
Kings Course
Gleneagles Golf Resort


About this course
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.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in UK
Best in Scotland
Quick facts
- Location
- Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1919
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- James Braid
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,788 yards
- Difficulty
- 75.6/136
- Course Vaults score
- 7.8
Getting there
The journey to Gleneagles Golf Resort most naturally begins at Edinburgh Airport, roughly an hour's drive northwest through the fertile lowlands of Perthshire. Glasgow Airport offers an alternative gateway of similar distance, while private arrivals favor the resort's own helipad or nearby Perth Airport for discreet access to the estate. The final miles trace the A9 corridor before turning onto tree-lined avenues that climb gently toward the Ochil Hills, where the golden-stone grandeur of the hotel emerges against a backdrop of moorland and mountain - a vision of Edwardian elegance still commanding its thousand-acre domain in the heart of Scotland.

FAQ
Common questions about Kings at Gleneagles Golf Resort
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Kings at Gleneagles Golf Resort has a Course Vaults score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 25 logged golfers.
Kings was designed by James Braid.
Yes. Kings at Gleneagles Golf Resort is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Kings is 71.
Kings plays 6,788 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Kings is 136.



