Old Petty at Cabot Highlands
An easygoing outing that lingers long after the final putt.
New links golf courses in Scotland are something of a rarity. When one is announced, the golfing public is often fearful that it will not live up to its surroundings or not contain the unpredictability, different routes to the green, and opportunities for creative shots that make links courses special.
All such fears have been dispelled with the opening of Old Petty, the second course at Cabot Highlands (formerly Castle Stuart Golf Links) just outside of Inverness. The Tom Doak-designed course begins beside the now iconic art deco clubhouse overlooking the Moray Firth and with views of the Black Isle beyond. The course’s opening is an unusual one, with the first and 18th fairways criss-crossing each other. The starter, however, is keenly aware of the placement of each group and ensures you can tee off safely, with only the increased pressure of a gallery watching from below.
Photo by Generation Golf.
While the original course plays on high dunes and takes full advantage of its proximity to the Firth, Old Petty plays more inland, on flatter, gently rolling farmland, and is defined by its undulating, and in some instances very large, greens. The first of many views of the castle that lent the resort its original name comes on the third hole, a steeply downhill par 3 that is a harsh examination of a player’s distance control.
Standout holes include the 13th, a dramatic downhill par 4 at the farthest point from the clubhouse, and the 17th, a beautiful par 3 over a crater-like sand trap. The most thrilling shot of the day is from the 15th tee, driving the ball directly over a watery inlet toward the imposing castle in the distance, with an abandoned boat sitting on the small beach in the foreground.
Photo by Cookie Jar Golf.
Old Petty is an excellent addition to Scotland’s golfing landscape. In time, with two courses now at Cabot Highlands and the recently announced redevelopment and expansion of the nearby Royal Dornoch, a fixture on top 10 lists, Cabot Highlands could become an anchor point for golf trips to the region, and the upcoming expansion of the property’s lodging options only strengthens this possibility.
