Gleneagles, Kings Course

The King’s course is so good that when charismatic American Lee Trevino stepped onto the 1st tee for the first time he quipped: “If heaven is as good as this, I hope they reserve me a tee time!”. It may not claim the lion’s share of the limelight at Gleneagles, with the longer, modern PGA Centenary counting down to staging the Ryder Cup in 2014. But all discerning golfers will still rate James Braid’s masterpiece as the classiest course in the ‘Palace in the Glens’. Indeed, many would argue that there’s little between the PGA Centenary and the Queen’s these days. The King’s, of course, has staged plenty of top tournaments itself down the years, when it’s yardage wasn’t an issue. This includes the Scottish Open as well as the first unofficial Ryder Cup between Great Britain and America in 1921, just two years after it opened. Its creator, five-times Open champion Braid, fittingly inspired the home team to an emphatic win.

Nowadays the charm of the King’s isn’t enough to seriously test today’s big-hitting stars. For us mere mortals, though, it’s a perfect blend of challenge and enjoyment. It’s an absolute joy to play, being plotted in a magical setting with to-die-for views. The Ochill Hills and Trossachs provide a stunning backdrop and blessed with such wonderful terrain, Braid could hardly fail with the King’s. Needless to say he didn’t.

The short but sweet King’s was testing and thrilling golfers well before the glamorous, luxury Gleneagles hotel opened with the springy fairways of most holes being flanked by a variety of mature timber, heather and gorse. It can lull you into a false sense of security from the start. The opening hole is a fairly short par 4 with a wide open fairway. But that’s the easy part – the difficult bit is trying to find a small, well-protected green which sits atop a hillside.

And if you fail to find the severely-sloping green, a bunker awaits 20ft below. In fact, selecting the right club for each approach shot is key to enjoying some success on the fabled King’s.

The quirky par-4 3rd is another fantastic hole. Again it’s a relatively short par 4 but it’s usually played into the wind and this time you’re firing your second shot to a ‘blind’ green perched over a large grass bunker and hill. Memorable holes come thick and fast on the back nine. You will be tested on the 13th – known as ‘Braid’s Brawest’ (best) – but you’ve got a chance of glory at the next, a tempting two-shotter. Just under 250 yards, it is driveable – but you have to clear a saddle of bunkers which dominate the view 200 yards away. A classic risk-andreward hole.

Before you know it, you’re on the 18th tee and from the yellow tees, the final hole plays as a long and difficult par 4. Afterwards you can reflect on the round-of-a-lifetime in the classy clubhouse. Golf simply doesn’t get any better than this. Sheer heaven on golfing earth, a King among King’s.

RELATED: Golf World’s Top 100 Resorts in the UK and Ireland

The King's Course, opened in 1919, is a masterpiece of design, which has tested the aristocracy of golf, both professional and amateur.

James Braid's plan for the King's Course was to test even the best players' shot-making skills over the eighteen holes.

"Readers of Celebrated Living, the luxury magazine for American Airlines, voted the King's Course 6th in their Platinum list of International Courses."

All the holes have evocative and pithy Scots names. For example, the fifth, "Het Girdle" (Hot Pan), is a challenging par 3 with trouble every-where except on the green, while 17th's name, "Warslin' Lea" (Wrestling Ground), reflects the difficulty so many golfers have had with this long, sweeping par 4.

RELATED: Golf World's Top 100 Resorts in the UK and Ireland

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course does not have: Handicap

• 3.5 out of 5 A lovley course 30 June 2007

  By StuartCarswell

  A lovley course that is more for bigger hitters than shot shapers. I would say that The Queens is better course for purists.