Auchterarder

Auchterarder Golf Club is one of several great golf courses in Perthshire, playing through the trees and with the A9 alongside it.

The club has one of the most famous golfing venues as its next door neighbour, with the Gleneagles Resort sitting to its west.

In its own right, though, Auchterarder is a cracking little parkland layout. Although it is just 5,800 yards, it will test every aspect of your game with its six glorious short holes. 

Visit Auchterarder's website here. 

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Auchterarder has a long and storied history, but it was not until recently (in Scottish standards anyway) that the current course was constructed.

Golf was played in the tow prior to the First World War, but the need for food during that time, and the Second World War in the 1940s, led to the course being taken over for agriculture.

It was not until 1979 that the new 18-hole layout was constructed and opened. In recent years, new greens and drainage systems have been implemented to keep improving the course.

At just 5,800 yards, Auchterarder is certainly not the longest course you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. However, that does not mean it is any less difficult. It is a par 69 parkland layout that offers up glorious views of the Scottish hills. There are tree-lined fairways and a collection of six lovely par 3s to work your way through to try and make a score at this Perthshire venue.

The opening tee shot is played through a funnel of trees and over a wall to find what is a generous fairway. OOB looms down the right side thanks to the practice ground, but this 390-yard par 4 is a rather gentle start to proceedings. The 2nd is only 315 yards, but again with OOB down its right side thanks to the houses backing on to the course. Four bunkers, including three just shy of the green, add to the danger. 3 is a dog-leg left, and the longer hitters will take their tee shots over the corner. For those that cannot do so, aim out to the right of the fairway to give yourself the best angle into this green. The first of those six par 3s comes at the 4th. It is the shortest of the lot at just 140 yards from the tips, but it is a wide, two-tiered green, so make sure you find the right section.

The 5th is the Stroke Index 1 at Auchterarder. A 425-yard par 4 that moves round to the left before a downhill approach to a green where you simply mustn’t go long! The 6th is the first of the par 5s. It may only say it is 475 yards, but it plays uphill making it significantly longer. Look left and you will see the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, with the two courses situated next to each other. The only bunkers on 6 come at the green, but you need to make the decision of whether you are laying up or going for it in two!

The tee shot on 7 is played through a long funnel of trees, with anything finding those on the left being in trouble. The hole moves slightly around to the left as well, around the houses, with a long and narrow green awaiting. The 8th is a great short hole. Played in the shadows of the trees, the green is shaped like a bicycle seat, with the narrow part of the putting surface at the front left, expanding out to the back and right. Three bunkers protect the green on this 151-yard par 3. The final hole on the front nine is another par 5, and a good scoring chance. Like the 5th, it plays downhill the same corner of the property, but for those trying to run their approach down the slope to the green, there are two bunkers sitting in front of the surface.

The back nine starts with a pair of par 4s. The former is back up the hill you’ve just walked down, and plays longer than its carded 356 yards. A quartet of bunkers sit on the right side of the landing zone, so avoiding those is a must. Another trap looms by the green, which is two-tiered. 11 is one of the shortest par 4s at Auchterarder at 330 yards. It plays as a slight dog-leg right, to a green guarded by three bunkers.

The 12th is the first of four par 3s in the last seven holes at Auchterarder, all of which are very different. 12 is the shortest of those, at 165 yards, but played to arguably the most difficult green on the property. The 13th is a drivable par 4, playing just 290 yards and downhill. If you opt to go for it, there is also room on all sides, making it an even more enticing option. The 14th is a 205-yard par 3, played over a crest and a bunker to a green that you cannot really see. It is long and narrow, very narrow, so make sure you have your line right off the tee. 15 is the longest hole at Auchterarder. It is 510 yards from the tips, and plays along the southern boundary of the course, with the A824 as part of the danger. It plays slightly uphill, making it a true three-shotter for most. It is a green where you cannot go long, as OOB looms, like it does on the right.

The 16th is the longest of the par 3s. It is 235 yards in length, with the green sitting in a little bowl. A par is a very good score, considering most will be taking a headcover off for their tee shot. The penultimate hole is the Stroke Index 2 – a 440-yard par 4 with OOB down the right once more. A total of six bunkers are dotted down the hole, including two just short of the putting surface. Depending on the wind conditions, this could become a three-shotter. The final hole is an uphill, 185-yard par 3, played to a green with four bunkers. Although a short hole, it is not an easy finish to a round.

Where is Auchterarder Golf Club located?

Auchterarder Golf Club is located in the centre of Perthshire, halfway between the towns of Stirling and Perth on the A9. The road, which runs from Edinburgh up to the Scottish Highlands, runs alongside the southern side of the golf club. It sits just to the southwest of Auchterarder, and it is within a 50-mile drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Thanks to that, both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports – the two biggest and busiest airports in Scotland – are also within 50 miles, making it within range for international travellers. For those using rail services, Gleneagles is the nearest train station to the golf club. It is only a couple of miles from the venue, with services running between Glasgow Queen Street and both Inverness and Dundee on a regular basis.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?  

Next door to Auchterarder sits the glorious resort of Gleneagles. The venue has three courses – the King’s Course, Queen’s Course and PGA Centenary Course – all of which are on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list.

What golf facilities does Auchterarder Golf Club offer?

Auchterarder has a pair of hitting nets next to the clubhouse to allow guests to warm up, along with a short practice area which runs parallel to the opening hole, perfect for wedge play. The putting green sits in front of the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Auchterarder Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Auchterarder Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Auchterarder, visit their website here.