We have had quite a few pictures and discussions related to Castle Stuart, but hopefully you will indulge me posting my own set of pictures? Especially as I’ve now played Askernish, and they make for an interesting duo of recently opened / reopened Scottish courses…
I had been up to Nairn for a client’s golf day, and as my flight the next day wasn’t till the evening I had time to spare. I was really tempted to hire a car and head for Royal Dornoch as its been a while since I have managed to get that far north, however, Castle Stuart’s proximity to Inverness Airport (less than 5 minutes drive) made the decision fairly easy for me. As I was getting taxis around, the club even offered to drop me off at the airport after my round.
Having spoken to several locals while staying in Nairn, they all seemed to be under the impression that the course was aimed at the American tourist market, so the club obviously needs to advertise its £50 green fee for locals, a lot better! But I was stumping up the full amount so I had certain expectations. However, the access driveway obviously hasn’t been a priority so far, as it was still a rough gravel track. However, upon arrival at the clubhouse, the level of service was very attentive. I was greeted and then shown around the clubhouse, and from within the rather well appointed changing rooms, the view was enough to really get me excited…
Looking right to the 18th
Looking left to the 9th
A view of the practice area from just outside the pro shop,
Looking across to the 9th from just outside the pro shop, with the view beyond, and a hint of the timber detailing I’d read so much about on here…
I was down to play as a single, but the starter set me up with a wonderful American chap who has a holiday home in Nairn and was very familiar with the course, and a friend of his over here fishing. If I had been on my own I would probably have taken an awful lot more photos, but perhaps not had such a good afternoon, as they were both very good company.
This is the starters hut, designed to fit in with the style of the clubhouse, and also to blend into the landscape. There is also a large and undulating putting green here, but I didn’t get a photo.
From the starters hut you can’t actually see the first tee, as its over a ridge down by the Moray Firth. So the starter welcomes you and then walks you down to the first tee. I should point out that the starters hut also doubles as a half way house.
Hole 1360 yards
Par 4
Even though there is a gorse covered bank to the left and the Moray Firth to the right, this is a pretty wide fairway. The large bunker short right isn’t really in play from this tee.
The approach seen from the left side of the fairway. You can just see one of the small bunkers up this side of the fairway, but you have to be really wide to be in there. The green looks to be right on the edge of the water…
However, as you can see here, the green isn’t right next to the water.
Hole 2 530 yards
Par 5
Another wide fairway here, but you really need to choose between the upper left or lower right tier. The right brings the water into play but leaves a shorter shot for anyone wanting to go for the green in two. The left brings the gorse bank into play but gives a better angle for approaching the green if you fancy having a go in two?
Here’s a view from the centre of the fairway showing the slope and one of the rough areas on the centre line
This is a great green, whether you are approaching it with a 3 wood or a wedge. Bunkers right and left, a lower front tier, and a large closely mown run off area to the rear.
Hole 3290 yards
Par 4
A cracking short par 4! Check out Anthony Gray’s thread for some more pictures (but have your sunglasses ready for the his trousers…)
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,42000.0/The green is quite narrow and angled from front right to back left ever so slightly, so the best play is to lay up short of the right hand bunkers, unless of course you fancy having a go at it! But there is plenty of danger in the form of water and bunkers, and anything to the left leaves a tricky approach to the green. Here is the view from the tee
A layup with a long iron leaves this view from just short of the right hand bunkers
And hopefully you will miss this bunker which is the first one you come to in the fairway.
Here is the green seen from short right. You can see that anything missing this side will leave a tricky recovery. Yes, a putter is probably best, but the revetted eyebrows will make that tricky. Also, the water isn’t far over the back, as while many of the greens at CS look like they are right next to the water, this one actually is.
Hole 4176 yards
Par 3
A clever piece of landscape design on this hole. The green appears to be just in front of the castle in the distance, the eponymous Castle Stuart and its distinctive open spire, which also forms the clubs logo. However, when you get up to the green you will see that’s its actually some way in the distance on the other side of a tidal inlet.
This is the view from the tee.
There is plenty of room to run any approach in from short left.
Hole 5430 yards
Par 4
The drive is over a ridge with the lower fairway to either the right or beyond 250 yards out, giving a good line to the green.
Here’s the view from the upper fairway. You can see a bunker to the left which is shared with the next hole coming back the other way.
Looking back at the green from the next tee. The approach is from the right in this photo and you can see the humps and hollows to the left and the bunker through the back, as well as a graveyard in the distance
Hole 6522 yards
Par 5
You can open your shoulders on the drive here
But you have to be very careful with your lay up as a bunker sits in the middle of the fairway, in the perfect position
Here’s the view from just short left of this very narrow green. A great green site!
You will notice the skyline green that looks as though the green is right by the water, but the water is actually some way away. The round starts by the Moray Firth and after a few holes heads inland, but you don’t really realise that you have climbed up on to an upper plateau, so between this green and the water there is some elevation change and also the 3rd hole.
Hole 7451 yards
Par 4
A long par 4 that hugs the top of the ridge, with the 2nd hole down below. It dog legs to the left slightly also, so the best place off the tee is if you can get your ball up the left, near the fairway bunker and the drop off.
I noticed some of the timber sleeper detailing just off the fairway. As this was the first time I’d really noticed it anywhere, I’d say these features are not as obtrusive out on the course as I thought they were going to be. However, I think some, like this one, feel a little contrived? But some of the others are just fine.
Here’s the view from just short of the dog leg, with the drop off and bunker down to the left.
You have plenty of room to run an approach in from the right, and there is a hidden greenside bunker down to the left, so you can pull your approach and think you will be in real trouble, only to find that you have a not too difficult bunker shot.
Hole 8208 yards
Par 3
The green on this par 3 is ‘L’ shaped and nestles into the hillside, so in some places your ball will feed in to the centre of the green. However, there is a mound just short that could kick your ball off line.
Here’s the view from the right of the green
Hole 9350 yards
Par 4
On the tee your eyes are drawn to the right side of the fairway, however there is plenty of room to the left, even if it’s not so noticeable.
Here’s the view from the right side of the fairway. A ridge kicks your ball down to a lower area, so the approach is to a raised green.
Looking back from the green, you can see the upper left side of the fairway, which actually leaves a much better approach shot with the green visible and the contours more receptive.
So that’s the front nine and its played 3,317 yards from the white tees to a par of 36. A quick stop at the half way house, and a nice warming soup, then its off to the tenth, which will follow shortly…
Cheers,
James