Cabot Highlands: Your Complete Guide

Castle Stuart, Old Petty, and Highlands Hospitality

When Castle Stuart joined the Cabot family of golf destinations in 2022, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for one of the Highlands’ most celebrated courses. With its bold design and unforgettable setting along the Moray Firth, Castle Stuart already had a reputation for being something special. Now, with the debut of Old Petty—the long-awaited second course on the property—it’s become something more: a true multi-round destination in its own right.

For those exploring Scotland golf packages, Cabot Highlands now offers a compelling reason to focus your itinerary around the Highlands themselves. Two world-class courses, one remarkable setting.

Of course, the challenge with any second course is that it has to do more than just complement the first. It has to stand on its own. And from what we’ve seen so far, Old Petty does exactly that—and then some.

We recently sat down with Jeremy Matte, Director of Golf & Operations at Cabot Highlands, to talk about how this new chapter is taking shape. If you’re curious about the vision behind both courses—and what’s still to come—you can catch the full conversation on our Golf and the Good Life podcast.

Whether you’re in the early planning stages or simply curious what’s new at Cabot Highlands, here’s what you’ll want to know about this exceptional corner of Scotland.

Castle Stuart Golf Links: The Highlands Modern Classic

Before it became part of Cabot, Castle Stuart was already known as a modern classic. After co-creating Kingsbarns, the late Mark Parsinen set his sights on the Highlands. The property he found—set along the Moray Firth near Inverness—was dramatic, open, and full of possibility.

From the beginning, Parsinen made one thing clear: this course wasn’t meant to intimidate. It was meant to invite. In his own words, it should “elicit anticipation and hopefulness in players of all skill levels.”

That guiding principle shows up everywhere at Castle Stuart. The fairways are wide, giving golfers room to swing freely. The green complexes are large and undulating—fun to hit, but tricky to master. And while wayward shots won’t be swallowed by punishing rough or hidden bunkers, being out of position can still make for a nervy recovery.

As they're fond of saying around Cabot Highlands, it's "a course that can challenge the best but is playable for the rest."

It's also a whole lot of fun.

The 3rd hole at Castle Stuart
Photo courtesy of Cabot Highlands

Notable Holes at Castle Stuart

3rd Hole

The 3rd at Castle Stuart is the ultimate risk-reward proposition. This short par-4 offers an enticing opportunity to improve the card, yet those who fail to execute off the tee can just as easily find bogey or worse. The long and slender green is protected by a sea of rumpled turf that makes getting up and down particularly problematic. But regardless of what the card says when all is said and done, the view of the infinity green with the Firth as backdrop is by itself worth the cost of admission.

4th Hole

The course’s namesake dates to the early 1600’s and stands majestically behind the 4th green; its spire serving as the inspiration for Castle Stuart’s logo. From the tee of this par-3, the eye is naturally drawn to the green and the castle beyond; a Kodak moment if there ever was one. And yet, what appears to be a natural valley leading to the target is anything but. The center of a large dune between the tee and green was dug out to create the “framed composition” that seems to point the way.

11th Hole

The 11th at Castle Stuart is a fun but demanding short par-3. A precise tee shot is essential, as anything missing the putting surface leaves a difficult chance to save par. The green is well-defended by subtle contours and steep falloffs, particularly for those aiming at mid-to-back pin locations. Still, the view across the Moray Firth to the Fortrose & Rosemarkie Lighthouse is nothing short of stunning and serves as a worthy consolation no matter the outcome.

The 10th & 11th greens at Castle Stuart
Photo courtesy of Cabot Highlands

Old Petty: A Blend of Old and New

Old Petty may be Cabot Highlands’ second course, but it’s no supporting act. Designed by Tom Doak, the layout threads through rumpled terrain along a tidal estuary, weaving together nature, strategy, and story in equal measure.

From the first tee, Old Petty feels rich in character. The routing passes Old Petty Church, built in 1839, as well as the 400-year-old castle that gave the area its name. Along the way, you might even spot a Highland “coo”—the shaggy local icon that inspired the course’s distinctive logo. (Expect to see Old Petty items flying off the shelves in the pro shop.)

What’s most striking is the scale. Fairways sweep across the land in broad ribbons. Massive sand scrapes give the course its texture—and teeth. And the greens, bold in both contour and placement, reward creativity from all angles. Doak’s design invites confident lines and clever recovery. Like Castle Stuart, it challenges without ever feeling punitive.

In short, Old Petty is purposeful, engaging, and built for golfers who like to think their way around.

Notable Holes at Old Petty

Old Petty has yet to officially open, so details on specific standout holes remain limited for now. But after a recent aerial preview by helicopter and a walk through the opening stretch, a few holes already promise something special.

1st & 18th

The 1st and 18th at Old Petty offer a unique architectural twist, as their fairways criss cross one another in the spirit of the 7th and 11th at The Old Course. It may be the only opening and closing duo in the world designed this way, and it will be fascinating to watch how groups interact as they pass through––one closing an unforgettable day, the other filled with the promise of the same.

3rd Hole

Here, the round truly begins. The historic castle sits to your left, and the full scale of the property stretches out to the right. It's all laid out in front of you—land, sky, strategy, and promise. It’s a moment that draws natural comparisons to the 3rd at Royal Dornoch, not just in visual impact, but in the way it sets the tone for everything that follows.

The already iconic logo for Old Petty
Photo courtesy of Cabot Highlands

The Clubhouse: Views, Hospitality, and (Yes) Chili

The art deco clubhouse at Cabot Highlands has quickly become one of the most recognizable in golf. Every detail, from the building’s design to the color of the furniture, was painstakingly considered to ensure the final product took full advantage of its greatest asset: the incredible panorama view.

After the round, this is exactly where you’ll want to land. The floor-to-ceiling windows frame the firth and beyond, while the comfortable seating draws you in for some post-round lingering.

What makes the clubhouse especially memorable is the atmosphere. The team at Cabot Highlands strikes just the right chord, offering service that is warm, attentive, and easygoing in a way that feels unmistakably Scottish.

And the food? Thoughtful and well-executed, from exceptional bacon rolls in the morning to hearty post-round fare. One dish in particular tends to steal the show: the Texas-style chili. It’s an unexpected standout, but exactly what you’ll crave after a windswept walk along the Firth.

Bonus Tip: Be sure to step outside onto the terrace that wraps around the gentlemen’s locker room to enjoy the view it in all its glory.

The Caddies: Essential to the Experience

At Cabot Highlands, the caddies are among the best in the business. Many have walked these fairways since Castle Stuart’s early days, and it shows in every read, yardage, and quiet bit of encouragement.

They know the land, the lines, and when to offer just the right word. Ask about the view or the lighthouse in the distance, and you’ll likely get a story to go with it. For many travelers, the walk with a caddie becomes a defining part of the round. At Cabot Highlands, they help turn a great day of golf into an unforgettable experience.

Golfers with their Caddies at Castle Stuart - Cabot Highlands

Cabot Highlands: A Destination Fully Realized

From the very beginning, Cabot Highlands set out to become more than a one-course wonder. With the addition of Old Petty, that vision is now a reality.

Old Petty stands tall alongside Castle Stuart, offering a different voice but an equal experience. As more groups make the journey and play both courses, it will be interesting to see which one becomes the favorite. Our guess? It may end up an even split.

What’s certain is this: The Highlands of Scotland is no longer a region that needs to be paired with another. Between Cabot Highlands, Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Brora, and bonus rounds at Tain, Golspie, or Fortrose & Rosemarkie, you could spend a full week here playing a world-class course every day and never once feel the need to leave.

And for many travelers, the exclamation point on that experience will be the time spent at Cabot Highlands. Two exceptional courses, thoughtful hospitality, and many unforgettable views.

This is more than a stop along the way. It’s a destination worth building your journey around.