Gleneagles King's Course
James Braid called this his finest inland course, and a century of golfers has agreed. Opened in 1919 over the heathery folds of the Perthshire moor, the King's is strategic golf at its most natural: raised greens set into the hillsides, fairways that swing with the land, and a horizon of Highland peaks behind every shot. It is the connoisseur's choice at Gleneagles, and one of the great inland rounds in Britain.
Photo: Gleneagles via Google, contributor garrett san.
The verdict
The King's is the course that made Gleneagles. Laid out by James Braid in 1919 across a high moorland shelf in the Ochil foothills, it is a study in routing genius, a layout that appears simply to have been discovered in the heather rather than built. Braid worked with the natural ridges and hollows to set tumbling fairways and greens perched on knolls and shelves, so that judgment of slope and the run of the ball matters far more than raw power. It is inland golf with the spirit of a links.
For the travelling golfer it is the heart of any Gleneagles or Perthshire itinerary, the classic to set against the modern muscle of the Jack Nicklaus PGA Centenary next door. Play it in the soft light of a summer evening, with the Grampians on the skyline and red squirrels in the pines, and you understand why the King's has been loved for more than a hundred years. It rewards the thinker, charms the romantic and leaves nobody cold.
The King's at a glance
- Designer
- James Braid
- Opened
- 1919
- Type
- Moorland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,790 yds
- Green fee
- From £100 to £325
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Gleneagles and the course databases; the King's plays around 6,790 yards, par 71. Green fees are indicative, from around 100 pounds in winter to around 325 pounds at the height of summer in 2026, with reduced rates for hotel residents. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Like all Braid courses the King's has a hole for every name, and three in particular reward the journey. The 5th, Het Girdle, is a glorious par 3 of around 160 yards played across a dip to a green raised on a plateau and ringed by bunkers, the sort of all or nothing tee shot that sets the pulse going early in the round. Anything short or wide is gathered away, so the only safe line is straight at the heart of the green.
The 13th, Braid's Brawest, is the hole the designer is said to have prized above all, a strong par 4 that bends through the heather to a green set on a natural shelf, defended by fall away ground on every side. It asks for two precise, committed shots and gives nothing to the timid. Get the angle wrong off the tee and the approach becomes very hard indeed.
The round closes at the 18th, King's Hame, a fine uphill finishing hole that climbs back toward the hotel with the green guarded short and the clubhouse watching every stride. Add the constant moorland wind, the firm running turf and the framing of the Grampian hills, and the King's gives you a stretch of golf, and a setting, that stays with you for years.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to visitors and hotel residents through the season; tee times booked through Gleneagles, with priority and reduced rates for guests |
| Green fee | From around 100 pounds in winter to around 325 pounds at the height of summer in 2026 (indicative) |
| Booking | Book months ahead for prime summer times; pair with the Queen's or the PGA Centenary for a full Gleneagles day |
| On the day | Walking course with caddies and buggies available; the five star Gleneagles hotel, spa and restaurants sit at the heart of the estate |
| Getting there | At Auchterarder in Perthshire, about an hour from Edinburgh or Glasgow, with Gleneagles railway station on the estate doorstep |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and the long Scottish evenings, though the moorland wind is rarely still |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from Gleneagles; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the resort or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the Gleneagles hotel itself, a grand country house resort with three courses, a spa, shooting and falconry on the doorstep, so you can play the King's in the morning, the PGA Centenary in the afternoon and never leave the estate. It is one of the few places in Britain where a non golfing partner is as well looked after as the golfer.
For a wider Perthshire week, the handsome towns of Auchterarder, Crieff and Perth offer hotels and inns within easy reach, and the region pairs well with a leg in St Andrews and Fife or a run north into the Scottish Highlands.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Gleneagles.
Stay and play at Gleneagles
We arrange the King's alongside the PGA Centenary and the wider Perthshire courses, secure the tee times before they fill and sort the Gleneagles stay and the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gleneagles King's questions
Who designed the King's Course at Gleneagles?
The King's was designed by five times Open champion James Braid and opened in 1919. It is widely held to be Braid's inland masterpiece, routed over the natural heather and moorland ridges of the Perthshire hills rather than moved earth, and it remains the senior of the three courses at Gleneagles.
What is the par and length of the King's Course?
The King's is a par 71 of around 6,790 yards from the back tees. Length has never been its main defence; the challenge is in Braid's use of the rumpled ground, the raised and angled greens and the wind that sweeps off the Ochils.
How much does it cost to play the King's Course?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 100 pounds in the depths of winter to around 325 pounds at the height of summer, with reduced rates for hotel residents. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play the King's Course?
Yes. The King's is a resort course and welcomes visitors and hotel guests through the season. Tee times are booked through Gleneagles, and the best summer slots fill many months ahead, so plan early.
Which is better at Gleneagles, the King's or the PGA Centenary?
They are different pleasures. The PGA Centenary, a Jack Nicklaus design, hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup and is the modern championship test. The King's is the classic, the connoisseur's choice for natural strategic golf, and most travelling purists rate it the finest of the three Gleneagles layouts.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.