Photos: Castle Stuart Saturday

Television does not do Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen's Castle Stuart design justice, as the scale is much grander and the elevation change stark between the lower waterside holes and those on the upper shelf.The bunkering is aging beautifully and the overall design is appears to be a perfect blend of fun and challenge.

A few shots from round three of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. Francesco Molinari holds a one shot lead.

Comments

[Sun Mountain Man]

The course looks phenomenal and that it's been there forever.

[JT]

I see you ran into Gamez and Daly's apparel sponsors, are they going to hook you up?

[fourputter]

On TV today the less gloomy weather, with at least a hint of sunshine, brought out the colours and the perspective of the course much better. The production of the TV broadcast also has been much better than last year's (which was memorably appalling), so I think viewers are getting a much improved presentation of the course, although there does seem still to be a very limited number of holes being shown.
I guess the production is being done by the BBC, which (says it) has very little to spend on golf (it seems to all go on Formula 1 car racing, which is unwatchable, except by the brain dead). But it does have Alliss commentating, and this afternoon he was exceedingly generous in his praise of St Augustine, and the kindness shown him there during the Hall of Fame stuff, and in the US in general..

[Ernst Stavro Blofeld]

Seeing Gil's style, reminds me of what a modern day version of the golf courses seen in Horace Hutchinson's classic 1897 tome, British Golf Links must have looked like.

[Joel]

Does it look hard and play easy? The scoring this year (and last year) seems very low.

[A3]

Just from the looks of the course itself and not the scenery Castle Stuart 1 Trump Scotland 1/2.

[Ernst Stavro Blofeld]

Some photos for comparison:

Geoff's pic:
http://www.geoffshackelford.com/picture/scotopen12bunkerties.jpg?pictureId=15616098
From British Golf Links:
http://i48.tinypic.com/15naurb.jpg

[mh.morrow@sky.com]

“Seeing Gil's style, reminds me of what a modern day version of the golf courses seen in Horace Hutchinson's classic 1897 tome, British Golf Links must have looked like”

I fear SW that you have not as usual done your homework. Where in the book or in GB did the Designers of 19th Century use fake rotten sleepers or other assorted items to age their courses. In fact why would they require their courses to look old? It was mentioned that a certain modern designer used these features to age his course, yet they look exactly what they are, fake and a minor detract from what was actually achieved in other words pointless.

I do not recall the 19th Century Designers wasting their efforts on fake or pointless, perhaps you may know better?

[mh.morrow@sky.com]

Scott thanks for proving my point, Sleepers used are fake and just there for the age effect, while in the 1890' the sleepers were used to retain the sand. Other photos on other bunkers prove the point even better.

[Seán O'Nuallain]

The fake disintegrating castle bothers me more than the fake rotten sleepers.

[OWGR Fan]

@Joel..... Wet course with no major wind either year of the event so far.

[Paboy]

Someone should edge those bunkers

[Ted Mitchell]

I'm more bothered by the fake monarchy.

[Jack Arnold]

Fabulous pics.

Can someone get Melvyn a blog so we can really ignore him?

[mh.morrow@sky.com]

Fake is indeed the name here and not just re the course.

[@#$$^&]

Melvin--SHUT THE HELL UP!! Your act is tired and old like you...Are they tired of your blabbering brook of b.s. down at the pub? I'm sure they are....
Note to Geoff
Please get rid of this guy...Shackelfordian he is not!

[Farouck]

Melvyn, 2 years ago when you started beating the sleeper drum we heard you, last year you bored us and this year we just don't care. The course looks great and seems like it is fun too play. Isn't that all we can ask ?

[Tighthead]

Melvyn, the age of the sleepers have sweet Fannie Adams to do with how the course plays. Maybe if you played golf you would get that.

As for being related to OTM - "some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple" - Barry Switzer. Your connection to OTM gives you no greater knowledge or voice, and your constant bleating about your lineage suggests that you know that in your heart.

[Tommy Naccarato]

Emailed with Geoff; Melvyn is now free to find another outlet which to bloviate.

[digsouth]

Don't listen, Melvin... you are cheap entertainment, Now look out front, I think some kids are on your lawn.

[Tommy Naccarato]

Looking at the photos, how can one say that the sleepers in Geoff's modern photo aren't bulkheading that face? It looks like it to me!

Seriously, the course looks mesmerizing.

[gov. lepetomane]

I enjoyed the photos, Geoff. Keep up the good work.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Great photographs! When I win the lottery I plan to go there. Better start buying tickets. Melvyn is harmless. But he does remind me of someone I worked with once. A real genius. Took only a few weeks for him to alienate everyone in the lab, and this was a recurring theme as he moved from place to place until be was out of science. Of course it was "our" fault, every time.

Tighthead +1. This will be beyond Melvyn's ken, but at least 30 years ago Joe Paterno allowed as how he couldn't retire and leave college football to Jackie Sherrill and Barry Switzer. Talk about karma biting someone in his sanctimonious ass...

[Hawkeye]

Melvyn, you are perfectly entitled to express your opinion, but since everything you say sooner or later evolves into a tirade against carts (hardly the biggest problem in golf, in my and most golfers´ opinion) it’s very hard to take you seriously. And while you’re equally entitled to feel proud of your ancestry (the main reason you post under your real name), most of us judge people based on their personal qualities rather than personal “lineage”, so your constant reference to this only further undermines your credibility.

[D. maculata]

With apologies to Andrew Bennet.....

If ye happen tae speak
Tae a lad wi' a cleek,
Or a lass wi' a club or a caddie,
They'll be donnart and raw,
And nae golfers ata',
If they've no' heard o' Melvyn the braw.