Old Petty is the second 18-hole course at Cabot Highlands, built right next to Castle Stuart. Tom Doak designed it, with his long-time associate Clyde Johnson leading the project. Golfers could play it in a preview window in August and September 2025, and it officially opened on 15 May 2026. The course is named after the nearby Old Petty Church, built in 1839, and runs along the tidal estuary of the Moray Firth. It plays to a par of 71 over 7,080 yards from the back tees, and Castle Stuart is in view from 13 of the holes.
I played Old Petty on a bitterly cold but almost windless October day. The lack of wind probably helped my score. When the wind picks up, the course becomes much harder to play. That said, it is precisely how different the course is from the Castle Stuart layout that makes Cabot Highlands an even more interesting destination. The fairways at Old Petty are wider, and the whole course is much more open than at Castle Stuart. The greens are true masterpieces and, just a few months after opening, already in excellent condition. My personal highlights: the 13th hole, a short par 4, is beautifully laid out, and the gently rising 10th fairway is a real visual treat. I’ll definitely be back!
