As long ago as mid November FineGolf was able to predict that Castle Stuart was going to hold the Scottish Open in 2011.

We also suggested that The Renaissance may hold it in 2012 but we are told that this has now been put off, as the Club wants to concentrate on creating the three new holes at the far end of the course and let them become well-established before hosting the £3m Scottish Open.

The (British) Open comes to Muirfield, next door to The Renaissance, in 2013 so perhaps The Renaissance may get the Scottish Open in 2014 ?!

Loch Lomond, that beautiful, immaculately maintained, but target-style course in the damp environment of inland West Scotland, which has been hosting the Scottish Open until recently, has, we are now told, decided not to launch a bid to try to get it back after 2013. Read more..

Hearty congratulations to Castle Stuart,

they have just announced they have the Scottish Open “for the next few years” which I am told definitely means the next three years.

There are a few fine clubs that could learn from Castle Stuart. Since it opened in 2009 it has set about marketing itself superbly.

It needed to become associated with traditional Links and with the help of nearby Royal Dornoch and Nairn (who host the Curtis Cup in 2012) and a discounted green-fee package to their members, the highland clubs have cooperated with Castle Stuart hopefully to everybody’s benefit.

Castle Stuart was a little coy initially about its intentions of attracting a professional tournament but with its transport links and nearby accomodation infrastructure, ( Dornoch cannot boast sufficient accomodation- though the quality is good), it is now taking the lead to show-off the highlands as a top destination for golfers.

Castle Stuart has some very clever marketing people working for it, as well as an ambitious  top management, who have vision. They appointed one of the best ‘fescues’ greenkeepers and lets hope the marketing boys set up some TV interviews during the tournament when Chris Haspell can elucidate on how he has set up the course for the ‘fine’ running game.