Ewen Murray finds out what it will take to win at Castle Stuart - new venue for the Barclays Scottish Open.
Holidaying Ewen gains insight into new Barclays Scottish Open venue
Hello again and I trust you have managed to take advantage of the glorious spring weather and already you have a few rounds under your belt.
After The Masters, I took myself up to my homeland for four days. Armed with clubs, I enjoyed a round at Skibo Castle, Royal Dornoch and the new venue for the Barclays Scottish Open, Castle Stuart.
Only two years old, Castle Stuart was hugely impressive. Nestling along the shores of the Moray Firth, east of the Highland's capital, Inverness, it looks like it has been there for centuries.
Impressed
What impressed me most was the fact that this course was designed with everyone in mind. It has an abundance of room off the tee and its defence is the greenside areas which only tolerate a neat and tidy short game.
The plan for the Barclays is not to change the course and let it be played the way it's been put together. There are three short-ish par fours, which with craft and skill the top players will fancy a healthy return, but they should be warned that if you miss the green on the tight side, getting up and down in two will require much imagination and touch.
There are four par fives, four threes and with ten fours the par is 72, but that may be trimmed by one for the week which I believe would be a good move.
Should the weather be perfect, I would predict low scoring, but then there is the Moray Firth wind which I doubt will be quiet for four days.
Attractions
The scenery around this part of the world is easy on the eye and during our coverage in the first week of July the cameras will focus on some of the areas attractions as well as the golf.
A short distance away is the Chanonry lighthouse, designed by Alan Stevenson in 1846, and you can see dolphins at play there at that time of the year.
Kessock Bridge, which connects Inverness to the Black Isle, lies to the west of the course and many families of Sand Martins have made the sandbanks to the left of the 13th hole their home.
The course gets its name from Castle Stuart which is situated nearby the fairways. It was completed in 1625 by the Earl of Moray and having been empty for close on 300 years, it has now been restored to its former beauty.
It's a big move for the Tour and Barclays to move the event to such a new venue, but they need have no fears. Castle Stuart is ready and the players will be happy to play a seaside course immediately before the Open Championship.
Stunning
Skibo Castle is set in the heartlands of Sutherlandshire, an area of outstanding natural beauty. It was recently bought by the Sunderland football club chairman, Ellis Short.
I played there when it was first opened in the early nineties and thought it was a decent course amid stunning scenery. The transformation from then to now is spectacular.
I played with my long time friend and fellow professional golfer, David Thomson, who is the director of golf at Skibo.
As we ambled round, he pointed out and explained the changes that have taken place during the past two years. The course has been re-routed, the gorse, or whinz as it is known there, has been cleared and that has given way to natural grasses which have been planted in strategic areas.
There have been some other subtle changes here and there and the end product is superb.
It is adjacent to the Dornoch Firth and because of all the clearing work the vistas now are even more extensive as well as beautiful. Half an hour spent by the Salmon ladder is more than therapeutic and its family of Ospreys working for their young is inspirational.
Having hosted the Northern Open for a few years, it will host more events in the future as along with the majestic setting is a tough examination for even the most gifted golfer.
Tradition
Only two miles away is Royal Dornoch, one of the world's gems. Thirty four years ago, I won my first professional tournament there and it has changed little since.
A Donald Ross course that has stood the test of time, Royal Dornoch is a must-play for any golfer who loves tradition and links golf on a course that would be in many people's top ten worldwide.
Its list of honorary members includes Ben Crenshaw, who believes this is one of the true greats of seaside golf courses.
It was like going back in time, golf in its rawest form, and on the bar was a collection box for junior members - so when the members buy a drink their change is deposited there giving encouragement and help to the youngsters who are the next generation of the club.
The juniors or new members play the secondary course, the "Struie" before progressing onto the Championship course. The Struie many years ago was only six holes but today having grown up it sits nicely alongside its famous partner.
Affection
The worldwide golf schedule means that April is my annual holiday period and of course all too soon it was time to head home.
My four days however, was as good as a month's rest and there was not a cloud in the sky for the duration. The three courses could have held a tournament at a day's notice such was the splendid condition they were presented in, evidence that they are treated with tender care and affection. I shall return, sooner rather than later.
So it's back to work and a very busy spell ahead on Sky Sports.
Myself and Rob Lee will take you through the Wells Fargo this week from Quail Hollow.
Rory McIlroy defends the title he won last year when over the weekend he had 17 birdies and an eagle.
Changes
From there it's a short trip to Sawgrass for the Players Championship which, I don't know about you, I feel has lost a little of its sparkle with the move from March to May.
The added conversation piece will be that Rory and Lee Westwood will not be playing as they are not full members of the USPGA Tour.
They like to call it the 'fifth major'; one can hardly call it that when the world number one and six are not there competing.
So I think there will be some changes in both the rules and the date in the months ahead.
Don't be surprised if the Players moves back to its original date just two weeks before the Masters. Right now it sits uncomfortably in the middle of regular Tour events.
We travel from there to Spain for the Volvo Match Play before heading to the European Tour headquarters for the BMW PGA Championship where further changes have been made to the excellent job Ernie Els engineered at the famous west course.
Following that, we will return to Celtic Manor for the first time since that memorable first four days of October last year.
The clubs then are back in hibernation; mind you, the way I used them on my travels, that doesn't come as a great disappointment!!
For you, the season is just beginning, so enjoy your golf and I hope you reach some of the targets you have set yourself this year.
