Here it comes again – the
Scottish Open returns to Castle Stuart between the 7th and 10th
July 2016. Castle Stuart has hit the
headlines since becoming one of the most sought after new courses in the North
of Scotland.
This area has often been called the Northern Mecca of golf being visited
most frequently by golfers who have already enjoyed the delights of St. Andrews, Carnoustie and the Ayrshire coast. The scenery surrounding Castle
Stuart and the many other championship courses within one hour, has to be seen
to be believed. Backdrops are special
and uncluttered showing off mountains and lochs and open water. It is as dramatic as a film set, which is
actually what can be seen in the Outlander series one! (see our Outlander Blog)
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| Castle Stuart |
Whilst many golfers stick to well
known big hitting courses such as Nairn and Royal Dornoch, more and more a
trend has been noticed that the smaller ‘hidden gems’ are being visited. It has to be said that the quality of golf
courses in Scotland is extremely high and therefore it comes as no surprise
that some courses in more remote areas, or competing against a big course, have
not had the attention they deserve in the past.
This blog will highlight favourite courses in striking distance of
Castle Stuart, which sit patiently waiting for the golfer's opening tee shot on the first hole and their sudden realization that this is what the game of golf
is all about.
Heading East from Castle Stuart – towards Nairn – just 6
miles
NAIRN DUNBAR
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| Nairn Dunbar |
Just 6 or 7 miles from Castle
Stuart lies the town of Nairn and here two courses have vied for position for
many years. The lesser known Nairn
Dunbar is a links course that has been improved and perfected over the past
fifteen years into a challenging (it's longer than Nairn) course with true links
features but just shy of the seafront leaving a line of sand dunes between it
and the water. It's tough and demanding
and the three ‘new’ holes, which replaced the wee ones that left the course and
ventured up the escarpment, are quite unrecognizable as new. Lovely stone bridges and immaculate fairways
and greens give the golfer a true challenge but one where each and every hole
can be remembered by its uniqueness
Proceeding still to the East and about 25 minutes further
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| Signature Hole at Hopeman |
HOPEMAN
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| Hopeman |
Now as a wee special visit, try Hopeman – it’s not long, but it is tight
and linksy with a signature 12th par three short hole. The green is just about on the beach and one drives from the
top of the escarpment. The first nine is
superb and the second a newer addition in 1985 compares favourably as so many
other courses in Scotland that were created first as nine holers. Thanks to ‘Trevor” who immediately abandoned
his job in the clubhouse to drive out to the spectacular 12th to
help with pictures. What a welcome one
gets at this lovely course.
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| Moray Old Course |
MORAY – (Lossiemouth)
Then turning towards the coast the keen
golfer will find Moray – not just one but two courses. Moray Old and Moray New. Now don’t think ‘new’ course is brand new. Previously a relief 7
hole course, it became an eighteen holer in 1979 and a very worthy sister to
the more established course built in 1889. The writer has always felt the 18th
hole on the old course culminating in front of the wonderful clubhouse and
surrounded by Scottish stone buildings has a look of the Old Course in St.
Andrews but actually this hole is truly fantastic with the last shot rising up
to a plateau green to the applause of the terraced watchers.
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| Moray Closing Hole |
Going further in land still East but 10 miles from Nairn -
FORRES –
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| 18th Hole Forres |
ELGIN – East and 10 miles from Forres
Duly fired up and with the
knowledge that you can play well on parkland courses then try out Elgin just
another ten miles East on the A96.
Heathland and Parkland make this a hybrid course but again a course that
allows the ‘opening of the shoulders’ and another confidence boost.
Going South – across the spectacular Dava Moor – about 25 minutes
from Nairn
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| Grantown |
Heading south now and towards the
lovely and picturesque course of Grantown upon Spey. This course offers itself to the writer as if
in three sections. The first section is
to give confidence with relatively easy opening holes but beware – a cross of
the lane and into the forest and a spectacular signature par 4 hole – downhill all
the way surrounded by the silver birches and the soft sound of woodland
wildlife helps to ensure an inspired drive as the first part of a par or even a
birdie! Climbing up towards the end of
the forest holes and then out again into rolling and undulating fairways the
last holes whilst challenging are different but nonetheless enjoyable. Interesting to note around the turn before
back to the clubhouse an old outdoor curling rink can be seen. Fair warning that this Highland course can be
challenged with the climate and the writer did once finish a round here in a
blizzard.
BOAT OF GARTEN – 12 minutes from Grantown
Dropping a little further to the
south and we find Boat of Garten a strange name but created for the little
ferry that used to ply across the Loch here.
The first hole at Boat sometimes greets the golfer with a little
disappointment but climb to the second and expect to be wowed! In addition to the spectacular scenery, the
lovely undulating tight fairways and testing greens there is by way of reward
should you be playing badly, the possibility of seeing the steam rain puff past
en route from Aveiemore to Boat of Garten.
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| Boat of Garten |
Going over the Kessock Bridge and driving further North
FORTROSE AND ROSEMARKIE – along the Northern side of the Moray
Firth and can be seen from Castle Stuart
One of the author’s most
favourite courses with a nine out to turn at Chanory Point and a possibility to
see the dolphins at their favourite stomping ground has to be something to
write home about. A wee par three on the
turn will test the golfer with club selection and can vary from wedge to some
sort of wood depending upon the wind.
Double greens and sharing fairways – its golf as it was played years ago
and of course it’s James Braid course designer again.
BRORA
One and a half hours from Castle
Stuart lies a course, which will take the golfer back to the true meaning of a
Links course. Brora is 20 minutes past
Dornoch along the A9 but so well worth those extra minutes travel. Whilst lacking trees it opens up greens from
just about anywhere and follows the usual nine out and nine back. Another James Braid course as with so many in this
area but it is different and demanding and at the same time quaint and
quirky. Yes this is the place where the
sheep are kept away brilliantly by the small electric fence around the greens
but you can sometimes find the odd ‘coo’ lying contentedly in a bunker.
It is hard to select from the
plethora of courses available to the golfer in the North of Scotland and these
are just a few which have been played and enjoyed immensely by this blogger.
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| Castle Stuart Club House |
This Blog was written by Rosemary Young, our current Chair.
Rosemary has played golf since the age of five and represented Hertfordshire
County as a Junior Organiser as well as playing for the team and holding a single figure handicap. She came to
Scotland to run a Golf Hotel and received the best small golfing hotel award in
2006 for Claymore House Hotel. Rosemary also became an Industry trainer
and wrote and delivered a training package called "NO ROUGH EDGES"
throughout Scotland as part of Golf Highland. Nowadays Rosemary just
plays for fun whilst running her 4
Star GOLD B&B Inveran Lodge in Nairn.
To find out more about Scotland's Golf Courses, visit our
website and search for golf courses by region
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