Castle Stuart (pictures)

[Philip Gawith]

I played Castle Stuart on a sunny Friday afternoon - what a great experience we had. Time prevents a lengthy analysis - and doubtless that can be found elsewhere. But i was the beneficiary of fine weather which allowed for some nice pictures.

The main impression you take of the course is of its huge width. I have not played any course in the UK which has similar width - indeed, only Doak courses in my experience (and one Bill Coore course/France) bare any resemblance. My UK partners were quite visibly thrown by the experience. I think most golfers would find it very enjoybable - you can open your shoulders a bit, but of course finding the ball on the fairway does not make the hole easy when you have green complexes as you find here. Played with a brisk wind, the course was pretty difficult, even if you were not losing golf balls!

Other stand out features include an excellent set of short holes, some fine short par fours and some good three shotters (2 and 12 stick in the mind). The clubhouse was also wonderful - bathed in sun. You should just wanted to sit there and soak it up.

If I had a small criticism it would be that in the architects desire to bring you back to the best views when you were on the top plateau, i felt maybe some of holes/greens had a "samey" feel - but this is a small point.

For visitors from the States, the Highlands are now an even more credible competitor to the west and East coast with Castle Stuart's arrival.

I played the course a few weeks back so forgive me if i have got some of the labelling wrong.

Philip






Teeing off....



The wonderful 2nd green



The first of a wonderful and varied set of short holes - the 4th, with Castle Stuart framing the hole beautifully



The 6th green



The approach to 6 with this bunker c 60 yards out



The 3rd green with the little eyebrows on the left, reminiscent of Rye. I drove next to the green and the chip was nearly impossible.



The wonderfully shaped 2nd green from above



The 7th green



Tee shot on the short 8th - you can be on the green on the left and 30 yards or so from this flag, as i was



The wonderful horsehoe 8th green



Approach to 9 (See also below) - a vicious false front on the left can take the ball 20 yards down from the green

(more to follow)

[Philip Gawith]

And here is the second nine....



The rambling 10th green



The short 11th - a lovely hole, on the day requiriing a 6 iron to cover 135 yards



The green on the par 5 12th - lots of room to bring it in from the right



Tee shot on 13 - hard a dog's leg to the right



Another well protected green - the 13th favours an approach from the left. The bumps just short of the green make an approach from the right something of a lottery.



The excellent 14th green - the hole is a short two-shotter and a long drive can get close to the green, but the length and shape of the green put a premium on being in the right place off the tee



15th green



Tee shot on 17 - the last of the short hole. Visually, it does not look like a short hole, more like a short two-shotter, in part because of the lie of the land which means part of the green (and this particular flag) are semi- blind



A downward look at the 12th green



A view from behind of the 17th green which shows the shelf in front of the left half of the green



The approach to 18 - the timid can stay left, the bold can fly over the waste ground and the bunkers



The 18th green



The 9th hole from the clubhouse with its two very distinct fairway tiers



Looking back up 18 from the clubhouse

[Scott Warren]

What a great set of pics. Thanks for posting, Philip.

[Ron Csigo]

Wonderful looking course!  Strange looking clubhouse though.

[Adam Lawrence]

I don't think the clubhouse is especially strange. In the UK, art deco buildings are very closely associated with the seaside, so in that context, the style fits perfectly. It's the whole 'resembles an ocean liner' thing.

[Ron Csigo]

...reminiscent of the clubhouse at Royal Birkdale.

[Mike Cirba]

Philip,

Wow...what a fun looking place!

Thanks for sharing those terrific pictures.

[jeffwarne]

Wonderful looking course!  Strange looking clubhouse though.

Amazing that a bunch of golf architecture buffs have such Pottery Barn taste in clubhouses.
Anything different is typically scorned rather than celebrated.
That Clubhouse looks like a really cool place to enjoy a cocktail with what appears to be a stunning view.

[Michael Whitaker]

Philip - I played Castle Stuart with Andrew Mitchell on Wednesday, May 19. We, too, had a beautiful day and, for the most part, the course all to ourselves.

My broad brush thoughts...

We had a wonderful time and enjoyed playing the course, but it was obviously designed and built to elicit the WOW factor. One can tell from your pixs that the course was created to photograph well.

The fairways are the widest, by far, of any I course I have ever played. I thought Mike Strantz created wide fairways, but they don't come close to the width at CS. In addition to wide, the fairways were very flat and smooth in the American fashion.

There is virtually no rough whatsoever at CS. And, according the the GM who we talked with after our round, that is by design "to increase the fun factor" for their guests. (his quote)

We found all the greens to be HUGH and extremely flat. Some had some internal contour leading from one level to another, but on the sections where the pins were located the greens had little on no movement at all. Again, according to the GM, that was by design to make scoring more fun and not frustrate their guests. Where the greens had some type of movement or "crumple" it seemed to be there for show (or photographs) rather than to challenge the golfer.

I agree that the par threes are excellent, and we particularly enjoyed the 4th with the Castle framed in the background.

The climb up the hill from 12 to 13 was a bit strange considering that the course was manufactured from scratch, ala Kingsbarns. But, they gave us a token to stop half way up the hill to get a "free" drink from the vending machine. I thought that was a creative way to get guests to break up the climb and not make it seem too severe. I wish they had a vending machine half way up Cardiac Hill at Cruden Bay! 

Castle Stuart is a beautiful course that will please most golfers who are willing to pony up the 150 quid fee. But, at that price I'd rather play Dornoch twice.

The clubhouse is stunning. I hope you took advantage of the shower room. The showers would have to rank with some of the best in golf... especially since you can watch the action on the course while you rinse off the day's toil.

In talking with the GM we got the following tidbits:
1) They do not offer memberships to locals and have no plans to do so. Why? Because they do not operate on the membership model of most UK clubs in which membership fees are kept low. Castle Stuart is all about visitor play in same way as major American golf resorts. It's all about keeping the price high to impress corporate sponsor guests.
2) Their primary customer base is corporate. The only "members" are companies and the entire third floor of the clubhouse is reserved for corporate members and their guests.
3) According to the GM, the course was designed with wide fairways and flat greens so that guests of corporate clients would "have fun and not spend their day looking for golf balls or trying to tame wild greens."

For me, playing Castle Stuart was like dating a beautiful dumb blonde. It was a gorgeous course with stunning views... but, when you give it serious consideration there is not that much to bring you back.

To me, CS felt like an American interpretation of a faux links course. Sort of like a really wide Arcadia Bluffs without all the concrete cart paths where they tried to create 18 "signature" holes.

Even though this all sounds a bit harsh, I enjoyed my day at Castle Stuart and would love to go back... if I could go at half price!

[David_Tepper]

Michael W. -

In fairness, it should be pointed out that Castle Stuart is offering green fees rates of 90 pounds per round to residents of Scotland and 50 pounds per round to residents within a roughly 50-mile radius of the course. There are certain conditions attached. Here is a link for more info:  http://castlestuartgolf.com/scottish-resident-fee.html

Unlike Kingsbarns, which is simply a daily fee course, the aim at Castle Stuart is to create a destination similar to Turnberry and Gleneagles. There are plans in place at Castle Stuart for a 2nd course, hotel, spa and fractional-ownership lodges.

DT

[Anthony_Nysse]

I dont care the the "blow out" style bunkers and the sod wall bunkers on the same course. Pick one or the other. Its like courses that have square tees and rounds tees-be consistant.

[Ryan Farrow]

I dont care the the "blow out" style bunkers and the sod wall bunkers on the same course. Pick one or the other. Its like courses that have square tees and rounds tees-be consistant.

Did you hear Gil explain the reasoning behind it? Like it or not, it refreshing to see the attention to detail and thoughtfulness in a modern design.

I can buy 2 different bunker styles, but when you get up to 4 on a golf course, now that is something "special"....

[Emil Weber]

That looks very, very good.

[Philip Gawith]

Mike, thanks for the detailed reply. I agree with much of what you say but overall i DO think you are a bit harsh! I am not too troubled by the overall concept - it has its place and you file it, broadly, alongside Kingsbarns. I agree with you that I would probably also take two rounds at Dornoch over one at Castle Stuart,but since 98% of golf course fail that test, i am not sure how much it tells you! I suspect Castle Stuart is probably the best golf course build in the UK in the last decade. If it is not, I would like to know what the better one's are!

It is true the greens and fairways are as you describe, but i think this is to undersell the course. I think there are many holes that stick in the mind where the architect has done a good job in creating interesting and challenging holes, with a lot of variety and challenge en route. If anybody were to conclude that this course is a bit dumbed down/easy, they would be making a big mistake. If you play the right tees, and there is a bit of breeze, then the course is plenty challenging enough.

I am all in favour of course which present a challenge, but are fun to play without too much time spent looking for golfballs. I think Castle Stuart gets this balance right!

 At 150 pounds per round, it is certainly steep and not a green fee you would pay too often. But I doubt too many people will visit Castle Stuart and feel short-changed. It is maybe not division one "soul golf" as you find a bit further north at Dornoch at Brora, but it is still good on its own terms and vs most other courses!

I think it is harsh to call it faux links. It is not a links, but nor is Pacific Dunes a links, though both are clearly inspired by and play like links. I suspect in the final analysis you are a bit sceptical because of the American feel to the overall set-up/business model. You see enough of that back home and you look for something else when you come over here - which is fair enough!

[Garland Bayley]

Rock on Philip!

[Michael Whitaker]

Philip - You are probably correct that I am a bit harsh due to the American feel to the place, because I visit the UK to get away from that sort of "resort" golf. It's no surprise that CS is an American operation.

I disagree with you that calling CS a faux links is harsh. It IS a faux links. The CS website beams: "Castle Stuart Golf Links, a championship links course overlooking the Moray Firth." Even though they promote CS as a Scottish links, it is NOT a links course! It IS a faux links created with a mixture of Scottish good looks and American fairness.

The wide and flat fairways, along with the flat greens are meant to make the game "fair" and fun for all. Well, I found it to be MORE than fair as the drives I sprayed all over the course were easily found and played... which did indeed make my day more "fun." Which is the ultimate point, I guess. But, it all felt too perfect.. too orchestrated... too Disneyesque.

While I readily admit the course is stunning visually and somewhat challenging, I don't like the fact that the American "five-star-member-for-a-day" syndrome is getting a foothold in the UK. I almost choked when I saw the driving range mats (nice as they were) with the pyramid of balls waiting on the range, ala your typical upscale American resort. Kingsbarns broke the ice and it's success has allowed surrounding courses in Fife to up their rates proportionately. I'd hate to see Castle Stuart have the same effect on golf in the Highlands, but I guess it is inevitable. Next up will be Trump's course... which will be the greatest course in the world!

With the exception of the gorse, Castle Stuart could have been built in the United States. I wish it had been.

The main thing I have always loved about golf in Scotland is that the courses and clubs are focused on the golf. From the little never-heard-of courses to the big "championship" venues it's always been about the golf. Sure, some charge a lot of money to play based on their history or reputation of holding major championships... fair enough. But, these new courses are pretenders to that throne and, just like the effect Pebble Beach has had on resort prices in the US, if they succeed it will make the game that much more expensive for all.

Is that the future you really want for golf in Scotland?

[Philip Gawith]

Mike, if I thought there was any chance of Castle Stuart/Kingsbarns being the vision of the future, I would share your concern. I would be even more concerned if I thought they might somehow crowd out the more traditional sort of clubs that you and I both like. In reality, though, I don't think there is any chance at all of either of these things happening. That is why I am relaxed about Castle Stuart. It is not blazing a trail - it is just doing something broadly similar to what Loch Lomond, Kingsbarns, Doonbeg, Renaissance Club and Old Head have done before it. To my mind these have added some investment into golf, and some variety to the mix - but they are just a small minority trend within the overall picture. You can name them by exception - the market isn't nearly big enough to accommodate lots more of these courses. So few good new courses are built in the UK - not that it needs lots - that i am inclined to welcome those that are built that are of a high standard like Castle Stuart.

It is true they bring with them some "American" golfing values which are a mixed blessing, but I am happy that these courses exist - and i really, really don't see them as a threat to anything. It must surely be a good thing for golf in the Highlands to have another high end course to attract visitors? Castle Stuart won't take green fees from Dornoch and the rest - it will surely only add to them?

As to the faux links point -yes, you are right, but as I pointed out, by that standard you would surely have to bracket Bandon as being all faux links, and that does not stop it being a great place.

Finally, I suspect Castle Stuart pleads guilty to wanting members to have fun, but i think "fairness" is just your word! I think the course is an unusual mix of forgiving and challenging - which makes it fun. I don't think you need to invoke fairness to understand what they are trying to do with the course.

Hey ho - at least you were able to get some good soul golf a bit further north!

[Mark Chaplin]

The pictures look great, someone I greatly respect said they have gone overboard on skyline/infinity greens.

It it really worth £65 a round more than a world top 100 course just up the road?

The business model is interesting and time will see if it works, currently only Kingsbarns seems to work but that's in an area of heavy demand.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Michael,
           I think the key factor is how frequently does a person go to Scotland. You go twice a year perhaps. I have been once. Ever. So I may go once every 5 years. Of highlands courses I played Dornoch, CS, and Nairn. Yes, I'd play Dornoch multiple times to CS BUT I would play CS first when I got off the plane jetlagged and those wider fairways are welcome. And so is the fantastic bar. To me the comparison is CS to Nairn if I'm planning rounds in the Highlands. You and I have played when I "didn't have my A game." A once every 5 years tourist can get away with a bad day at CS, and still have fun. At Nairn, it's much less forgiving.   

[Philip Gawith]

Mark, I was trying in my initial post to make a similar point re skyline/infinity greens. I agree with whoever you spoke to.

As for value vs Dornoch, not it is not worth £65 more if that is the difference. Indeed, it should trade at a discount to Dornoch. But that is not the question i don't think. The only question is whether it is a decent golf course, worth playing (even at £150). Does it bring something good and novel, if you had 10 rounds would you play 1, 2, 3 at CS? I would answer yes to all those questions!

[Simon Holt]

Great pictures Phillip- cant wait to get up there.

[Bill_McBride]

Always good to see well-reasoned and polite debate between two experienced travelers like Philip and Mike.  I have great respect for both your golf architecture acumen, so have think that Castle Stuart will be fun to play, if very expensive, and will make one think about the rationale for the design.

One question:  did the course feel natural or manufactured.  There appears to be quite a bit of lay of the land shaping.

[Steve Okula]

That looks like a fascinating golf course, Philip, thanks for posting the photos.

Now, as too often happens on this forum, having read the whole thread I'll need to do a Google search to find out who designed Castle Stuart.

It really would be helpful to us ignorant souls if posters would mention the architect when starting a new thread on a course.

[Philip Gawith]

Steve, Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse designed the course. There is plenty of stuff on the web, including their own materials, about how the course was built.

Bill - the course felt pretty natural to me. I am pretty sure you would have a fun time there, as I think did Mike. No question its business model and feel is a bit different from your typical links - but I was with a few English gents who are not used to opening their wallets for golf, but definitely enjoyed the course and the club.

[Michael Whitaker]

Philip - I did have a good time at CS because 1) I was playing with Andrew Mitchell  2) the wide fairways allowed me to hit the ball all over the place, go find it, and attempt to stop the bleeding my wallet was doing (once again) to the Baildon Butcher  3) the views were fantastic and, hole after hole, there was beauty to behold  4) the "look" of the golf course was impressive and there was a "wow" to be heard from one of us on nearly every hole.

Now, having said all that, what was the problem? Castle Stuart is obviously going to impress a lot of golfers with its good looking course overlooking the water on nearly every hole, impressive practice area, American style customer service, beautiful clubhouse & bar, and attention to every conceivable detail. What's wrong with all that, you say? Well, nothing, really. If Castle Stuart were in the States I would probably be more accepting. In Inverness it just feels too out of place for me.

I guess I just don't like seeing a mega retail member-for-a-day in Scotland. Loch Lomond and The Renaissance Club are private, so they get a pass. I've never been to Doonbeg or Old Head, but they seem to operate more on the old school member/visitor model (I'm probably wrong here).

While I shake my head at the prices Kingsbarns charges (and gets, it seems), I do not have the same feeling about it as I do Castle Stuart. To me, Kingsbarns looks, feels, and plays like a links and the course seems to fit into its environment in a perfectly natural way... like its been there forever. Castle Stuart feels sculpted, shaped, and a bit contrived... too perfect. Having said that, there is no way I would go back to Kingsbarns at current prices. But, I recommend that my friends play it at least once. Maybe I'm just cheap!!!

Did I enjoy my day at Castle Stuart. Yes! Would I recommend that friends who visit the area play a round there? Yes... if they can afford it after visiting the old classics. Would I like to go back? Absolutely, if I could ever play for a reasonable fee, but NEVER at £150. That is over $225 American. There are only a couple of courses in the USA that I would pay $225 to play, and Castle Stuart can't hold a candle to either one of them.

When I can play a course like Golspie with a friend who is a member for around £10 why would I want to pay 15 times that to play Castle Stuart? The views? A case can be made that the golf is as good, if not better, at Golspie.

But, even if I had paid £10 to play Castle Stuart I would still have the same feelings about the manufactured nature of the place.


Bruce - I understand what you say about visiting Scotland, but I would play Castle Stuart at the end of a trip, not the beginning... if funds allowed. I would hate to think someone gave up a day of their one trip to Scotland to play Castle Stuart when they could have played any number of real links courses in the area. You can get a good approximation of Castle Stuart at Arcadia Bluff (which I like a lot better than CS). Arcadia Bluffs is a lot more interesting and has views that are every bit as good as CS... even with all the curbed concrete paths in view everywhere.