Gleneagles Kings Golf Course Scotland UK

Full Description: The three twentieth-century–built courses at Gleneagles are a favorite of the rich and famous. When it first opened in 1924, guests arrived by ocean liner and steam train. Now international flights and no-frills European airlines or four-wheel drives may be the preferred mode of transport, but the appeal of Gleneagles, the “eighth wonder of the (golfing) world” and the “Riviera of the Highlands” as it was once known, has not faded. Gleneagles is one of the world’s top and most expensive vacation resorts, with a fabulous hotel, four golf courses, and a growing center for resort activities and family recreation, like shooting, off-road driving, and luxurious relaxation.

The Hotel
Food:
Apart from the Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie restaurant (Scottish chef of the year) serving the finest and freshest Scottish larder food, the stunning Strathearn restaurant offers great views across the grounds, and there are several other bars and eateries. Good-quality golfers’ food will set you back £20 (US$35) per head in the most modest restaurant. The Halfway house is halfway through the King’s and Queen’s courses, providing sustenance to tired players, and the Juice Buggy brings hot drinks and snacks to those on the PGA course.

Rooms:
As befits a luxury hotel, Gleneagles offers the guest everything he or she could wish for a wonderfully comfortable, relaxing stay. You can choose from a selection of 260 richly furnished but tasteful rooms, all of which are replete with queen- or king-size beds, en suite bath and shower, interactive TV, DVD player, and more. Rooms start at £330 (about US$500) per night and rise to £950 (about US$1,800) for some suites. Black-and-white photographs of the hotel and its guests (including Bob Hope, Prince Andrew, and Jack Nicholson) on the walls are a lovely touch.

Facilities:
A wonderful art deco dining room and bar, a shopping arcade, and beautifully kept gardens are further features of elegance and excellence. The hotel provides a full range of business facilities, two pools, a gym, a squash court, and a luxury health spa with sauna, sun bed, and massage. There are also a host of concessions from top retailers like Harvey Nichols. The Golf Academy provides lessons with in-depth analysis of your swing and videos for future reference.

Activities
Outdoor activities include falconry, shooting, horse riding, fishing, cycle riding, off-road driving and family activities, all of which can be organized from the hotel. Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade gives an annual tennis clinic every July, costing about £1,400 (US$2,500).

Shooting:
In the 1950s Gleneagles was an important fixture in the high-society calendar. After the London season, it was yachting at Cowes and polo at Deauville, followed by golf and grouse shooting at Gleneagles. After a round of golf, make sure you try your shot at one of the world’s most prestigious shooting schools. There are twelve target disciplines on shooting ranges for sporting clays, skeet shooting, and more. Included in the cost of a lesson are protective clothing, transport, and all sporting clays equipment—including guns.

Costs:
Air rifle shooting is suitable for those age eight upward and costs £50 (US$80) for an hour lesson, plus £10 (US$17) as a supplement for guests. Clay pigeon shooting is suitable for those age ten upward and costs £60 (US$100) for one hour with twenty-five cartridges. Each additional box of twenty-five cartridges costs £5.00 (US$8.00).

Off-Road Driving:
The most exhilarating activity you can try out at Gleneagles, off-roading excursions take you across courses designed by some of the country’s top specialists. Whether you’re an experienced driver or a novice looking for thrills, Gleneagles’s instructors will guide you through ridges, gullies, steep gradients, ditches, and water splashes through the stunning surrounds of the Scottish countryside. Also worth trying are the scenic safaris, where you’ll be taken up through munros, lochs, lochans, and historic landmarks and shown Scotland’s diverse wildlife before being treated to a glass of champagne and a gourmet picnic. Bliss!

Costs:
Off-roading is suitable for those age twelve upward and costs £110 (US$190) for an hour for up to two people, or £220 (US$300) for a ninety-minute lesson for up to four people. Discover Scotland safari tours cost £600 (US$1,000) a day for three people, plus £120 (US$200) for a guide, with a 30 percent discount for half a day.

Background to the Gleneagles King’s Golf Course

Architect:
James Braid and Major C. K. Hutchison designed two of the courses in 1914 for a fee of £120 (US$200). The third course, the PGA Centenary designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1993, cost a substantially higher £6 million (US$11 million) to design and build and will host the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Type:
Four parkland and moorland courses.

Landscape:
Stunning vistas of breathtaking beauty, covered with heather, gorse, and majestic stands of pines, with most holes offering a 180-degree view over the surrounding countryside. Deer in the forest are within sight of the course.

Pro Shop:
A great range of clubs and golf bags are available in the golf academy pro shop. The clubhouse has good golf clothing and Gleneagles memorabilia prints of the courses.

Playing the Holes (King’s Course)
Signature Hole:
Braid’s Brawest, the thirteenth hole (448 yards, par 4), is designer James Braid’s signature hole. It’s difficult to play in all weather conditions, but if the wind is blowing, watch out! It is vital to make good contact off the tee in order to fly the strategically placed bunkers, located from 201 to 297 yards either side of this beautifully undulating fairway. After negotiating these, the second shot is equally challenging: A mid- to long iron or even a fairway wood has to be played into a green that is well guarded by four vicious-looking although it is advisable to pack your rain gear in your bag. If you want to travel light, the golf club rents a new set of the very best clubs available. You also get a complimentary bucket of balls at the Gleneagles PGA academy to get that swing going before your round. To make your game easier going, indulge and hire one of the famous Gleneagles caddies.

Skills:
The King’s Course is an incredibly challenging par 68 of 6,125 yards off the yellow tees with no par 5s at all. Many of the fairways have large mounds and hollows, so the blind approach shot is common. As with many Scottish courses, there are no water hazards, and the main threat comes from the bunkers, which are among the deepest in the world. To score well you have to be a long straight hitter with a good short game.

Score Card
Phone: +44 (0)1764 662231
Fax: +44 (0)1764 662134

Courses and Lengths:
King’s Course: Eighteen holes, par 68, 6,125 yards, 5,220 yards (ladies).
Queen’s Course: Eighteen holes, par 68, 5,965 yards, 5,495 yards (ladies).
PGA Centenary Course: Eighteen holes, par 72, 7,088 yards, 5,072 yards (ladies).
Wee Course: Nine holes, par 27, 1,481 yards.

Tee Times:
Vary according to season.

Handicap:
None required.

Green Fees:
Prices range from £30 (US$50) to £110 (US$200) per round depending on season, time of day, and course, with discounts on tee times booked after 5:00 P.M.

Packages:
Golfing vacation and tuition packages are available from the hotel. Prices vary seasonally, starting from about £250 (US$400) a night for one night and a round of golf.

Other Costs:
Buggy rental costs up to £30 (US$50) and club rental costs £50 (US$80). It costs up to £5.00 (US$8.00) for trolleys. The PGA Centenary is the only course that allows buggies.

Location:
Twenty minutes from Perth along the A9 and one hour, fifteen minutes from Edinburgh along the M90 and A9. The nearest airport is Edinburgh (EDI).

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