Cabot acquires Scotland’s Castle Stuart; plans to add another course
Cabot, the developer and operator of master-planned golf resort communities, announces the acquisition of Castle Stuart in the Scottish Highlands. The centerpiece of the iconic property, soon to be known as Cabot Highlands, is Castle Stuart Golf Links, named among Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. As with all Cabot properties, Cabot Highlands will combine jaw-dropping surroundings, world-class golf, exciting real estate opportunities and exceptional service.
Ben Cowan-Dewar, CEO and co-founder of Cabot said: “Castle Stuart has been synonymous with the region since it first opened thirteen years ago. We are honoured to be a steward of the land and carry the original vision for the property forward. Our goal is to create unforgettable memories in magical places, and there are few places in the world more awe-inspiring than the Scottish Highlands.”
Cabot plans to build a second course designed by acclaimed golf course architect Tom Doak. Located on a pristine piece of land, the course will play around Castle Stuart’s 400-year-old castle. The course will have significant water frontage but will sit lower than the first course, with less wind exposure, wide fairways and dramatic-yet-practical bunkers. The course will incorporate natural contours, meandering through hillsides and expansive open land with several holes along the water. Planning for the course will begin in the Autumn of 2022 and construction will begin in 2023 with an estimated completion date in 2024.
Tom Doak said: “I’m thrilled to partner with Ben Cowan-Dewar and the Cabot team. We have been searching for the perfect destination for years. Our goal is to create a distinctly Scottish golf experience that appeals to players at all levels with an authentic links-style course that puts the golf holes front and centre.”
Real estate will be a key component of the community with sales expected to begin in 2023. The legacy property will feature houses and cottages with upscale, modern touches inspired by the alluring landscape of the Scottish countryside. When owners are not in residence, their homes will be available as luxury accommodations for visiting guests. The Cabot Highlands property will be completed with retail, restaurants and communal gathering points.
Retiring managing partner, Grant Sword, said: “I wouldn’t have missed the journey for all the tea in China. Working with my friend and our founder, Mark Parsinen, was a privilege. He was an artist at what he did and he was never happier at work than when he was in the field. He empowered the team at Castle Stuart and they responded by always finding creative solutions and establishing a superb culture of excellent customer service. Myself, the partners, and more importantly Mark’s wife Dede and the family, are all unanimous that this is a really exciting way forward. What Ben has done at Cabot is amazing. He and his team have been a joy to work with in finalising this deal and the process has been enormously respectful on all sides. Cabot is a perfect fit for Castle Stuart and I’m certain the future is rosy. I will be able to enjoy my retirement and playing golf at Cabot Highlands, knowing that Mark Parsinen’s vision will be taken forward and enhanced by a wonderful team.”
General Manager Stuart McColm and the existing team at Castle Stuart now become part of the Cabot family and will continue to play a leading role in the story going forward.
Stuart McColm said: “I’ve been involved with this special property since 2006 and I too can’t think of a better partner than Cabot to lead our next chapter. The work they’ve done at Cabot Cape Breton on the courses and within the community speaks for itself. The cultures of Cabot and Castle Stuart are a perfect fit. Together we are committed to providing golfers with fun and enjoyable courses in stunning locations as well as providing top class customer service. The future is hugely exciting and we can’t wait to deliver on the many great plans for Cabot Highlands that will bring a significant boost to the region’s economy while at the same time delivering a very special, world class golfing experience.”
About Cabot Highlands:
Cabot’s first European project, Cabot Highlands, is situated in the Scottish Highlands and will include world-class golf, boutique accommodations and luxury real estate opportunities. Located just minutes from Inverness Airport, Cabot Highlands features Castle Stuart Golf Links, named among Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, an art-deco inspired clubhouse, practice range, putting green and a new short course set for its grand opening in the 2023 season. A second course designed by acclaimed golf course architect Tom Doak will be completed in 2024. Beyond golf, the destination offers incredible natural beauty and ample outdoor activities including hiking, cycling, fishing, falconry, horseback riding and more. The nearby city of Inverness is located ten minutes away and offers opportunities to experience the vibrant Scottish culture through Victorian-era marketplaces, cathedrals, museums and restaurants.
About Cabot:
Cabot is the developer and operator of luxury residential, resort and golf destinations. The portfolio includes the award-winning Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, the Cabot Saint Lucia resort community set to open in 2023, and Cabot Revelstoke in development in British Columbia. Cabot recently announced the acquisition of its first U.S. property in Central West Florida, soon to be known as Cabot Citrus Farms. Cabot continues to build upon a legacy of excellence in golf, luxury residential offerings and boutique resort lifestyle across each unique property, where owners and guests have exclusive access to destination specific experiences and an unparalleled quality of service.
About Castle Stuart:
Castle Stuart has hosted 4 Scottish Opens. It is located just minutes from the Inverness airport and within driving distance from some of the most famous courses in the region, including Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Brora and Skibo Castle, Castle Stuart is part of the rich fabric of golf in the Scottish Highlands. Routed along the shores of the Moray Firth, the course overlooks panoramic vistas and well-known landmarks including Kessock Bridge and Chanonry Lighthouse. Designed by Gil Hanse and the late Mark Parsinen, Castle Stuart’s natural landscape can be described as a throwback to golf as it once was. The course features holes framed by the water’s edge on one side and bluffs on the other, with rumpled fairway contours and infinity-edged greens that seem perched on cliffs directly over the sea. The property also features an art-deco inspired clubhouse, a 350-yard practice range and a putting green. A new short course is open for preview play and set for its grand opening in the 2023 season.
Cabot Highlands is the perfect complement to Cabot’s expanding portfolio of luxury developments anchored by world-class golf courses. The collection includes the award-winning Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, the Cabot Saint Lucia resort community set to open in early 2023, and Cabot Revelstoke in development in British Columbia. Cabot recently announced the acquisition of its first U.S. property in Central West Florida, soon to be known as Cabot Citrus Farms. Each Cabot property is built around a deep sense of place and the philosophy that truly great landscapes will stand the test of time. The land of a Cabot property dictates how fairways should flow, where greens should lay, and how homes should live in harmony amidst pristine natural grandeur.
