Designer of famous Highland golf course passes away
The acclaimed and visionary co-designer of Castle Stuart Golf Links has died in California almost exactly 10 years since the opening of the internationally-renowned golf course he helped create.
Mark Parsinen, 70, who was also the co-designer of Kingsbarns Golf Links near St Andrews, suffered a stroke at home last week and passed away in hospital yesterday surrounded by his family.
Friends and colleagues at Castle Stuart have sent their condolences to Mark’s wife of 38 years, Dede, their children Cammy, Jenny and Samantha and their four grandchildren.
Mark Parsinen, who was a managing partner in the business, saw it as his destiny to create a major golfing resort at Castle Stuart and the ‘Pebble Beach of the British Isles’.
The championship course he designed with fellow American Gil Hanse opened in the summer of 2009 and within 18 months staged the European Tour’s Scottish Open, the first time such a major golf event had been held in the Highlands.
The course, with spectacular views overlooking the Moray Firth, has so far held the prestigious tournament four times, from 2011-2013 and again in 2016.
It has won widespread praise as a contemporary classic among Scotland’s rich heritage of links courses, one that challenges the best players, but is enjoyable and playable for every-day golfers of all abilities.
His vision for the resort near Inverness included a Par 3 course, which he designed, a second championship course, as well as hotels and on-site lodges for visiting golfers.
Grant Sword, also a managing partner at Castle Stuart, said: “Mark was a friend first and a partner second. His knowledge of golf and design was inspiring and his enthusiasm for his work highly infectious.
“He was immensely proud of what he achieved here, but his vision for the resort was much bigger. As difficult as it will be without him, we must continue his legacy and fulfill his ambitions for a place he held dear to his heart.”
Stuart McColm, Castle Stuart’s general manager, said: “Everyone at Castle Stuart, and the wider golfing world, is today mourning a man whose foresight, creativity and intelligence made him one of the great golf architects of modern times.
“He helped create something special at Castle Stuart and that, along with the other courses he designed or influenced, will be his legacy.
“But he was also a charming and engaging person, and a great friend to many at Castle Stuart, the Highlands and Scotland, and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go to Dede and the rest of Mark’s family and colleagues.
“Words can’t describe the feelings that have been around since first learning of his stroke some days ago and today is the end of a massive chapter in the continuing evolution of Castle Stuart.
“We all have a duty now to continue delivering his vision.”
Mr Parsinen became involved with Castle Stuart in 2004. Ironically, he visited the wrong site, having incorrectly followed directions to a farmhouse then on the site: “Clearly this was not the result of some grand plan or an organised approach to one’s career, but sometimes things are simply serendipitous. You just are where you are and you make the most of it.”
In the same year Castle Stuart opened it was ranked at 56 on Golf Magazine's “gold standard” list of the Top 100 Courses in the World and it has stayed in among the leading courses internationally ever since.
