2011 Scottish Open set for Castle Stuart

THE Barclays Scottish Open looks set to be held at Castle Stuart, near Inverness, next year before moving to The Renaissance Club in East Lothian in 2012.

A decision regarding the event's future is believed to be imminent and it appears these two new courses are both going to get their chance.

Speaking in Singapore yesterday, Europe's winning-Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie said: "Castle Stuart for one year and then the Renaissance Club is a good decision.

"But then with any national Open, it should probably move around the country. I've heard Castle Stuart is a great golf course, and it's in a great links area of Scotand what with Nairn and Tain.

"It's a long way north for everybody especially as the next week is the Open Championship at Royal St. Georges. but it will be two links golf courses back-to-back and that's what the players have wanted, so we look forward to it."

As reported in The Scotsman earlier this week, both courses were visited by European Tour officials recently after it was decided that alternate venues should be looked at.

Loch Lomond, which has staged the Scottish Open since 1996, is still under contract for next year's event, but it now appears it will be heading for the Highlands instead.

It is believed that thousands of hotel beds have been provisionally booked in the Inverness area and confirmation could come as early as Monday.

It still remains to be seen what will happen in 2013, when The Open is at Muirfield.