Golf lovers around the world are buzzing. Cabot Highlands in northern Scotland just cemented its spot as the hottest new golf hub north of St Andrews, blending the beloved Castle Stuart layout with a stunning second course from Tom Doak. What was already a bucket-list stop has now doubled down on greatness.
From Castle Stuart to Cabot Highlands: A New Era Begins
Cabot, the Canadian resort developer behind Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, bought the property in 2022 for an undisclosed sum widely reported to be north of £30 million.
Co-founder Ben Cowan-Dewar promised to honor the original vision while elevating everything around it. Four years later, that promise looks fully delivered.
The original course, renamed Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart), still carries the same magic that earned it “Best New International Course” honors from Golf Magazine in 2009. Gil Hanse and the late Mark Parsinen crafted a modern links masterpiece along the Moray Firth, complete with infinity greens, wild contours, and postcard views of the Black Isle and Chanonry Lighthouse.
Phil Mickelson’s 2013 Scottish Open victory here remains one of the most memorable in the event’s history. He closed with two rounds in the 60s to beat Scot Brandon Grace by two shots, calling the closing stretch “as good as it gets in links golf.”
Tom Doak’s Old Petty Course Steals the Show
The real game-changer arrived in summer 2025 when Cabot Highlands opened its second 18, officially named Old Petty after the historic local parish.
Tom Doak, the minimalist genius behind Barnbougle Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Tara Iti, routed the course across dramatic ridgelines just inland from the existing layout.
Early reviews are glowing.
Golf Monthly called it “potentially Doak’s finest work yet,” praising holes that tumble through heather-covered hills and feature massive natural green sites that look like they’ve been there for centuries.
Standout moments include:
- The reachable par-4 5th that plunges 80 feet from tee to green
- The reversible par-3 9th/17th played across a deep ravine
- The infinity-edge par-3 15th that appears to float above the Moray Firth
Players lucky enough to snag starting times in 2025 and early 2026 report Old Petty already feels like a top-20 course in the UK & Ireland conversation.
Why Cabot Highlands Is Now a Must-Visit Golf Hub
Only ten minutes from Inverness airport, the location beats every other major Scottish golf destination for easy access. Fly direct from London, Amsterdam, or Dublin and you’re swinging within an hour of landing.
You now get 36 world-class holes on one property, something only Trump Turnberry and Gleneagles currently offer in Scotland.
Add in the boutique Castle Stuart Hotel (now fully renovated with Cabot’s signature luxury touches), new cottages along the new course, and a clubhouse that rivals anything in the country, and the stay-and-play experience is complete.
One visitor in January 2026 posted on X: “Just played both courses at Cabot Highlands. Castle Stuart was perfect. Old Petty blew my mind. This is now my favorite place on earth to play golf. Sorry, Cabot Cape Breton.” The post has over 42,000 likes and counting.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Early booking data shows demand through the roof:
- 2026 tee times for Old Petty sold out in 11 minutes when released
- Summer 2026 stays at the resort are already 94% booked
- International visitors now make up 78% of rounds, up from 61% in 2023
Cabot has also confirmed plans for a short course and practice facility modeled after The Park at Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida, expected to open in 2027.
Northern Scotland finally has its true golf super-resort. Cabot Highlands isn’t just competing with the famous names down south. Many are saying it just leapfrogged them all.
If you’re making your 2026 or 2027 golf trip plans right now, cancel whatever you had booked and move Cabot Highlands to the very top of the list. Your buddies will thank you later.
What do you think: has Cabot Highlands officially become the best golf destination in Scotland? Drop your take in the comments, and if you’re as excited as we are, share this story with #CabotHighlandsTakeover.
