Castle Stuart Golf Links has teamed up with a rising star of the design world to put more fashion on the fairways.
The internationally-acclaimed course opens for the 2014 season on 28 March and a new attraction for golfers will be a range of designer belts by local designer Christian MacLeod.
Christian is a professional golfer who has moved into fashion with a range of iconic belts that have won the backing of a host of fellow players, including former Open champion and Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie.
The first CM collection will be officially launched worldwide on 2 April and will be showcased in GQ magazine. Castle Stuart is one of only two outlets in the north of Scotland where the belts will be sold.
Stuart McColm, the club’s general manager, said: “Like Castle Stuart, Christian MacLeod has made a huge impact among golfers in a short space of time. His collection is modern and innovative and we are delighted to be associated with it.”
Christian, 22, from Inverness, turned professional in 2010 and took part in his first pro tournament at Castle Stuart in early 2011. He is currently studying for a PGA golf degree from Birmingham University while working on his fledgling business.
After seeing a gap in the golf fashion market he launched his first design concept in 2012 at a catwalk show in Nairn. Paul Lawrie wore one of the belts at last year’s US Masters and has also invested in Christian’s company to help it expand further.
Christian said: “I am delighted Castle Stuart is stocking my collection this year. It is an internationally-renowned course and the perfect showcase for the products.
“The Christian MacLeod belt collection is synonymous with luxury, elegance and innovation. Castle Stuart fits well with our brand concepts and delivers the high end service we are aiming for.”
He added: “I come from a strong golfing background and big belts with big buckles seem to be have been the fashion for a long time. The CM belts arrive with a different vision to bring to the game.”
Castle Stuart Golf Links opened in 2009 on the shores of the Moray Firth and made an immediate impact on the golfing world. It has since been consistently placed among the top 100 courses in the world by a number of prestigious golf publications, most notably Links Magazine and Golf Course Architecture.
The course hosted the Scottish Open for three successive years from 2011 with the 2013 competition, won by Phil Mickelson, reaching a television audience of more than 500 million.
The CM belts cost £160-£220 and can be bought only at CM outlets and at christianmacleod.com. Castle Stuart and Skibo Castle are currently the only two outlets in the north of Scotland selling the collection.
Christian MacLeod www.christianmacleod.com
Castle Stuart Golf Links www.castlestuartgolf.com