Gleneagles (King's)

The Gleneagles Hotel & Resort is blessed to have three stunning 18-hole layouts, with the King's Course being the premier selection of the trio.

Created by James Braid and opened in 1919, the King's Course is a masterpiece of golf course design, which has tested the skills of golfers, both professional and amateur.

With a rich history of hosting prestigious tournaments and its timeless design philosophy, the King's Course stands as a testament to the beauty and enduring appeal of classic Scottish golf.

 

 

Read our full piece on the Gleneagles Resort here.
Visit the Gleneagles website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.
 

The King's Course was designed by James Braid, a legendary Scottish golfer, five-time winner of the Open Championship and course architect. The course was officially opened for play in 1919, just after World War I, as part of the Gleneagles Hotel and Golf Resort. Its construction and design were influenced by the desire to create a course that would be both enjoyable and challenging for golfers of all skill levels.

Over the years, the King's Course has hosted several prestigious tournaments and events. In 1936, the King's Course hosted the Curtis Cup, a women's amateur golf competition between teams from the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. This event brought attention to the course and showcased its beauty to a global audience. 

The King's Course was the venue for the Scottish Open between 1987 and 1994, with Ian Woosnam being victorious twice in that time. These tournaments further solidified the course's reputation as a championship layout.

Like many classic golf courses, the King's Course has undergone periodic renovations and maintenance to keep it in top condition while preserving its original design philosophy. These updates have included improvements to drainage systems, bunker refurbishments, and tree management.
 

The King's Course is the premier course at the Gleneagles Hotel, a resort which itself sits atop the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Resorts list. One of three layouts, it is actually only 6,800 yards from the back tees, which means it certainly isn't the longest course you will find. There are good scoring chances, and holes that can easily wreck your card, but the number of teeing options also makes it generous for golfers of all abilities!

 

At under 400 yards and with an invitingly wide fairway to hit with your first swing of the day, it takes something fairly ugly not to feel ‘in’ the hole after your drive on the 1st. But while the tee shot is forgiving, the second is a devious challenge, the acutely elevated approach played to a target atop a hill so steep, it feels incredibly harsh. It is predictably easy to come up short and run up a quick six on this par 4, but the view from the elevated 2nd tee can help soothe any angst. It offers an especially good panorama across the glens and now is a much more inviting shot by virtue of the increased playability the resort has been promoting, with rough on the left here being cut back to provide a much wider target.

After the stellar opening pair, highlights come quickly on the King’s, Scotland’s finest inland venue. The rollercoaster 3rd is the next, with a fairway dominated by large mounds and deep hollows then a marker post to fire your approach towards given the green that is totally obscured by a high ridge. The 4th is the longest par 4 on the course at almost 470 yards, and it is one where a par will only come after two (or three) good shots. Everything needs to be down the right side, thanks to bunkers in the fairway, and a green that slopes from right to left.

 

The 5th is the first of the par 3s, and features a table-top green. Bunkers sit in front, and you cannot go long. Club selection is the key and putting a solid swing on it! The first par 5 comes at the 6th, and at just 480 yards, even from the tips, this is a scoring opportunity. A semi-blind drive gets you on your way at 7, with long being much better than short on the approach to the putting surface. At 178 yards, the same as the 5th, the 8th is not a short par 3. The green is on an angle and might require three clubs more should the flag be at the back.

 

The 9th sees you tee off down into the valley, before rising back up to the green. A bank on the right side of the surface can be used to your advantage, but anything left will leave a treacherous up-and-down. The back nine starts with a 500-yard par 5, where left is not the play... The long and narrow green has a pair of traps on either side. 11 is the longest par 3 on the course at 230 yards from the back tees. With five bunkers surrounding the two-tiered surface, the only thing we can say is good luck! At 442 yards, the 12th is no pushover either. A blind tee shot over a ridge comes before you then attack a small, circular green.
 

The 13th is called ‘Braid’s Brawest’, the name he used to give his favourite hole of a course. On the King's, it is a strong par 4 with a fascinating S-shaped fairway across the glacial terrain. At just 310 yards, the 14th is a great scoring chance. Some might fancy having a go if they think they can reach, but laying up to the right area of the fairway leave a good opportunity. You might need to take it, considering the 15th is also a par 4, but plays 150 yards longer! With a front-to-back sloping green, a low runner of an approach is best if the flag is at the back.

 

Nine bunkers guard the green on the shortest hole on the layout. The 16th is only 158 yards, and all you can see is sand when you look up from your ball. 17 is a strategic hole with a fairway that slopes from left to right. At 375 yards, it is not the longest par 4, but it is one that you need to think about. The closing hole on the King's Course is a 525-yard par 5, and one final chance to finish with a birdie. Those that can carry the ridge on the fairway have a chance of getting home in two, to what is the largest green on the course.

 

Gleneagles is just outside the town of Auchterarder, between Perth and Dunblane, in Scotland. Dundee is the nearest major city, around 40 miles to the east of the resort. The Scottish capital, Edinburgh, is just under 50 miles to the south. 

Gleneagles Railway Station underwent major restorations ahead of the 2014 Ryder Cup, with ScotRail, the Caledonian Sleeper and LNER all operating services that stop at Gleneagles. The station is a five-minute drive from the resort’s entrance. For those flying in from abroad, Edinburgh Airport is the busiest airport in Scotland, and it around 50 miles away, with a normal drive taking just under an hour to reach the Gleneagles Resort.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?
Along with the King's Course, the venue is also home to the Queen's Course and the PGA Centenary Course - the latter playing host to the 2014 Ryder Cup. Auchterarder, which also occupies a place on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list, borders the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles

What golf facilities does Gleneagles offer?  
Along with the three championship golf courses, the Gleneagles Resort also has the 9-hole Wee Course and the PGA National Academy, the latter being home to a full-length driving range and an incredible short game area.
  

What are the green fees at Gleneagles?
The price of a green fee at Gleneagles 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 Gleneagles, visit their website here.

 

 

Read our full piece on the Gleneagles Resort here.
Visit the Gleneagles website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.