With Old Petty now open alongside Castle Stuart, how has Cabot Highlands’ first season as a two-course destination progressed, and what feedback have you received from visiting golfers and tour operators?

It’s been a busy first season operating both courses, but it has exceeded all our expectations, both in terms of how the course has grown in and the feedback we’ve received from first-time international visitors and long-standing local guests.

Two aspects of the feedback have been particularly encouraging. The first is how different the two courses are in terms of their feel and playability. Old Petty is not trying to replicate Castle Stuart, it stands on its own merits. The second is that guests are discussing which course they prefer when they return to the clubhouse.

Castle Stuart is firmly established in people’s minds, having hosted the Scottish Open and earned recognition as one of the world’s top 100 courses. Naturally, people have their preferences, but the fact that they are now debating the two courses over a beer, a meal or a glass of wine is fascinating and wonderful to see.

Another theme in the feedback we receive - whether online, directly from guests or through tour operators - is how Old Petty is helping to develop the Highlands as a golf destination. This is already a fantastic region with world-class golf, as we showcase through the Highland Golf Links Pro Am, which features Royal Dornoch, Nairn and Castle Stuart. There are also other renowned courses, including Brora, Tain and Golspie.

Now, with the addition of Old Petty, designed by Tom Doak, we are adding another layer to the golfing experience in the Highlands and, hopefully, encouraging visitors to stay a little longer.

For international golfers planning a trip to Scotland, how would you recommend incorporating Cabot Highlands into a wider Highland itinerary, both on and off the course?

One thing international visitors can overlook is just how long the days are in the Highlands. Playing 36 holes is always a full day - you are still walking two golf courses - but during the peak summer months, there can be enough daylight to play until around 11pm.

If you are happy to play 36 holes in a day, experiencing both courses is fantastic and does not have to feel rushed. You could start your first round at eight or nine in the morning, finish around midday or one, enjoy a relaxed lunch and then head out again in the afternoon, with time for dinner afterwards.

For those who would prefer to spread their golf across the trip, our proximity to Inverness Airport is a real advantage. It still strikes me every time I take off or land there. You could arrive in Inverness and be on the course well within an hour - potentially even on the first tee within half an hour of landing.

One option is to play one of our courses on your arrival day before settling into the Highlands. You could then play the second course the following day, or spend some time exploring what the region has to offer before returning to Cabot Highlands at the end of your trip.

Playing one course when you arrive and the other before you leave is a lovely way to begin and end your Highland trip, whether you start with Castle Stuart or Old Petty.

How are you working with golf tour operators to help them build and sell itineraries featuring both courses, and what support can the Cabot team offer?

We have always worked closely with golf tour operators, and we always will. With Old Petty still so new, the most valuable support we can offer is to help members of their teams experience and play the course for themselves.

Whether you are promoting golf, hospitality, dining or travel, there is no substitute for first-hand experience. We understand the depth of the relationships tour operators build with their clients and how much those relationships depend on trust. Operators need to have complete confidence in an experience before recommending it.

That is why we have worked hard this season to welcome not only the principals of tour operating businesses, but also the booking agents themselves. We want to open the doors for their teams to come, play, experience and enjoy Old Petty, so they can then promote it confidently to their clients.

That has been our primary focus, and I think it is incredibly important. I would feel uncomfortable recommending something myself without knowing what the experience was like.

If you are interested in promoting the Highlands, please get in touch. We will always explore how we can support your team and identify the best time for them to visit and experience the new course.

Looking ahead to 2027, which international markets offer the greatest opportunities, and what should tour operators know as they begin planning next season’s programmes?

I would say the opportunity is twofold. North America, particularly the US, remains an incredibly strong market for golf in Scotland, and we continue to see sustained demand from that audience.

At the same time, we are seeing growing opportunities across Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia, Germany, and the Netherlands. Increased flight connectivity into Inverness Airport has been fantastic to see, helping to make the Highlands and northern Scotland more accessible to these strong golfing markets.

Alongside that, the intense heatwaves experienced across Europe in recent years have created an additional opportunity for destinations further north. We are seeing warmer temperatures here too, but conditions remain comfortable for golf, allowing visitors to enjoy some of the world’s best courses without having to play in 40-degree heat.

Combined with improved air connectivity, that is creating a very positive opportunity for us in those markets.

For operators planning next season, the key message is that Old Petty is now fully open. Preview play took place in 2025, and Old Petty opened slightly later in the season than Castle Stuart in 2026. From 2027 onwards, we are aiming for parity between the two courses, with the same season length, rates, and tee-time intervals.

We also have some great 36-hole packages for guests who would like to experience both courses.