Blairgowrie Rosemount
A touch of the Surrey sandbelt deep in the Perthshire countryside, Rosemount is the heathland jewel of inland Scotland. Laid out among towering Scots pine, silver birch and heather, and shaped by Alister MacKenzie and James Braid, it offers a serene, beautiful and clever change of pace from the coastal links, and one of the most enjoyable inland rounds in the country.
Photograph: The Blairgowrie Golf Club, Rosemount, via Google · Ron Acree
The verdict
Scotland is the home of links golf, so its finest inland course often comes as a happy surprise. Rosemount, the senior of the three courses at The Blairgowrie Golf Club, sits in the heart of Perthshire near the country town of Blairgowrie, around sixteen miles from Perth, and it is a pure heathland course of the highest order. Tall Scots pine and silver birch frame every hole, heather and broom edge the fairways, and the springy turf and quiet beauty draw constant comparison with the great heathland courses of the Surrey sandbelt. It carries serious design pedigree too: Dr Alister MacKenzie, later of Augusta National and Cypress Point, had a hand in the early layout, and James Braid substantially revised and extended it into the course opened in 1934.
What makes Rosemount special is its calm. The trees give each hole its own private corridor, so you rarely see another group, and the gentle, rolling land asks for placement and shape rather than brute force. It has hosted plenty of professional and amateur championships over the years, yet it never feels punishing, only rewarding of good golf. For a travelling golfer building a Scottish itinerary around the famous links, a round at Rosemount is the perfect contrast, a tranquil, tree lined day that many visitors rate among the highlights of the whole trip.
Rosemount at a glance
- Opened
- 1934 form
- Designers
- MacKenzie, Braid
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Around 6,590 yds
- Green fee
- Around £120 high season
Designers, course type, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The Blairgowrie Golf Club and course databases. The Rosemount is a par 72 of around 6,590 yards from the medal tees. The indicative 2026 high season green fee, from May to September, is around 120 pounds for 18 holes, falling to around 80 pounds in April and 90 pounds in October. Fees are set by the club and change each season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Rosemount unfolds quietly, each hole carved through the forest so that you play in your own green room of pine and birch. The opening stretch eases you in, but the course soon shows its teeth where the heather crowds the fairways and the tree lines pinch the ideal line off the tee. The par 3s are a particular strength, demanding precise iron play to greens guarded by bunkers and falling ground, and the short par 4s tempt the aggressive player to take on the trees in search of a birdie.
The most photographed hole is the long par 4 known to many as the Plateau, where the drive must thread between the pines before the approach climbs to a raised green, but the round is full of strong, strategic holes that ask you to commit to a shot and trust it. There is little water and no manufactured drama, just clever use of the natural land, the slopes and the ever present trees. The finish brings you back through the woods toward the clubhouse with a card that rewards the patient and punishes the wayward.
At around 6,590 yards it is not a long course by modern standards, and that is part of its charm. Rosemount is about position and shot making, not length. Find the fairways, control your distance to the greens, and you can score; stray into the heather or the trees and you will scramble all day. It is heathland golf at its most pure and most enjoyable.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club that welcomes visitors with a booking through much of the week; tee times can be reserved with the club in advance |
| Green fee | Around 120 pounds in high season from May to September, around 80 pounds in April and 90 pounds in October, all indicative for 18 holes on the Rosemount or Lansdowne |
| Booking | Reserve in advance, especially in summer; the club is a popular stop on Perthshire and central Scotland itineraries |
| On the day | Buggies, trolleys and a clubhouse with full catering are available; the heathland walk is gentle compared with the coastal links |
| Three courses | The estate also has the longer Lansdowne course by Alliss and Thomas and the 9 hole Wee Course, so a day here can stretch to 27 or 36 holes |
| Best months | May to September for the heather in bloom and the firmest turf; spring and autumn are quieter and cheaper |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from The Blairgowrie Golf Club; they change without notice, so always confirm current details directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The town of Blairgowrie sits beside the course and offers comfortable hotels and guesthouses, while the city of Perth, a short drive south, gives a fuller choice of hotels and restaurants and an easy hub for exploring the region. For a touch of grandeur, the great resort hotels and castle stays of Perthshire are within reach for a memorable base.
Most golfers fold Blairgowrie into a wider central Scotland trip, pairing its heathland calm with the resort courses at Gleneagles, the championship links of Carnoustie and the riches of Fife and St Andrews, all within an easy drive. It makes an ideal inland counterpoint in the middle of a links heavy itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Blairgowrie.
Build a Perthshire golf trip
We pair Blairgowrie Rosemount with Gleneagles, Carnoustie and the best of central Scotland, secure the tee times, and handle hotels, buggies and the order of play. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Blairgowrie Rosemount questions
How much does it cost to play Blairgowrie Rosemount?
The indicative high season visitor green fee on the Rosemount in 2026, from May to September, is around 120 pounds for 18 holes. Spring and autumn are cheaper, with an April rate around 80 pounds and an October rate around 90 pounds. These figures are set by the club and change each season, so always confirm the current rate directly with The Blairgowrie Golf Club before booking.
Who designed the Rosemount Course?
The Rosemount was shaped by two of the most revered names in golf architecture. Dr Alister MacKenzie, who later created Augusta National and Cypress Point, was involved in the early design, and James Braid substantially revised and extended the course into the layout opened in 1934. The result is a classic Scottish heathland course often compared to the great Surrey courses.
Is Rosemount a links or a heathland course?
Rosemount is an inland heathland course, not a links. It runs through tall Scots pine, silver birch and banks of heather and broom in the Perthshire countryside, with springy turf and tree lined fairways. It offers a complete change of character from the coastal links nearby and is one of the finest inland courses in Scotland.
What other courses are at Blairgowrie?
The Blairgowrie Golf Club has three courses on one estate: the Rosemount, the Lansdowne, a longer and more demanding course designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas and opened in 1979, and the 9 hole Wee Course. The variety makes it an excellent base for a day or two of golf in Perthshire.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, course type, par, yardage and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.