CASTLE STUART COULD BE TOUGHENED UP FOR NEXT YEAR

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
The combination of a lack of wind, generous fairways, big and soft greens and the absence of punishing rough left Castle Stuart a sitting duck for the class players of the European Tour in the Barclays Scottish Open last weekend.
Well over 100 players scored par or better in the first round ... the cut came at four under par after 36 holes ... and 19 under par was Luke Donald's winning total at the end of only 54 holes.
So are the powers-at-be at Castle Stuart quite happy for their new course, with its spectacular views over the Moray Firth, etc, etc, to be regarded as possible the easiest on the whole European Tour?
Hopefully not.
I don't know if there is space available to lengthen the 7,050yd course off Castle Stuart's back tees but it is clearly too short and too forgiving at its present length.
Even the US Women's Open at the weekend was played over a course of more than 7000 yards. Tour professionals are so skilful and hit the ball so far nowadays that we are moving towards 8,000yd courses being the norm for their capabilities.
Even the US men's college circuit tournaments were being played over courses well in excess of 7,000yd in its 2010-2011 season.
PGA professional Fraser Cromarty, the sales and marketing director at Castle Stuart, said today when asked if there were plans to make the course a sterner test for next year's Barclays Scottish Open:"This is something that is going to be talked about in our de-brief over the coming weeks."