Castle Stuart Golf Links enjoys a setting and topography that combine to make the golf experience visually memorable. The golf holes are compositions that place the notable landmarks of the Moray Firth directly into the player's perspective. For the holes immediately abutting the sea, the Kessock Bridge, Chanonry Lighthouse, Fort George (home of the Black Watch) and Castle Stuart itself are often seen directly through the shotmaking frame. Atop the 'old sea cliff' these same Black Isle landmarks are often presented from towering heights that offer palpably different and perhaps even more spectacular visual aspects. It would be impossible not to enjoy these Highland landmarks when seen through greens with seemingly nothing beyond but a shimmering firth and the landmark itself. Surrounding the golfer is a rugged and natural landscape comprised of vast expanses of gorse, broom, heather and sea marram. This mosaic often tightly frames the vistas beyond and combines an immediacy of natural surrounds with a grand sense of of distant vistas. Enjoying the visual experience on any given hole is a private pleasure as other holes and conflicting inland views are out of sight. Castle Stuart's presentation of it's manicured playing surface within its rugged natural beauty harkens back to a simpler era of golf, the 'transitional period' 1890 to 1935. Wayward shots find thin wispy fescue and pockets of bare sand where balls are easily found and recoveries manageable. The bunkering is characterised more by open sandy areas with pockets of light vegetation than by formally revetted manicured bunkers. And from some tees and greens, the 1930s style white 'Art Deco' clubhouse can be seen sitting prominently atop its viewing perch. All in all castle Stuart can be described as a throwback to golf as it once was - a simple walk through pleasing natural surrounds with some companionable and competitive rules attached.