Work to build a new championship golf course at Cabot Highlands, the Scottish Highland venue formerly known as Castle Stuart Golf Links, is to start next week, with the first players expected to tee off next year.
The new course, as yet unnamed, is being designed by Tom Doak, will be located next to the site of the existing Castle Stuart Golf Links, the 18-hole championship course that first opened in 2009. The new layout will start and finish in an area currently occupied by the site’s driving range which is being moved to ground nearby. The course will constructed around the 400-year-old Castle Stuart, with many holes featuring the landmark.
The multi-million-pound project is forecast to be ready for preview play in late 2024, with an official opening in spring 2025. The development will create 30 jobs for mainly local firms during construction.
News that work will start on the second course on April 3 comes as Cabot Highlands opens for the 2023 season. The venue enjoyed its best ever year in 2022, with 24,000 rounds played.
Stuart McColm, General Manager at Cabot Highlands, said: “This is a great milestone achieved. When Cabot acquired Castle Stuart, it promised magical golf, world class visitor experiences, and significant jobs. It has delivered on all of this. The new second course begins construction on April 3 and we look forward to being ready for full play in 2025.
“We are delighted to already be at this stage of our plans and to be collaborating with local businesses to deliver the great majority of the work. When it comes to the future of tourism and golf in the Highlands, we are determined to remain at the front of the story, playing our part in bringing high paying visitors to the region. With Cabot Highlands open for golf from today, this is a momentous time in our history and an appropriate time to make the announcement.”
It is expected that the current workforce of 50 will nearly double in 2025, just to service both golf courses at the resort. Other plans to build lodges and develop the experience for visitors are expected to see that number rise even further.
Yvonne Crook, Chairperson of Highland Tourism CIC, said: “This is the best news for the Highlands as we work to recover from the Covid Pandemic. The difference that such a significant investment and development can make to tourism in the Highlands is very significant at this time. We are determined to work in collaboration with Cabot Highlands as well as the private and public sectors to deliver a world class vision for a premium environmental brand which golf is such an important element of, and we are glad to be working closely with Cabot Highlands on delivering that.
“Coming on the back of the pandemic and difficult challenges through Brexit, rising energy costs and challenging business times, as well as staffing issues, this is a really positive bright light. An opportunity to work strategically and collaboratively for the benefit of the business and wider community in the Highlands. It’s a time for private and public sector partners to work together and we are proud to be in a position to be doing that and considering the bigger picture of what can be achieved by working together on the back of significant investments like this for the region.”