The King's Course at Gleneagles, heather and fairway against the Perthshire hills
Ranked · 10 courses · updated 2026

The Best Golf Courses in Perthshire

Right in the heart of Scotland sits the finest inland golf in the country. Perthshire is heather, hills and history: James Braid's moorland masterpiece at Gleneagles, the Ryder Cup theatre of the PGA Centenary, the heathland of Blairgowrie's Rosemount and a string of handsome, affordable members courses through the glens. Here are the ten we rate most highly, ranked, with our verdict on each and how to play it.

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By the GolfForKings editorial desk · How we rank · Last reviewed June 2026

Photograph: Gleneagles, Perthshire, garrett san, via Google

How we chose them

Perthshire is the home of Scottish inland golf, and its great strength is the James Braid heritage. The five time Open champion shaped many of the county's best courses, above all the King's at Gleneagles, his 1919 moorland masterpiece, which leads our list comfortably as one of the finest inland courses anywhere in the world. Its resort sibling, the PGA Centenary, the Jack Nicklaus design that hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup, sits second on championship pedigree, and Blairgowrie's Rosemount, a Braid and Alister MacKenzie heathland gem, completes a strong top three.

We weighed design quality first, then setting, conditioning and the strength of the day out, and we have favoured courses you can actually arrange to play. Gleneagles is a resort open to visitors and guests, while Blairgowrie, Crieff, Pitlochry, Murrayshall, Alyth and Dunkeld and Birnam are members clubs that welcome visiting golfers through the season. Every fact here, designers, years and host events, was checked at the time of writing. The verdicts and the order are ours, and reasonable golfers will reorder the middle of the list. If you want any of these built into a costed Perthshire trip, that is exactly what our concierge does.

The ranking

01

Gleneagles, King's Course

James Braid, 1919 · Auchterarder · resort

The finest course in Perthshire and one of the greatest inland courses in the world. James Braid laid out the King's in 1919 over rolling moorland in the shadow of the Grampians, and it remains a heathery, strategic joy of named holes and tumbling fairways, firm and fast in summer. It is the connoisseur's Gleneagles, less famous than its Ryder Cup sibling but loved more deeply by those who know it. A resort course, open to visitors and guests, and the reason most golfers come to Perthshire.

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02

Gleneagles, PGA Centenary Course

Jack Nicklaus, 1993 · Auchterarder · resort

The big, modern championship course at Gleneagles, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1993, which hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup and the 2019 Solheim Cup. Longer, more American in feel and more exposed than the classic Braid courses, it gives visiting golfers the chance to walk the same fairways as Europe's Ryder Cup heroes, with grandstand memories at every turn. A resort course, open to visitors and guests, and a must for the tournament romantic.

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03

Blairgowrie, Rosemount Course

James Braid and Alister MacKenzie · Blairgowrie · members club, visitors welcome

One of the best inland courses in Scotland and the pick of the Perthshire golf you can join more easily. The Rosemount was shaped by James Braid and Alister MacKenzie among pine, silver birch and heather, a beautiful, tree lined heathland course that staged Greg Norman's first European Tour victory. Immaculately kept and a genuine test from the back tees, it is the heart of a 36 hole club and a must on any Perthshire week.

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04

Gleneagles, Queen's Course

James Braid, 1917 · Auchterarder · resort

The shorter, prettier sister to the King's, laid out by James Braid in 1917 through lochans, woodland and heather. The Queen's is gentler and more intimate than its famous neighbour, but no less charming, a course of huge scenic beauty and clever short holes that many visitors finish preferring. A resort course, open to visitors and guests, and the perfect counterpoint to a round on the King's.

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05

Blairgowrie, Lansdowne Course

Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, 1979 · Blairgowrie · members club, visitors welcome

The second 18 at Blairgowrie, a longer, more demanding parkland test designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas and opened in 1979. Tighter and stronger from the tee than the Rosemount, it makes Blairgowrie one of the best 36 hole days in the country, and a fine reason to base a Perthshire trip in the town. A members club that welcomes visitors through the season.

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06

Crieff Golf Club, Ferntower Course

James Braid origins · Crieff · members club, visitors welcome

A handsome hillside parkland course on the slopes above the spa town of Crieff, with sweeping views over Strathearn and the southern Highlands. The Ferntower, the club's premier 18, has roots in a James Braid layout and gives a fun, scenic round of real elevation change. Friendly, well kept and excellent value, it is a lovely addition to a Perthshire itinerary and an easy run from Gleneagles.

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07

Pitlochry Golf Club

Highland hill course · Pitlochry · members club, visitors welcome

One of the most scenic inland courses in Scotland, climbing the hillside above the Highland resort town of Pitlochry with glorious views over the Tummel valley. Short by modern standards but full of character and elevation, it is a pure pleasure to play, rewarding accuracy and a head for heights rather than brute length. A welcoming members club and a memorable, good value round in spectacular surroundings.

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08

Murrayshall, Old Course

Hamilton Stutt, 1981 · Scone, near Perth · hotel, visitors welcome

The headline course at the Murrayshall country house hotel just east of Perth, set in 300 acres of mature parkland and opened in 1981. A comfortable, well presented resort round paired with the shorter Lynedoch course on the same estate, it makes an easy, hospitable base close to the city, with a hotel, restaurant and two courses on the doorstep. Open to hotel guests and visitors.

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09

Alyth Golf Club

James Braid · Alyth · members club, visitors welcome

A fine, underrated heathland and parkland course near Blairgowrie with James Braid in its design lineage, threading through gorse, heather and silver birch. Dry, well drained and playable year round, Alyth is the kind of honest, good value members course that makes a Perthshire trip so rewarding away from the marquee names, and a natural pairing with Blairgowrie nearby.

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10

Dunkeld and Birnam Golf Club

James Braid · Dunkeld · members club, visitors welcome

A spectacular little heathland and hill course above the cathedral village of Dunkeld, with James Braid in its history and some of the finest views in Perthshire golf, out over the Tay valley and the surrounding hills. Short, quirky and full of charm, it rounds out the list as proof that Perthshire golf is as much about setting and warmth of welcome as it is about championship length.

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Designers, opening years and host events verified June 2026. Most of these courses welcome visitors, with Gleneagles and Murrayshall open as resort and hotel courses; always confirm access, tee times and fees directly before booking.

Golf in Scotland   Check tee time availability

Plan your Perthshire golf trip

Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge holds the Gleneagles and Blairgowrie tee times, sorts a base in the heart of Scotland, costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.

Perthshire golf questions

What is the best golf course in Perthshire?

The King's Course at Gleneagles is the finest course in Perthshire and one of the greatest inland courses in the world. Designed by the five time Open champion James Braid and opened in 1919, it is a heathery, moorland masterpiece routed over rolling Perthshire hills with the Grampians as a backdrop. Its sister, the PGA Centenary Course, hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup, but for most golfers the King's is the connoisseur's choice. Blairgowrie's Rosemount runs it closest among the clubs you can join more easily.

Can you play Gleneagles as a visitor?

Yes. Gleneagles is a resort, so all three of its courses, the King's, the Queen's and the PGA Centenary, are open to visitors and resort guests, though green fees are at the premium end and booking ahead is essential, especially in summer. Most of the other leading Perthshire courses, including Blairgowrie, Crieff, Pitlochry and Murrayshall, are members clubs that welcome visiting golfers through the season, usually with the best availability on weekdays. Always confirm rates and tee times directly before booking.

When is the best time to play golf in Perthshire?

The Perthshire season runs roughly from April to October, with the prime window from May to September when the inland courses are at their best and the heather and hills are at their most beautiful. As inland, heathland and parkland golf rather than coastal links, the courses can play soft in spring and after rain, with high summer giving the firmest turf and the longest days. The shoulder months offer fine value. Always confirm course conditions and tee times before you travel.

Where is Perthshire for golf?

Perthshire sits right in the heart of Scotland, the wooded, hilly county north of the central belt and south of the Highlands, centred on the city of Perth. It is an easy hour or so by car or train from both Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, and Gleneagles even has its own railway station. The county packs an extraordinary depth of inland golf into a compact area, making it one of the best regions in Scotland for a golf trip away from the famous links coasts.

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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, opening years and host events verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.