Course: Gleneagles Kings – Auchterarder

The King’s Course at the Gleneagles Hotel is a charming golf course set in the mountainous terrain of Auchterarder. How this delightful course came about to be there is an interesting story. The Gleneagles Hotel was built by Donald Matheson, the manager of the Caledonian Railway Company who wanted to construct a luxury hotel that well to do railway travelers couldn’t resist. The three courses at Gleneagles were meant to be an added attraction, but today the place is more famous for its golf than the hotel. The King’s Course was designed by the five times Open Champion, James Braid and opened for play in 1919. With the Ochil Hills, the Ben Vorlich and The Trossachs forming the principal backdrops, Gleneagles is one of the best moorland tracks in Scotland. The course offers a fantastic set of holes that are carved effortlessly out of the available terrain and are spread over 6,790 yards. Playing for a par of 71, The King’s Course tests the shot-making skills of even a highly adept golfer. The fairways are sharply undulating and the greens change elevation every now and then at Gleneagles. Bunkers abound, fiercely protecting most holes and unless you can pick out the best club for every shot, a decent scorecard looks unlikely at this moorland course. One must especially beware of the tough, par 4, 466-yard 4th hole and keeping one’s wits together on the 7th featuring a tough dogleg to the left would pay handsomely. If the front nine is no party, the finishing holes 17th and 18th will make you work even harder. If you can concentrate more on the game than on the accompanying scenery, you will be rewarded well and can go back richer by a tremendous experience.