Castle Stuart Golf Links 'Cabot Highlands'
Historical context & development
Castle Stuart Golf Links forms the original heart of what is now Cabot Highlands and opened in 2009. Designed by renowned architect Gil Hanse, the course is widely regarded as one of the most influential modern links designs of this century. Its routing winds along the coast near the 17th-century Castle Stuart, blending historical atmosphere with contemporary architecture.
With the later addition of Old Petty Golf Links, the resort gained a second world-class signature, but Castle Stuart remains the iconic foundation on which Cabot Highlands is built.
Location and accessibility
Set directly on the shores of the Moray Firth and just minutes from Inverness Airport, accessibility is exceptional for a links course of this calibre. The city of Inverness lies only about a ten-minute drive away, offering a rare combination of pure coastal golf and logistical ease.
Playing style, character and surroundings
Castle Stuart is known for its wide, inviting fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and large, undulating greens that remain exposed to the constant influence of the sea breeze. The course has hosted the Scottish Open multiple times, underlining its championship pedigree.
Panoramic views over the Moray Firth and the Scottish Highlands accompany nearly every hole. Where Old Petty Golf Links feels more subtle and minimalist, Castle Stuart presents itself as bold and visually striking—a modern classic with international appeal.
Nairn Golf Club
Unique links golf
Nairn Golf Club is one of Scotland’s classic links courses, beautifully situated along the Moray Firth. The course follows a traditional out-and-back routing and is renowned for its firm, fast links turf—perfect for creative ground play. The fairways are framed by a distinctive mix of gorse and heather, adding definition and a subtle heathland-like character within the links landscape.
Spectacular views
Throughout the round, stunning views open up toward the Black Isle, with the Ben Wyvis mountain visible on clear days. On the return toward the clubhouse, the closing holes offer beautiful sightlines over both sea and land, making for a particularly memorable finish.
Historical significance & championships
Founded in 1887, Nairn Golf Club boasts an impressive championship pedigree. The course has hosted the The Amateur Championship, The Women’s Amateur Championship, as well as both the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup. This underscores Nairn’s reputation as a fair, strategic, and internationally respected test of golf.
Playing style and character
The course offers an excellent balance between long, strategic holes and quirky shorter ones, including tempting driveable par 4s that invite risk-reward decisions. Wind, positioning, and ball control are key, while the gorse and heather reward accuracy off the tee.
Clubhouse & village charm
The classic clubhouse, complete with a charming historical room, forms the social heart of the club. Right beside the course lies the welcoming coastal town of Nairn, offering a wide range of restaurants, pubs, and cafés. This combination of top-class links golf, rich history, and lively seaside atmosphere makes Nairn a complete and unforgettable golf destination.
Old Petty Golf Links 'Cabot Highlands'
Historical context & development
Old Petty Golf Links is the second 18-hole course at Cabot Highlands and was designed by Tom Doak, an architect globally renowned for his minimalist approach and natural routing. Where Castle Stuart Golf Links laid the modern foundation of the resort, Old Petty deepens its architectural identity with a more subtle, understated interpretation of links golf.
The course takes its name from the historic Old Petty Church and the surrounding coastal landscape, and feels as though it has been part of the terrain for generations. Together with Gil Hanse, Doak forms a rare architectural pairing of the highest level at this destination.
Location and accessibility
Like Castle Stuart Golf Links, Old Petty sits directly on the shores of the Moray Firth and benefits from excellent accessibility via Inverness Airport. Yet the experience here feels quieter and more secluded, thanks to natural dune valleys and the open coastal terrain into which the holes are seamlessly integrated.
Playing style, character and surroundings
Old Petty stands out for its more organic routing, subtle elevation changes, and greens that appear to flow effortlessly into the landscape. Wind plays a central role, but the true challenge lies in positioning and strategic decision-making from the tee.
Where Castle Stuart Golf Links impresses with bold shaping and sweeping panoramas, Old Petty offers a more refined, almost contemplative links experience. Together, they create a dynamic contrast within Cabot Highlands—a resort where modern golf architecture is expressed at its very best.
Nairn Dunbar Golf Club
Historic links
Founded in 1894, Nairn Dunbar Golf Club is the second course in the town of Nairn, located beside the more well known Nairn Golf Club. The course lies close to the shores of the Moray Firth, but stands out for having relatively few direct sea views—a deliberate and characterful departure from the classic open links style.
Playing style and character
Nairn Dunbar has a distinctly hybrid character:
- too sheltered and vegetated to be a pure links
- too open and sandy to be fully considered heathland
The course blends links-like turf and playing conditions with heather, scrub, and more inland-style holes.
A subtle yet fair test
The fairways are firm and free-draining, while the greens demand accurate approaches. The routing offers plenty of variety. Compared to its famous neighbour, Nairn Dunbar feels quieter and more intimate, yet delivers a sincere and highly satisfying golfing experience for players who appreciate nuance and variation.
Authentic golfing atmosphere
Free from crowds and grandstanding, Nairn Dunbar offers a relaxed, traditional atmosphere with a strong local character. As an alternative or complement to Nairn Golf Club, it is an excellent choice—less well-known, but rich in playing quality and personality. A course that shows golf near the sea doesn’t always have to be exposed to be exceptional.
Boat of Garten Golf Club
A unique golfing experience
Boat of Garten Golf Club offers an authentic heathland experience in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The course features a natural and understated layout with gentle elevation changes, winding holes, and strategically placed bunkers. The pace of golf here feels calmer than along the coast, with the experience centred on precision, rhythm, and tranquillity.
Historical and social character
Founded in 1895, Boat of Garten is deeply connected to village life. The club also functions as a tennis club, reinforcing its social and traditional atmosphere. Its charming clubhouse serves as a gathering place for both golfers and locals, perfectly reflecting the character of the surrounding village of Boat of Garten.
Running directly beside the course is the historic Strathspey Railway, a restored steam railway linking the village with Aviemore and Broomhill. The railway recalls an era when travel through the Highlands was slower and more atmospheric, adding greatly to the nostalgic feeling of the area.
Setting and contrast with the coast
The course lies close to the River Spey, one of Scotland’s most famous rivers, renowned for salmon fishing and the surrounding whisky region. Surrounded by forests and mountains within the Cairngorms, Boat of Garten offers the perfect contrast to the rugged links golf of the nearby Moray Firth coastline.
Where the coast is defined by wind and openness, Boat of Garten offers shelter, history, and an intimate Highland atmosphere—a peaceful pause both in landscape and in golfing experience.
Moray Golf Club
Historical significance
Moray Golf Club, founded in 1889, ranks among the classic greats of Scottish golf. The club features 36 holes of exceptional quality—the Old Course and the New Course—set on pure linksland at the edge of the coastal town of Lossiemouth. Its traditional clubhouse, both in setting and character, is often compared to that of the Old Course at St Andrews, forming the historic heart of the club.
Classic routing & village finish
One of Moray’s most charming traits is its closing stretch, where the final holes return toward the town—bringing golf and community together in a way rarely seen outside the oldest courses. Both layouts offer a pure links experience: the Old Course provides the more traditional and demanding test, while the New Course offers a slightly more forgiving yet still authentic alternative.
Playing style and surroundings
Natural dunes, fast-running fairways, and ever-changing winds off the Moray Firth create a fair and strategic challenge. What truly sets Moray apart is its proximity to RAF Lossiemouth. During a round, it’s not uncommon to see Tornado and Typhoon jets flying low overhead—a striking contrast to the calm and tradition of links golf, and an experience found nowhere else.
Authentic golf experience
Moray Golf Club offers golf without frills, deeply rooted in tradition and landscape. The combination of 36 classic holes, a clubhouse with Old Course character, a village finish, and the unique backdrop of a nearby airbase makes Moray one of Scotland’s most distinctive golf destinations. Here, you don’t just play golf—you experience history, setting, and culture in every round.
