Blairgowrie (Lansdowne)

The Lansdowne Course is one of two cracking 18-hole layouts at the Blairgowrie Golf Club, located in the heart of Perthshire.

Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas were the men behind the final design of the Lansdowne Course, adding to the work that had already been done by Dr Alister MacKenzie and James Braid at the venue over the last century.

Pine trees, birch trees, plenty of sand and runoffs from greens are all part of the challenges that the Lansdowne throws up. Oh, and it’s 7,000 yards from the tips... 

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The history of Blairgowrie Golf Club dates back all the way to 1889. It began with an original 9-hole course, which would become the Wee Course.

Dr Alister MacKenzie was the man behind the original design of the Rosemount 18-hole layout, which opened in 1927. James Braid then added a further eight holes, with a mixture becoming what is now known as the Rosemount Course. The rest were added to in the 1970s by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, becoming the Lansdowne Course.

Both courses at the club have hosted big events over the years. The British Seniors Amateur Stroke Play Championship, and the British Boys Home Internationals have been played at Blairgowrie, while Greg Norman secured his first European Tour title at Blairgowrie, winning the Martini Tournament in 1977.

The Lansdowne Course is the secondary layout at Blairgowrie Golf Club, but don’t be fooled into thinking it is an easy ride. The layout is a challenging route, which sees tree-lined fairways. Accuracy off the tee is the key to scoring well on the Lansdowne, avoiding the swathes of birch and pine trees. From the tips, the Lansdowne runs past 7,000 yards, and from the Whites, it is still more than 6,800 yards.

It begins with one of its gentler holes. The opening test on the Lansdowne is a 490-yard par 5 which moves round to the left. A drive carrying 240 yards will see you clear the two fairway bunkers on the left, and give you a shot at making it to the green with your second. Those laying up can make the most of the downhill chute around the 130-yard mark to kick their ball on before playing their third. The 2nd is a narrow par 4 of 385 yard, with the avoidance of a mound on the right side of the fairway being the key off the tee. At 445 yards, the 3rd is one of the longer par 4s on the Lansdowne. There are only two bunkers, but the fairway does camber from left to right when you get closer to the green.

The 4th brings in OOB down the left side, with trees surrounding the hole. A bunker sits on either side of the green, while there are runoffs behind the surface. The opening par 3 on the course comes at the 5th. It is 170 yards, and the green is shaped like a bike saddle – a very narrow entrance and getting wider at the back. There are runoffs around the left, right and back of the green, so accuracy is vital. Three fairway bunkers are the obstacle off the tee on 6. Once again, there are runoffs behind the green on this 405-yard par 4. The 7th is another long par 4. It is 490 yards from the tips, and 450 yards from the Whites. Two fairway bunkers are in play off the tee, while trees surround the putting surface, making it feel narrower than it actually is.

The 8th is a 540-yard par 5, and one with out of bounds down the entirety of the left side. It will be a three-shotter for most, especially with a narrow entrance to the green which will feel a long way away, even after a big drive. The 9th is only 150 yards, and the green is large enough to feel like it is a good birdie opportunity! The back nine begins with a tricky par 4. Again, trees line either side of the fairway, while two bunkers sit short of the green, making the approach more difficult. 11 is only 390 yards, but it is one of the toughest tests on the property. It is one of the narrowest fairways to find on the Lansdowne, thanks to the trees on either side and the lone bunker down the left side of the short grass. The green is large and wide, but has runoffs behind once more.

12 is another par 4 in that similar vein, though it does open out from the trees around the 250-yard mark. There is no protection by the green in the form of sand, but again, there are runoffs on three sides which will lead to tricky up-and-downs. 13 is a slight dog-leg left par 4, one that has a 40-yard long putting surface to deal with. Find the wrong section of the green on the 13th and you may well be three-putting. The longest of the par 3s comes next, with the 210-yard 14th having all the hallmarks of the Lansdowne Course. Runoffs behind and to the right of the green, trees lining either side and two well-placed bunkers add to the danger.

The closing stretch begins with the Stroke Index 1. The 15th is a 435-yard par 4 with a narrow, tree-lined fairway. The back tee is 90 yards behind the Yellow tee box, and buried deep in the trees, making it feel more claustrophobic than it really is. The green is another bike saddle, with the narrow section at the front, guarded by a bunker front left. 16 offers a little bit of respite, with a generous fairway. Make sure to work out where the pin is before sending your approach towards this diagonally angled green. 17 is the last of the par 5s and the longest hole on the course. Coming in at more than 550 yards from the Whites, it will be a three-shotter for most, with the aiming point being down the right side to open out the rest of this dog-leg left. The closing hole on the Lansdowne is another tough par 4. OOB lines the right side, while the green is separated from the fairway, with four bunkers acting as the protection. A par here is a good way to finish your round.

Where is Blairgowrie Golf Club located?

The Blairgowrie Golf Club is just to the south of the town of Blairgowrie, which in itself is just south of the Cairngorms National Park in central Scotland. The course sits just off the A93, which runs between Perth and Aberdeen. Blairgowrie is less than 20 miles from the city of Dundee, which is to the southeast of the venue.

Dundee Airport is the nearest in terms of air travel to Blairgowrie. However, it is one of the smaller airports in the country. Instead, most visitors will choose to fly into either Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports, both of which are within a two-hour drive from Blairgowrie. Dundee is also home to the nearest train station, which is around 20 miles from the golf club.

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

Along with the Lansdowne Course, Blairgowrie Golf Club also has the Rosemount Course – which also features on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. Downfield, Forfar and Pitlochry are all within 25 miles of Blairgowrie as well. Auchterarder and the trio of layouts at Gleneagles (King’s, Queen’s, PGA Centenary) are also within 35 miles.

What golf facilities does Blairgowrie Golf Club offer?

As well as having two sublime championship golf courses, Blairgowrie is also home to a Wee Course, which has 9-holes. There are also wonderful practice facilities at this Scottish venue. There is a driving range with covered bays to hit from, along with a short game area which features a putting green that runs at the same speed as the greens you will find out on both courses.

What are the green fees at Blairgowrie Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Blairgowrie 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 Blairgowrie, visit their website here.