Scottish Highlands Golf: 2026 Season Outlook
The 2026 story in the Highlands has a clear headline: a brand new Tom Doak links opens at Cabot Highlands in May, turning the Inverness coast into a genuine 36 hole destination and adding to a corner of Scotland that already holds Royal Dornoch, Nairn and Castle Stuart. Here is what is changing, when to come and what it costs.
The headline: Old Petty opens at Cabot Highlands
The big 2026 development is the opening of Old Petty, the new eighteen hole links at Cabot Highlands near Inverness designed by Tom Doak, which is scheduled to open on 15 May 2026. It joins the existing Castle Stuart Golf Links to give Cabot Highlands two championship eighteens on one site, a transformation that turns a single great round into a stay and play destination in its own right.
That matters for trip building. Until now a Highlands itinerary meant stitching together courses spread along the coast, with Royal Dornoch an hour or more north of Inverness. A 36 hole anchor at Cabot Highlands gives visitors a base with two world class links on the doorstep, and early demand for Old Petty's debut season is expected to be strong, so book well ahead if the opening year is the draw.
Season and weather: April to October
Highlands golf runs broadly from April to October, with the main season concentrated from May into early autumn. Midsummer brings the region's great hidden asset, the long northern daylight that can keep you playing links until well past nine in the evening, which is why a Highlands golf day can stretch to thirty six holes without rushing.
The trade offs are real. Late spring and summer bring the midges to inland and sheltered spots, the links firm up beautifully through July and August, and shoulder season golf in April and October can deliver superb value and quiet tee sheets at the price of cooler, more changeable weather. There is no bad month inside the season, only different characters to it.
Green fees and where the value sits
At the top end, Royal Dornoch's championship green fee sits around 360 pounds for 2026 and Cabot Highlands is priced up to about 385 pounds, putting the marquee Highlands rounds in the same bracket as Scotland's most sought after links. Golf tourism is booming across the region, with estimates putting the Highlands golf economy in the tens of millions of pounds a year, and demand at the headline clubs is high.
The value, as ever in the Highlands, is in the supporting cast. Brora, Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Nairn and Nairn Dunbar offer wonderful traditional links at a fraction of the flagship fees, and a smart Highlands itinerary pairs one or two marquee rounds with these gems. These are indicative 2026 figures that move year to year, so always confirm directly before booking.
What it means for your 2026 trip, and our take
For a 2026 Highlands trip the calendar now has a natural focal point. The opening of Old Petty in mid May makes Cabot Highlands an obvious base, from which Royal Dornoch to the north and the Nairn and Moray coast to the east are both within reach. Come in the main summer season for the long evenings and firm links, or trade weather for value and solitude in the April and October shoulders.
Our take is that the Highlands have quietly become one of the strongest links destinations in the world, and the new Doak course only sharpens that. Build the trip around a 36 hole Cabot Highlands base, add Dornoch as the pilgrimage round, and fill the rest with the under priced gems that make the region special. Tell us your dates and group and a concierge will assemble and cost it.
Plan your Scottish Highlands golf trip
From the new Cabot Highlands links to a Royal Dornoch pilgrimage and the value gems in between, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
When is golf season in the Scottish Highlands?
The Highlands season runs roughly April to October, with the main season from May into early autumn. Midsummer brings very long daylight for late evening golf, while April and October offer quieter tee sheets and lower rates in exchange for cooler, more changeable weather.
When does the new Old Petty course at Cabot Highlands open?
Old Petty, the new Tom Doak designed links at Cabot Highlands near Inverness, is scheduled to open on 15 May 2026, joining Castle Stuart Golf Links to make Cabot Highlands a 36 hole destination. Always confirm the opening and tee availability directly before booking.
How much are green fees in the Highlands in 2026?
Marquee rounds are premium: Royal Dornoch sits around 360 pounds and Cabot Highlands is priced up to about 385 pounds for 2026. Traditional links such as Brora, Fortrose and Nairn cost far less. These are indicative figures, so confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course opening, season and green fee details verified June 2026 from Cabot Highlands, Royal Dornoch and Highlands golf sources; fees are indicative and change year to year, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.