CASTLE STUART head green keeper Chris Haspell is sure the Inverness course will provide the ideal test for golf's top stars ahead of The Open Championship.
Some of the biggest names will descend on the Highlands for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open this week just days before heading to Royal Lytham for a shot at the Claret Jug.
"It is a sterner test than it was last year," said Haspell.
"I would say it is probably two or three shots harder than it was in 2011 with the added length and the thicker rough. Generally, the maturity of the course is much better.
"We listened to the feedback we got last year. Most of it was positive but we are happy to listen to positive criticism.
"If there are people saying the same thing then we can react to it, without impacting too greatly on our everyday golfer. We have kept the width but the rough is a little higher.
"Playing links is a different type of golf. If you can acclimatise then it will be an advantage.
"Any chance you have to play links golf before the Open has to be a good one. Hopefully the players come here and prepare themselves well for The Open.
"There can be a real exposure to the wind here. We are looking at about 10 feet on the stimpmeter, which isn't that quick but if you get wind, we don't want a delay.
"I am a great believer in that the best man will win anyway."