Gleneagles
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(King’s)
Gleneagles (King’s)
Gleneagles is set in rolling countryside with a panorama of the
Ochil Hills. The land is perfect for a golf course… or three of
them as is the case here. Many say that the King’s course and
Carnoustie are James Braid’s finest works – although Brora
might disagree. Here, he designed both the King’s and Queen’s
courses, and they opened in 1919. The King’s is the big course and
it demands all your shot-making skills and club selection as you
ramble over ever-lilting terrain. It is not massively long which
only serves to ramp up the fun factor… but accuracy is critical on
approach shots and bravery will reap rewards. The shapeliness
of the landscape, the presence of the heather, gorse, pine and
birch trees make the King’s a colourful extravaganza of golf with
tremendous variety and excitement.
Gleneagles (PGA Centenary)
The last of Gleneagles courses was designed by Jack Nicklaus,
and opened in 1993. It rose to international prominence when
it hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup and it will host the 2019 Solheim
Cup. The course has many Nicklaus traits with generous fairways,
heavy bunkering, large undulating greens and holes stretched
over more of this gorgeous expanse of moorland. The course
combines Scottish and American traits – most obviously in
its variety of bunkering – and you must target greens through
flight: streams, ponds and bunkering nullify the ground approach
so you can launch shots skywards and watch them fly against
magnificent backdrops. The challenges are set out clearly ahead
of you, which means there are few semi-blind shots as found
elsewhere here.
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Gleneagles (Queen’s)
The beauty and thrills of a short course are on full display on
the Queen’s – often seen as the King’s charming little sister.
Measuring under 6,000 yards and with five par threes this is
beguiling Scottish moorland golf. Also designed by Braid, he
retained the deep and intimidating bunkers. Over such shapely
terrain the course will rein in the big hitters while also placing
a premium on accurate approach play. There are fewer trees
to interfere here, despite some woodland, and the more
exposed feel means the wind will have a greater influence on
proceedings… particularly on the excellent par threes: the 13th
is a short downhill shot while the 14th is a long uphill par three
with a two tier green. The constant changes in elevation add to
the pleasure of playing here as well as the beauty of the setting.
Alyth
Laid out on moorland by Old Tom Morris, Alyth opened as a
nine hole course in 1894. It was later extended to 18 revised by
James Braid, creating another excellent combination of work
by these two legendary designers. Holes move over rolling
heathland, constantly chaperoned by trees. It makes Alyth a fun
and colourful round of golf. But not necessarily easy: despite its
short length (6,200 yards) accuracy is key as the folds of the land
ask questions of every golfer and burns make quite a nuisance of
themselves… especially on the par four 5th signature hole (The
Brig), where you must cross water twice. Alyth was awarded ‘Best
Course Under £50’ at the 2015 Scottish Golf Tourism Awards.