Castle Stuart
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Nairn
Nairn, like Castle Stuart, sits on the Moray Firth, but it could not
be more different in its design or evolution. This is classic links
where golf has been played since the 19th century. The land is low
and rippling, and the golf is about subtlety and dealing with the
challenges of the wind… and the sea: several of the opening holes
hug the beach. Designed by Old Tom Morris, Archie Simpson and
James Braid, amongst others, Nairn has evolved into a revered links
with glorious greens well protected by pothole bunkers and natural
hazards. Some are elevated, others sit in natural pockets but they
all call for guile. Nairn, in a nutshell, requires intelligent navigation:
narrow fairways are often flanked by gorse and heather and there’s
also a burn cutting across the course. The sea views from every hole
are inspiring.
Castle Stuart
When Castle Stuart opened in 2009, it did so to worldwide acclaim.
The Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen design was seen as dramatic
and exciting, with the links routed over two distinct tiers. Wide
rolling fairways, infinity greens, and wild, rugged bunkering give it
an almost mystical feel which has given links design a new lease
of life. This is as exciting as it gets and you can see it all from the
spectacular clubhouse, high above the sea. Despite those wide
fairways, accuracy off the tee is needed to open up the big,
undulating greens. It all looks beautiful and it is playable for golfers
of all abilities – those fairways always tempting you from the tee.
The opening holes on each nine are low and by the sea, setting a
bewitching rhythm that loops around and brings you back to the
clubhouse on the higher terrain.
Moray Old
Expect a crowd as you approach the 18th green at Lossiemouth,
for this is one of the best finishing holes in Scotland, and the
town’s main street runs right alongside. It is a fun way to finish
on a course that heartily embraces the tradition of Scottish links,
next to the beach and the Moray Firth. It was designed by Old
Tom Morris, over low-running links land. Subtle but constant
undulations abound and the routing flips direction constantly,
which means the wind threatens from every angle... no easy thing
given the narrow gorselined fairways. The greens here are small,
fast and flat – although 16 and 17 will come as a surprise – and
the course is exceedingly well bunkered.
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Wide rolling fairways, infinity
greens, and wild, rugged
bunkering give it an almost
mystical feel which has given
links design a new lease
of life.