CABOT HIGHLANDS: CASTLE STUART’S SECOND COMING – Golf Information

Following a change of possession final 12 months, the golf membership previously often known as Fort Stuart has been reborn as Cabot Highlands. And though the title has modified, the membership’s unwavering dedication to providing a five-star expertise on and off the hyperlinks stays securely intact, whereas plans for a second championship course, and the addition of luxurious lodging, seems set to make sure that this highland gem, which is situated simply 5 minutes from Inverness Airport, turns into an much more sought-after {golfing} vacation spot

By its very nature, the method of adjusting the model title of a client product has to occur just about in a single day, with the previous inventory taken off the shelf someday and reappearing with new packaging the following. The identical, because it grew to become all too obvious on my current journey to the venue previously often known as Fort Stuart, can’t be stated of a golf membership, the place a number of conversations made reference to ‘Fort Stuart’ just for the speaker to rapidly appropriate themselves with ‘Cabot Highlands’ and a nervous snicker, a lot in the identical method as I did when asking for a Marathon Bar in my native nook store lengthy after everybody else was chomping down on a Snickers.

To confuse issues nonetheless additional, whereas the resort itself was rechristened Cabot Highlands in June of final 12 months, the golf course, which first opened in 2009, known as the Fort Stuart Golf Hyperlinks. All this issues not a jot, however having hosted 4 editions of the Scottish Open within the early a part of its life, it would undoubtedly take a while for some previous guests to confer with this gorgeous highland venue by its new moniker with out feeling considerably untrue to what got here earlier than.

Whereas the Cabot title will likely be unfamiliar to many UK golfers, it’s one that’s having fun with growing recognition in North America, with the Toronto-based firm constructing a burgeoning portfolio of golf programs and resorts all over the world because it was based by Canadian entrepreneur Ben Cowan-Dewar and course improvement specialist Mike Keiser in 2011. With two golf equipment in Canada (Cape Breton in Nova Scotia and Revelstoke in British Colombia), one within the US (Citrus Farms in Florida), and one other in St Lucia (Level Hardy), Cabot’s buy of Fort Stuart in 2022 represented a major shift within the firm’s geographical pursuits, however one which Cowan-Dewar admits was too onerous to miss when the chance to purchase the Inverness-based venue got here up following the premature demise of its unique proprietor and founder, Mark Parsinen, in 2019.

“Scotland has lengthy had nice enchantment to me, each as a golfer and only a lover of the nation,” says Cowan-Dewar, a 36-year-old Canadian with Scottish heritage. “I’ve spent a number of time there, travelling round and enjoying golf, however I feel there was at all times a particular magic within the Highlands for me. I truly walked the course in 2009, simply earlier than it opened. I kind of marvelled at it and I spent a while with Mark [Parsinen]. I kind of felt a kinship with it as a result of it opened across the identical time as our Cabot Hyperlinks in Nova Scotia, and each are fashionable programs constructed near the ocean. From that preliminary tour, it had at all times caught in my thoughts and, when the chance took place, the possibility to do one thing in Scotland was simply too good to be true.”

Because the change of possession, issues have moved on apace at Cabot Highlands, essentially the most important of these issues being the hiring of American golf course architect Tom Doak to design a brand new 18-hole championship course that can sit alongside the Fort Stuart Golf Hyperlinks. A part of Parsinen’s long-term plans earlier than his demise, the brand new and, as but, untitled course, is scheduled to open in 2025. It should occupy a tract of land to the west of the unique course, circling across the property’s eponymous citadel and swinging right down to a surprising stretch of holes in addition to the Moray Firth.

For Cowan-Dewar, who began out as golf tour operator earlier than establishing his golf improvement firm, it’s the kind of alternative that doesn’t crop up fairly often and never simply in Scotland. “If you concentrate on the variety of programs which were constructed whereas I’ve been alive which are within the prime 100 on this planet, the overwhelming majority existed earlier than I used to be born,” he says. “There are only a few that change arms, and lots of of them are personal golf equipment owned by members, so the possibility to do the second course and get Tom Doak to come back to Scotland and construct on the foundations of what’s already in place, is extraordinarily uncommon in a worldwide context.”

Though nonetheless within the very early levels of building throughout my go to in June, a short tour of the property in a 4×4 revealed the huge potential for this new website to supply an ideal addition to its illustrious neighbour, which at the moment occupies nineteenth spot within the UK & Eire’s Prime 100 Programs rating checklist. With loads of elevation modifications, gorgeous views, tantalising glimpses of the 400-year-old citadel, and the chance to put out a run of holes proper beside the water’s edge, Doak will need to have rubbed his arms with pleasure when he first clapped eyes on the majestic panorama earlier than him.

Requested how the 2 programs will complement one another, Cowan-Dewar provides: “It’s a very completely different website in some ways, but it surely’s an incredible website and is bodily stunning. Golfers will begin out from the identical clubhouse and the present driving vary will change into a part of the opening and shutting holes of Tom’s course. From the best level, which is about to be the thirteenth tee, gamers will be capable of see the third inexperienced of Fort Stuart, with views stretching throughout to the Black Isle. Then it would play down across the citadel, then alongside the water. Not like the prevailing course, the place nearly each gap performs straight again or straight into the wind, the brand new course may have holes the place gamers will battle a crosswind, additional including to the problem.”

For now, and till the brand new course opens in 2025, golfers visiting Cabot Highlands should content material themselves with enjoying the Fort Stuart Golf Hyperlinks, which is a contemporary masterpiece and a must-play hyperlinks on any Highland {golfing} itinerary. Designed by Mark Parsinen in collaboration with architect Gil Hanse, the Fort Stuart course is a rarity amongst hyperlinks in that it has been constructed on two ranges: one, proper up in opposition to the Moray Firth, and one other on the bottom excessive above, which presents essentially the most spectacular panoramic views – one thing additionally not related to extra conventional hyperlinks, whose fairways usually sit beneath the extent of the dunes and infrequently provide a lot interplay with the ocean.

The course is specified by two loops. The primary three holes all play down by the water’s edge and away from the clubhouse in the direction of Inverness, earlier than turning again inland and, lastly, in the direction of the enduring art-deco styled clubhouse. The again 9 largely mirrors the entrance. Fortunately, for this correspondent at the least, the emphasis seems to be on playability and pleasure moderately than on remorseless grind. With extensive fairways, beneficiant touchdown areas and thinned out tough, you may afford to be just a little wayward off the tee, however the take a look at will get considerably harder the nearer you get to the inexperienced, lots of which function double tiers and extreme run-offs to fend off all however essentially the most correct strategy photographs.

Whereas there are not any weak holes to speak of, the spotlight holes for me, of which there are a lot, embody the driveable par-4 third, which is down by the water’s edge; the sixth, a 552-yard par 5 which is performed to a protracted, slim inexperienced that sits between a pair of waste bunkers; whereas on the extra elevated again 9, the 220-yard seventeenth is one other cracker, and serves to carry the spherical in the direction of an acceptable climax.

I needed to luck to play the course on a windless summer time’s day, so was sparred a 20mph chill wind whipping off the Moray Firth that may little doubt wreak havoc to a scorecard, however regardless of the climate and no matter your rating, it’s a course that can stay lengthy within the reminiscence. Sure, it’s under no circumstances a standard hyperlinks of the kind you’ll find at Dornoch or Nairn, and is extra heathland in locations, but it surely has its spot within the pantheon of programs and its presentation is prime notch in addition.

One of many many upsides of getting not only one, however two 18-hole championship programs on the property will likely be to show Cabot Highlands into an instantaneous ‘vacation spot’ in its personal proper, and never simply someplace to play en path to the Highland’s different well-known venues. Whereas it’s fairly attainable to play two rounds in a day, particularly throughout Scotland’s prolonged summer time days, having 36 holes in a single location additionally affords the chance for golfers to tarry awhile, therefore Cabot’s plans to increase its present lodging providing to incorporate 16 new luxurious lodges, a restaurant, and possibly a lodge down the road.

Whereas the brand new golf course and the added lodging will likely be one other two years within the making, the brand new homeowners have wasted no time instilling its affect on clubhouse operations. Among the many many Cabot touches embody the weird sight of a set of sofas only a few yards to the left of the 18th inexperienced. Referred to as ‘Cabot Couches’, this snug seating association is one thing guests to all Cabot venues will likely be accustomed to, and offers a welcome second to savour your spherical, have a fast drink and soak within the views yet another time earlier than you head into the extra formal space of the clubhouse. Different Cabot touches embody the providing of a ‘Cabot cookie’ – a biscuit if you happen to favor – on the starter’s hut, which matches properly with a sizzling chocolate or a sizzling toddy.

The spectacular clubhouse offers a homely welcome at any time of the 12 months, however I anticipate is an much more welcome sight when the temperature drops. The primary flooring altering room should provide top-of-the-line locker room views in golf, and it didn’t shock me to be taught that it’s going to most probably change into a restaurant when the complete extent of Cabot’s deliberate modifications come to fruition.

Whereas there are is a four-bedroom cottage on website {for golfing} teams to remain in, if that’s booked up golfers trying to keep close by can head to the just lately opened AC Marriott Hotel in Inverness, which is only a 20-minute drive from the course alongside the A96 and enjoys a surprising location beside the River Ness. Rooms right here, together with mattress and breakfast, begin from £89, rising to £219 in excessive season.

Customer inexperienced payment charges for 2024 are £225 for 18 holes between March 24-April 30, and £295 from Could 1 – Oct 31. A two-round bundle and an in a single day keep for eight friends within the 4-bedroom lodge prices from £405pp. The course is closed from November 1 – March 23. For extra particulars, go to www.cabothighlands.com.