Exclusive Golfer dummy 2014 Mock up | Page 5

EG Exclusive Golfer M ark Parsinen, the American Businessman who, with Kyle Phillips was behind the Kingsbarns course near St Andrews, has now partnered another American architect, Gil Hanse, to create a unique, fast-running course in a stunningly picturesque location conveniently near Inverness Airport in the Scottish Highlands. Parsinen, starting with a better location and ground at Castle Stuart than at Kingsbarns, has shown us he understands what a true running course is about. The scenic audacity is unsurpassable and the draining, pure sand-based ground supports lovely fine fescue grasses, that are the basis for fine golf. Being invited to play for the second time in August 2012, I can confirm that the fine grasses have now knitted together giving a firm and consistent bounce that builds your confidence and allows creative , imaginative shot-making around the greens that run truly and are quite fast enough, particularly in dry weather. Open to any visitor with deep pockets and with no local club membership, this development with its planned building of lodges and a hotel seems to be pitching for the luxury short-stay visitor market, with other upscale resorts, like Gleneagles and Turnberry, as its competition. The attraction of The Scottish Open in July 2011 for three years, is a major boost to its and the highlands profile as a golf destination in conjunction with the incomparable Royal Dornoch and the nearby Nairn. EXCLUSIVE GOLFER 5