Dear All
Although quite a few have already played it, I wanted to share my experience, thoughts and photos from my trip to the wonderful Castle Stuart.
I think Castle Stuart is THE biggest thing to happen to Scottish golf in a very long time indeed! I have yet to play Kingsbarns, however that has received so much praise since its opening 10 years ago, and it was created by the same designer, so I can see in 10 years time everyone will know of Castle Stuart and will be raving about it too!
I had the fortune of playing it the Friday after the Open Championship this year, and we could not have wished for a better day.
With our waterproofs packed (still drying out from the Open!) we headed out on a chilly morning and were welcomed by the fantastic team and starter who took us to the changing room and then also to the range, talked us through everything we needed to know and gave us our free complimentary trolleys and goody bag. But this was no ordinary goody bag, it contained the usual tees etc. but also a bag tag and a drink token too!
We walked down to the 1st and there it was, what we had travelled 450 miles each way for! The stunning sea side links lay ahead waiting to welcome us onto our round.
The first 3 holes run right along the edge of the sea on the right and then to the left of the considerably wide fairways was the cliff with its thick gorse. The 3rd is a truly great short Par 4, where eagles to triples are possible.
Then you walk up the cliff whilst playing the 4th a good Par 3 uphill, with Castle Stuart in view in the background.
Then there is a solid long Par 4, followed by a reachable Par 5, but beware as the entrance is very narrow as is the green, so 2 accurate shots are required, as otherwise deep, deep bunkers will absorb any ball within its gaping reach.
The 7th is the hardest hole on the course and rightfully so, with a big drive required to reach the corner of the dogleg to leave a reasonable mid to long iron in at an infinity green hanging on the edge of the cliff.
The 8th is a long Par 3 where a 3 is an incredibly good score, as 3 putts are aplenty!
Then the 9th returns to the clubhouse with the widest fairway on the course, but a real degree of accuracy is still required to find the correct part of it, to leave the desired shot into the green.
The 10th has two different sets of tees, one down the bottom of the cliff by the sea's edge, and the other from the edge of the putting green so a huge drop off the tee. This really does create 2 holes in 1.
The 11th is a wonderful short Par 3 which requires a very accurate wedge/short iron to the green, otherwise yawning bunkers will trap you or even worse, the sea. I never hit the green (with my first ball!) and never scored a point! Whereas my playing partner had two birdies in two rounds!!
The 12th is a huge uphill Par 5, a real 3 shotter, and the hole that witnessed me playing the craziest bunker shot ever, with the ball above the level of my knees, from the right of the green.
Then there is the long climb back up the cliff, where you can use your complimentary drink, much needed I might add!, and then up to the 13th tee.
The 13th tee immediately hits you with the enormous bunker straight infront of you, not really in play but it does play with your mind! It is in a similar style to Wolf Creek.
The 14th has possibly the hardest approach shot on the course as although no bunkers protect it from the front, huge rolls and crests mean the ball is diverted all over the place, and if you are long, rough or sand awaits. Plus the green is lying at an angle to you.
The 15th is a good solid Par 4, which is then followed by a very short Par 4 which offers a good birdie chance.
The 17th is a cracking long Par 3 along the cliff's edge and then you reach the last.
The 18th is a tremendous finishing hole, a Par 5 reachable in two for those who take the risk, and the green is gargantuan! I think it is level with St Andrews sized greens!
As a golf course I am not sure whether it is for the purists who love their traditional links, e.g Brora. But, it is a brilliant course, which we played 36 holes of in a day and we wanted to play more! It is the most fun I have had on a golf course, ever.
Plus, the food in the clubhouse was just as good as the golf.
We had the course to ourselves all day and I loved it!
To top it off, we were welcomed back into the clubhouse by one of the staff who had a kind chat with us asking our thoughts, observations and talked to us about their aspirations which although high are not unreasonable!
I cannot recommend it enough! [image]
[/image] [image]
[/image] [image]
[/image] [image]
[/image] [image]
[/image] [image]
[/image] [image]
[/image]
Thanks for reading this! I hope you enjoy the pictures!
Also I should finally add, thank you to Castle Stuart themselves for moving my tee times from April to July free of charge, and also for the Junior Day Green Fee (2 rounds) of £75!!!
Although quite a few have already played it, I wanted to share my experience, thoughts and photos from my trip to the wonderful Castle Stuart.
I think Castle Stuart is THE biggest thing to happen to Scottish golf in a very long time indeed! I have yet to play Kingsbarns, however that has received so much praise since its opening 10 years ago, and it was created by the same designer, so I can see in 10 years time everyone will know of Castle Stuart and will be raving about it too!
I had the fortune of playing it the Friday after the Open Championship this year, and we could not have wished for a better day.
With our waterproofs packed (still drying out from the Open!) we headed out on a chilly morning and were welcomed by the fantastic team and starter who took us to the changing room and then also to the range, talked us through everything we needed to know and gave us our free complimentary trolleys and goody bag. But this was no ordinary goody bag, it contained the usual tees etc. but also a bag tag and a drink token too!
We walked down to the 1st and there it was, what we had travelled 450 miles each way for! The stunning sea side links lay ahead waiting to welcome us onto our round.
The first 3 holes run right along the edge of the sea on the right and then to the left of the considerably wide fairways was the cliff with its thick gorse. The 3rd is a truly great short Par 4, where eagles to triples are possible.
Then you walk up the cliff whilst playing the 4th a good Par 3 uphill, with Castle Stuart in view in the background.
Then there is a solid long Par 4, followed by a reachable Par 5, but beware as the entrance is very narrow as is the green, so 2 accurate shots are required, as otherwise deep, deep bunkers will absorb any ball within its gaping reach.
The 7th is the hardest hole on the course and rightfully so, with a big drive required to reach the corner of the dogleg to leave a reasonable mid to long iron in at an infinity green hanging on the edge of the cliff.
The 8th is a long Par 3 where a 3 is an incredibly good score, as 3 putts are aplenty!
Then the 9th returns to the clubhouse with the widest fairway on the course, but a real degree of accuracy is still required to find the correct part of it, to leave the desired shot into the green.
The 10th has two different sets of tees, one down the bottom of the cliff by the sea's edge, and the other from the edge of the putting green so a huge drop off the tee. This really does create 2 holes in 1.
The 11th is a wonderful short Par 3 which requires a very accurate wedge/short iron to the green, otherwise yawning bunkers will trap you or even worse, the sea. I never hit the green (with my first ball!) and never scored a point! Whereas my playing partner had two birdies in two rounds!!
The 12th is a huge uphill Par 5, a real 3 shotter, and the hole that witnessed me playing the craziest bunker shot ever, with the ball above the level of my knees, from the right of the green.
Then there is the long climb back up the cliff, where you can use your complimentary drink, much needed I might add!, and then up to the 13th tee.
The 13th tee immediately hits you with the enormous bunker straight infront of you, not really in play but it does play with your mind! It is in a similar style to Wolf Creek.
The 14th has possibly the hardest approach shot on the course as although no bunkers protect it from the front, huge rolls and crests mean the ball is diverted all over the place, and if you are long, rough or sand awaits. Plus the green is lying at an angle to you.
The 15th is a good solid Par 4, which is then followed by a very short Par 4 which offers a good birdie chance.
The 17th is a cracking long Par 3 along the cliff's edge and then you reach the last.
The 18th is a tremendous finishing hole, a Par 5 reachable in two for those who take the risk, and the green is gargantuan! I think it is level with St Andrews sized greens!
As a golf course I am not sure whether it is for the purists who love their traditional links, e.g Brora. But, it is a brilliant course, which we played 36 holes of in a day and we wanted to play more! It is the most fun I have had on a golf course, ever.
Plus, the food in the clubhouse was just as good as the golf.
We had the course to ourselves all day and I loved it!
To top it off, we were welcomed back into the clubhouse by one of the staff who had a kind chat with us asking our thoughts, observations and talked to us about their aspirations which although high are not unreasonable!
I cannot recommend it enough! [image]
Thanks for reading this! I hope you enjoy the pictures!
Also I should finally add, thank you to Castle Stuart themselves for moving my tee times from April to July free of charge, and also for the Junior Day Green Fee (2 rounds) of £75!!!
