Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness, Scotland: A championship track accessible to all skill levels

INVERNESS, Scotland -- Castle Stuart Golf Links, just north of Inverness, opened in 2009 but is already gaining international renown as the site the 2011 and 2012 Scottish Opens.

For wandering golfers taking a tour of Scotland's great courses, Castle Stuart would be an excellent introduction to links golf.

The fairways are wider than most links, the rough is not quite as penal, and the undulations in the fairways and greens are not overwrought, as on some modern links layouts.

Yet the routing takes full advantage of the wonderful vistas out over Moray Firth, and the prevailing wind can turn a leisurely round into a real battle.

Players will be presented with a varied collection of holes requiring approaches from all possible angles and heights, along with a number of "infinity greens" that appear to drop off straight into the sea.

After your round, enjoy a hearty meal and a cold pint in the impressive Art Deco clubhouse while taking in even more spectacular views of the firth.

Castle Stuart Golf Links - hole 2

The par-5 second hole at Castle Stuart Golf Links penalizes wayward shots both left and right, and the green is the first of the course's hallmark "infinity greens."

Kiel Christianson/TravelGolf

Castle Stuart Golf Links - hole 4

The namesake castle lies not far behind the green of the mid-length par-3 fourth hole at Castle Stuart Golf Links.

Kiel Christianson/TravelGolf

Castle Stuart Golf Links - hole 6

The approach to the deep, narrow green at Castle Stuart Golf Links' par-5 sixth hole is as intimidating as a shot can get: trouble right and left, and certain death if you go long.

Kiel Christianson/TravelGolf

Castle Stuart Golf Links - hole 7

Playing the long par-4 seventh at Castle Stuart Golf Links demands that you not only find the snaking fairway from the tee, but also that you choose the proper angle in, as the green is guarded by banking to the right and the old sea cliff on the left.

Kiel Christianson/TravelGolf

Castle Stuart Golf Links - hole 17

At 224 yards from the tips, the 17th hole is the longest par 3 at Castle Stuart Golf Links, and easily the most intimidating from the tee (even with the friendly tournament signage).

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Castle Stuart Golf Links - hole 18

The par-5 closer at Castle Stuart Golf Links presents a perilous downhill approach to another infinity green.

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Castle Stuart Golf Links - bunkers

The bunkering at Castle Stuart Golf Links is at times dramatic and at times artistic, but it is generally not as penal as the bunkering at more classic links courses.

Kiel Christianson/TravelGolf

Castle Stuart Golf Links - infinity greens

Castle Stuart Golf Links' hallmark feature is the infinity greens, which appear to drop straight off into the Moray Firth.

Kiel Christianson/TravelGolf

Castle Stuart - clubhouse and practice green

The practice green at Castle Stuart Golf Links lies below the Art Deco clubhouse, whose copious windows offer 180-degree vistas across the firth to the Black Isle.

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Scottish Open champion Jeev Milkha Singh

Jeev Milkha Singh hoists the 2012 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open trophy.

Courtesy of Aberdeen Asset Management

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson launches a powerful drive from the championship tees on Castle Stuart Golf Links' 18th hole during the 2012 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Courtesy of Aberdeen Asset Management