Kings at Gleneagles Golf Resort

The King's Course at Gleneagles opened in 1919 as the original championship layout at this Perthshire resort, designed by five-time Open Champion James Braid. Set on a natural moorland plateau in the shadow of the Ochil Hills, the course occupies gently rolling terrain that offers expansive views across Strathearn toward the Highlands. Braid routed the holes to take full advantage of the undulating ground, incorporating natural ridges, hollows, and heather-lined fairways that define the traditional Scottish inland character.

The layout measures over 6,700 yards from the championship tees and features strategic bunkering and subtly contoured greens that reward precise approach play. The opening stretch moves through relatively open ground before the routing turns toward higher elevations at mid-round, where several holes play across more pronounced slopes and offer the most dramatic vistas. The closing stretch returns toward the clubhouse with a series of demanding two-shot holes that test accuracy and course management.

Gleneagles has hosted numerous significant amateur and professional events over the decades, including the 2014 Ryder Cup, which was played on the resort's PGA Centenary Course rather than the King's. The King's Course remains the resort's historic centerpiece and continues to attract golfers seeking a classic Braid design in one of Scotland's most scenic inland settings. The resort itself maintains a reputation for traditional hospitality and refined dining within its grand hotel.