunkering that rewards thoughtful positioning over pure length.

Castle Stuart has hosted the Scottish Open multiple times since 2011, bringing European Tour competition to the Highlands. The course shares its coastal setting with neighboring courses along the Moray Firth golf trail, contributing to the region's growing reputation as a links destination beyond the more traveled routes of Fife and Ayrshire. The modern clubhouse incorporates stone and timber in a style sympathetic to the historic castle nearby.