A second 18 hole championship golf course at Castle Stuart got the go-ahead from Highland councillors yesterday.
Owners of the Castle Stuart course near Nairn, which has played host to the Scottish Open four times, had the support of the late US golfing great Arnold Palmer for the course after visiting Castle Stuart in 2015.
Planning officials described the course as similar in size and scale to the existing championship course, defined by the foreshore of the Inner Moray Firth and Castle Stuart Bay, extending northwards to incorporate Castle Stuart as a focal point.
The form of the course will be similar to the existing in terms of vegetation and layout and will employ many of the construction techniques learned from the processes involved in the development of the first course.
The planners said: “The development of the second championship golf course at Castle Stuart is to be welcomed and will be of economic benefit to the area enhancing a well established existing facility.”
They gave assurances that the key environmental factors associated with the new course would be protected in accordance with the relevant regulations and guidance.
Local councillor Roddy Balfour was assured that access to old Petty church yard would remain for vehicles, despite straddling the 18th hole.
The council’s area planning manager David Mudie said access management around the 18th hole would be required.
