gleneagles (Queen's) - 16 POINTS
Gleneagles is definitely one of the best short courses I have played. It's only 5,660 yards from the yellow tees and still under 6,000 from the white. If you're on your game the course won't beat you up and it's really fun to play, set in the most spectacular surroundings. While the course isn't long (there is only one par 5 and five par 3s) it is not without it’s challenges, this is no pitch and putt.
The course is probably more open and straightforward than the King's. The par 3s are particularly strong, the 13th is a flick of a wedge downhill before the 14th tests you with a long iron or utility to a two tier green up the hill. There are few blind shots and plenty of opportunities to take a punt with some risk and reward shots, the short par 4 15th being a great example. It's only 250 yards but if you're not driving well then a mid iron may be a better play. The 18th finished in front of the clubhouse and is a lovely closing hole, a downhill drive to a large green allows you to really attack the last.
If you are in Gleneagles to play the King's then I would thoroughly recommend adding the Queen's to your itinerary. The views here are wonderful and it would be a shame to rush away when so much fun can be had on this lovely course.
BOOKING THE COURSE
Gleneagles has some ridiculous ideas as to the price of a round of golf on their courses. If you book direct with the club as a non-resident then then the green fees range from £95 in the winter months to an eye watering £325 in the summer. I don't believe that this gives any kind of value. From time to time they do offer twilight deals and special shoulder season prices but the website is often silent on the subject so I would advise giving them a call and asking what they can do for you.
Another option is to look at combining accommodation with golf. The hotel itself can be extremely expensive if you book directly and you don’t get much of a discount on the golf. However, if you go through a golf tour operator like golfbreaks.com then the price can actually drop nicely as well as getting a good price for the golf. Look out for some of the offers they have there and again it's always worth giving them a call to see what they can do.
Prices correct as of July 2023.
TOUR TIPS
There is something pretty special about Gleneagles - it is in many ways like a step back into a bygone era. The hotel sits above the golf courses and is a fairly grand affair. If your budget can stretch to it then it would be hard not enjoy a night's stay here. There is a range of restaurants from the informal to the Michelin Starred Andrew Fairlie, a good swimming pool/spa as well as plenty of Scottish country pursuits. Golf-wise the King's is the best course on the site - it's challenging but never unfair and the course fits in wonderfully to the surrounding. Forget the PGA course, it would be a real waste of your time and will add nothing to any Scottish golf tour.
If you are not staying at the hotel then the nearby town of Auchterarder has a couple of nice restaurants and pubs as well as some B&Bs to stay in but you may want to go to nearby Perth which is a pleasant city of 50,000 people on the banks of the Tay. I haven't played any of the other local courses but Blairgowrie, the other side of Perth and about 45 minutes drive away, has a good reputation. St Andrews and Carnoustie are both only an hour away and you are less than an hour from Edinburgh airport so it's pretty easy to add Gleneagles to most itineraries on the east of Scotland.
A word though on when to visit. While most links courses can be enjoyed all year around you can only really plan to go to Gleneagles in from April to October. Outside of that it may be playable but do not bank on it. The courses can get very wet and are often under snow as well. Even if they are open they can be very boggy so best to plan on a summer visit unless you get lucky out of season.
CONTACT DETAILS
The Gleneagles Hotel
Auchterarder
Perthshire
Scotland PH3 1NF
Phone: +44 (0)1764 662231
Web: http://www.gleneagles.com
