Championship VenueBucket List

Gleneagles — The King's Course

Auchterarder, Perthshire · Designed by James Braid (1919) · Est. 1919

The King's Course is James Braid's moorland masterpiece and the historic soul of Gleneagles — for many connoisseurs, the finest of the resort's three courses, and one of the greatest inland courses in Britain. Opened in 1919 amid the heather-clad hills of Perthshire, it laid the foundation for Gleneagles' legend, and remains a pure, exhilarating example of golf on high moorland.

At par 68 over around 6,800 yards from the tips (and far friendlier from the members' tees), it tumbles over natural glacial ridges and hollows, with heather-lined fairways, wonderfully sited greens and glorious Highland views to the Ochils and the Trossachs on every side. Braid used the dramatic terrain brilliantly — blind shots, elevated tees and canny angles reward local knowledge and imagination. Named holes like "Warslin' Lea" and "Het Girdle" are part of golfing folklore.

With the modern PGA Centenary (host of the 2014 Ryder Cup) and the shorter Queen's Course alongside, plus the grand five-star hotel, the King's anchors one of the world's great golf resorts.

Holes worth knowing

113th "Braid's Brawest" (par-4) — Braid's own favourite hole on the course, a heather-lined two-shotter that captures the King's at its best.
2The elevated moorland holes — blind shots and raised tees over natural ridges and hollows reward local knowledge and imagination throughout.

Highlights

James Braid's moorland masterpiece (1919)
The connoisseur's favourite at Gleneagles
Heather, glacial ridges and Highland views
Anchor of a great five-star golf resort

Good to know

→The King's is James Braid's masterpiece and many judges' pick as the best course at Gleneagles — a purer, more natural test than the modern PGA Centenary.
→The named holes — "Warslin' Lea," "Het Girdle," "Braid's Brawest" — are part of golfing folklore; learn the blind lines or take a caddie.
→It is a resort course: hotel guests and visitors are welcome, and you can pair it with the Queen's and PGA Centenary for a three-course stay.
→The five-star Gleneagles Hotel, its restaurants and country pursuits make this a destination in itself, not just a round.
→Both Edinburgh and Glasgow are about an hour, and the setting amid the Perthshire hills is among the most beautiful in inland golf.