Castle Stuart – now rebranded as Cabot Highlands – is a benchmark for modern links golf. Designed by Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen, the course opened in 2009 and quickly vaulted into the world’s top 100. The routing is masterful: holes sweep along the Moray Firth on three separate occasions, giving dramatic sea views from almost every tee. The front nine plays across a low, shoreline plain; the back nine climbs to higher ground, offering panoramic vistas and thrilling elevation changes. Fairways are generous, but strategic angles into the large, undulating greens create constant decisions. It’s playable for all skill levels – challenging without being punishing, and designed to keep the ball in play. The turf is fast and springy, and the bunkering is beautifully sculpted. The par-3 11th and cliffside par-5 18th are unforgettable. From the art deco clubhouse to the attention to detail in course maintenance, this is a five-star links experience. It’s visually inspiring, tactically stimulating, and enormously fun.