Cabot Highlands (Old Petty)

The Old Petty Course, like the Castle Stuart Course at Cabot Highlands, has been designed to blend into the Highlands surroundings, and with glorious views of Castle Stuart and the Old Petty Church, it does not disappoint. As you would expect, from the tips, the Old Petty Course pushes past the 7,000-yard barrier, playing as a Par 71. From the Whites, it is just shy of 6,600, while the Greens offer a round at 6,200 yards.

It is a rather unique start/finish to a round on the Old Petty Course, as the 1st and 18th holes cross over each other in the form of an 'X'. On the opener, which is 400 yards from the Whites, you play across to the right side of the large double fairway, before then firing your approach at the large, circular green. The 2nd is a scoring chance at 350 yards, providing you avoid the trouble lurking down the left side. The 3rd is the first of the quartet of short holes, though at 225 yards, short might not be the right description. The 3rd plays next to Castle Stuart itself.

The tee shot on 4 takes you across the burn, which will come into play several times throughout the course of your round. It is a dog-leg right, one of 365 yards, so if you can find the fairway, you won't have too far in to the green for your approach shot. 5 is over the 400-yard mark, with another tee shot across the burn (though it should not come into play here). The green sits next to the Old Bothy, with its bright red roof being a standout against the backdrop. 

The 6th is one of two par 3s on the Old Petty Course that sits at 160 yards. That is then followed by the Stroke Index 1, the 415-yard par 4 7th. It plays as a dog-leg right, and although there is a generous fairway to find, there is plenty of danger around the putting surface. The 8th is the first of the three par 5s on the course, and at 520 yards, it will only be reachable for the longest of hitters. The front nine comes to a close with another medium-length par 4. This time, the burn winds its way across the fairway, so you need to make the decision of whether to stay short of it, or to try and get past it...

The 10th is 600 yards from the tips, and still 550 yards from the Whites - the longest hole on the course. It plays as a slight dog-leg right, with gorse bushes on the right side of the landing zone that must be avoided. There is plenty of space for those laying up, so just make sure you find the fairway ahead of your third. 11 and 12 are both tricky par 4s, before you then make your way down 13 and 14 back towards the Moray Firth. 13 is a good scoring chance at just 320 yards, while the 14th is the first of the par 3s on the back nine.

15 is the other par 5 on the back side, and also plays 550 yards from the Whites. The ideal line for the tee shot is right over the corner of the water, but how much do you risk? It turns to the left to begin with, before the hole then moves back to the right by the green. 16 then plays back over the end of the Moray Firth, with a lengthy carry required from the tee on this 415-yard par 4. 17 is the shortest hole, and with the smallest green, making it a tricky par 3, before you then come to the final hole. As with the 1st, you aim across to the opposite side of the fairway, this time the left, before your final approach shot of the day.