Castle Stuart Golf Links, Inverness, Scotland, UK

http://www.castlestuartgolf.com

When people ask me which is my world's favorite golf course I give my answer with no doubt:

Castle Stuart. 

Castle Stuart Golf Links is not only a golf course, is a concentrate of emotion, is a unique part of the world where a golfer can experience indescribable feelings.

A place that seems like it's been there forever.

From Aberdeen and the new Trump golf course we drove north west for about 100 miles on A96 towards the Highlands and Inverness, where we spent the night.

Our destination was Castle Stuart Golf Links, the fourth and last golf course we planned to play on this magic and incredible trip to the Home of Golf . Expectations were very high.

But this place really captured me.

The location is outstanding, with breathtaking views of the Moray Firth, an inlet of the North Sea, of the Black Isle and the Kessock Bridge.

And of course Castle Stuart, a 17th century Tower House built by the Stuarts, unforgettable background of the par 3 4th hole.

Designed by Mark Parsinen (Kingsbarns Golf Links) and by Gil Hanse (Rustic Canyon, a links style course in California and designer of the olympic golf course for Rio 2016), Castle Stuart is a new course opened in 2009 and since then is one of the top ranked courses of the planet, receiving many awards and accolades:

- 25th in the 2012 Golf Monthly UK and Ireland Top 100 courses

- 38th in the 2012 Golf Digest 100 Best courses outside US

- 56th in the 2011 Golf Magazine Top 100 courses of the world

And it is also Home Course of the yearly Scottish Opens (since 2011), an European Tour event (BTW course record is a 10 under 62 scored by Francesco Molinari last July on the 2012 Open).

Front nines are located to the south of the incredible Art Deco style clubhouse, while the back nines are located north.

Some of the holes are built right along the coastline, although the sea is viewable from almost every hole. 

Fairways are wide and undulated with multiple lines of play. Green complex are large and some of them really tricky, surrounded by a mix of revetted pot bunkers and some more rustic and expansive ones.

Due to its location, such as many scottish links, wind will always be a prevalent element that may effect your score.

And although is a tough course, a lot of fun is ensured.

The course is part of a project that will see the development of a Dormy House, some villas and of another 18 holes course in the next years.

Multiple rainbows over the course

The Clubhouse and the Moray Firth

The Clubhouse and the huge putting green complex

Practice area

#1 Hole 434 Yds Par 4

#2 Hole 550 Yds Par 5

#3 Hole 305 Yds Par 4

#3 Hole 305 Yds Par 4

#4 Hole 190 Yds Par 3...and Castle Stuart

#6 Hole 560 Yds Par 5

#7 Hole 461 Yds Par 4

#8 Hole 218 Yds Par 3

#9 Hole 364 Yds Par 4

#9 Hole 364 Yds Par 4 from the Clubhouse terrace

#10 Hole 405 Yds Par 4

#10 Hole 405 Yds Par 4

#11 Hole 144 Yds Par 3

#11 Hole 144 Yds Par 3

#14 Hole 386 Yds Par 4

#15 Hole 421 Yds Par 4

#16 Hole 335 Yds Par 4

#17 Hole 224 Yds Par 3

#17 Hole 224 Yds Par 3...teeing off against the wind

#18 Hole 595 Yds Par 5