Castle Suart opening day photos

[Melvyn Morrow]

David

The castle is actually not a castle in the true sense, it is actually a Tower House. This one comprised of two circular towers linked by a central block. The town house was built upon old ruins by Mary Queens of Scots half brother James Stuart when granting him the title of Earl of Moray upon her return from France after the death of her husband the King of France.

Melvyn

[David_Tepper]

Slag B. & Kalen B. -

Here is a link to an excellent 4-minute video where Gil Hanse (I think) discusses the various styles of bunkering used at Castle Stuart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck8q8MsF1e8

DT

[Kalen Braley]

David,

Very interesting video indeed and that a nice lesson on evolution of bunkers in the region.  It certainly helps to have that piece of information to make sense of it all, and I hope it really comes across that way when interfacing the course 1st during play. Thanks for posting that.

Kalen

[David_Tepper]

Kalen -

If you go to youtube.com and search for Castle Stuart Golf, you will find another 4-5 video clips of similar interest.

There is also a nice video tour of the course at www.castlestuartgolf.com

DT

[Garland Bayley]

Kalen and Slag,

First go to castlestuartgolf.com and get a proper indoctrination before searching youtube.

[Scott Weersing]

I noticed the women golfers in the photos. How did the course play for them?

What would you change about the course?

[David_Tepper]

Scott -

I know the course GCA's were very conscious of how the course will play for women. There are very few forced carries and plenty of width. There is a "ground route" to play almost every hole.

My only concern is that the course sits in a windy spot and is very exposed to the wind. A noted above, that has been addressed, for both men and women, in the design of the course.

DT

[Mark Pearce]

Bill M. -

Alas, no caravan park, but that in no way detracts from the experience.

As you will recall, Dornoch, Brora & Golspie all have caravan parks adjacent.

DT

Other than St Andrews and Elie, I'm hard pressed to think of a course that DOESN'T have one adjacent!  The one at Crail is almost an integral part of the course!

You've lost me there, Bill.  I've spent the last 5 minutes trying to remember the caravan park at Crail.  I've even resorted to an aerial but I can't find one.  Where is the park you're referring to?  Is it possible that it was removed to build the Craighead course?

[Bill_McBride]

I thought I remembered seeing it from the Craighead course out near the water, close to that neat par 3 out there.

Just did a Google aerial of the Craighead and there is a bunch of what looks like manufactured houses on the point.  Not sure this qualifies as a caravan park, but it does look like a bunch of trailers to me!

Here's the link, I don't know how to post a screen capture.     Anybody?

<http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=56.278868,-2.5883&spn=0.001394,0.004823&t=h&z=18>

[Mark Pearce]

Bill,

The houses out on the point are the Coastguard station.  There are some holiday cottages out there too, but only a small number.  There's the old airfield to the right of the 6th and 7th on the Craighead (the 7th is the par 3 you have in mind).  You'll hear go-karts and there might occasionally be some trailers for the go-kart racing but I don't think you'll see caravans.

[David_Tepper]

Mark & Bill -

Golspie GC has a caravan park and a go-cart track nearby, but no cemetery. Two out of three is not bad!

DT 

[Bruce Wellmon]

To elaborate on several points:  My use of the term "americanized" referred to slightly wider fairway landing areas and not bunker styles. I simply felt CS was more forgiving off the tee, as Kingsbarns, as oposed to, say, Nairn. Most Americans, I would assume, are not used to playing in potential 20 - 30 mph winds. I caught CS on a windless day. On my trip or 2 into the deeper grass, my ball was playable back to the fairway whether it was maturity of the deep stuff or planned to be that way.
                                             Someone asked about women in the group. My 14 year old daughter played and had no problems with forced carries by any stretch. I thought the course played very fairly for her as well.
                                             As discussed in the other photo thread, I never felt "over bunkered." To be honest I never noticed the "sleepers" except all around the clubhouse/driving range area. Whether it was I never hit the ball in one,or not, but they never showed up in any of my pictures.
                                             IMO, CS is a keeper. I thought it was one of the most beautiful courses I have ever played. Challenging but fair, well conditioned. I'd go back.