Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

New golf and residential development kicks off on Scotland’s northeast coast

Nicklaus Companies and developer FM Group are collaborating on a new golf and residential community in Stonehaven, Scotland.

The project was first mooted 20 years ago when FM bought land for a golf course and homes but encountered various obstacles and delays over the years. Now, though, the 1,600-acre development – located on the Aberdeenshire coast – has kicked off with the launch of The Nicklaus Village, which will comprise fully-serviced self-build plots and five-bedroom luxury homes.

The development will be the first Jack Nicklaus-branded residential golf community in Europe. It includes luxury homes at Ury Estate built around an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and a revived Ury House – the ground floor of the derelict nineteenth century mansion will be turned into the clubhouse.

“Here we are just south of Aberdeen in Stonehaven with the beautiful castle on the hill,” said Nicklaus. “You stand up there with the castle, and you see the bay and the water. It’s a pretty view and pretty area, with great tradition. We are trying to create not only a golf course, but a way of life around what we’ve done, what I’ve done. If we can do that within the community, participating in the growth and feeling of the community, that is what we like to do.”

The golf course, which is currently under construction – most homes within the residential community will have views of the layout – is expected to open in 2024. Graeme Webster of Team Niblick has been selected as the construction manager for the golf course.

Watch: A visualisation by Harris Kalinka of Nicklaus Design’s proposals.

“From the moment Jack and our design team set foot on this historic piece of property over a decade ago, we knew it was going to be special in many ways,” said Andy O’Brien, president of Nicklaus Brands.

Dirk Bouts, senior designer at Nicklaus Design added: “Ury Castle is a stunning piece of property in one of the great golf areas in the world. Jack made sure that the golf course relates to the castle as much as possible. He also maximised the use of the existing river and burns, incorporating other features like stone walls and bridges, playing through treed areas and open fields and, of course, taking advantage of the magnificent views all around.”

The Village is the first of three phases of development, including Golden Bear Homes and The Jack Nicklaus Retreat, with 500 homes to be built in total. “Ury Estate is a unique development,” said Jonathon Milne, founder of FM Group. “And we are delighted to be creating the opportunity for people to buy or build their dream home at the course.”

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Slideshow HTML
  • Ury Estate
    Harris Kalinka

    Nicklaus Companies and developer FM Group are collaborating on a new golf and residential project in Stonehaven, Scotland

  • Ury Estate
    Harris Kalinka

    A visualisation of the seventh hole on the Nicklaus course

  • Ury Estate
    Harris Kalinka

    The site’s existing river will feature within the course’s design, including at the eighth

  • Ury Estate
    Harris Kalinka

    Holes will play around a revived Ury House

  • Ury Estate
    Harris Kalinka

    Most homes in the residential community will have views of the golf course

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Harris Kalinka
Richard Humphreys

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