Gleneagles PGA Centenary
The PGA Centenary is Gleneagles' big stage, the Jack Nicklaus course that brought the Ryder Cup to Scotland in 2014 and the Solheim Cup five years later. Laid out across the Perthshire moorland with the Ochil and Grampian hills on every horizon, it offers the modern, strategic resort game in a setting of pure Highland drama. This is the championship card at one of the world's great golf hotels.
Photo: garrett san via Google.
The verdict
The PGA Centenary Course is the most ambitious of the three eighteen hole courses at Gleneagles, a Jack Nicklaus design opened in 1993 as the Monarch's Course and renamed in 2001 to mark the centenary of the Professional Golfers' Association. Nicklaus has spoken of being handed one of the finest parcels of land he ever worked with, and the result is a big, generous, American influenced layout of wide fairways, bold bunkering and large, contoured greens, set against the backdrop of the Perthshire hills.
It suits the travelling golfer who wants a championship test wrapped in five star comfort, and it anchors a Gleneagles stay alongside the older King's and Queen's courses by James Braid. As the host of the 2014 Ryder Cup, won by Europe, and the 2019 Solheim Cup, also won by Europe, it carries genuine tournament pedigree. Play it from sensible tees and it is a thrilling, scenic day; play it from the back and it is a proper examination.
Gleneagles PGA Centenary at a glance
- Opened
- 1993
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Moorland parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,300 yds
- Green fee
- Around £325
Opening year, designer and par verified June 2026 from the resort and tournament records; the PGA Centenary is a Jack Nicklaus design opened in 1993, a par 72 of around 7,300 yards from the championship tees, graded down through several tee sets. It hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup and the 2019 Solheim Cup. Green fees are indicative, around 95 pounds in winter rising to around 325 pounds in the peak summer of 2026. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The PGA Centenary is a course of bold, clearly presented strategy, where Nicklaus invites you to take on risk for reward and punishes the half committed shot. The fairways are wide enough to swing freely, but the angles into the greens and the placement of the bunkers mean the player who thinks his way around is rewarded over the one who simply hits and hopes.
The closing holes were built for drama, and they delivered it across the 2014 Ryder Cup. The reachable par 5 18th, played back toward the grandstands and the hotel, is a classic matchplay finisher, a hole that tempts the long hitter to go for the green in two and decides more than its share of contests. Watching Europe close out the cup here is what most golfers picture when they arrive.
Throughout, the Perthshire setting does much of the work, with heather, pine and the hills framing nearly every shot. It is parkland rather than links, a different discipline from the Scottish coast, and a welcome change of pace on a tour that might otherwise be all sea wind and revetted bunkers.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to hotel guests and visitors; resort residents receive priority and preferential rates |
| Green fee | Around 95 pounds in winter rising to around 325 pounds in peak summer 2026 (indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead, particularly for summer and for resident packages; the resort runs all three eighteens plus the par 3 PGA National Academy course |
| On the day | Buggies and caddies available; world class practice facilities and one of Britain's finest clubhouses and hotels |
| Getting there | At Auchterarder in Perthshire, about an hour from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, with Gleneagles railway station on the doorstep |
| Best months | May to September for the best of the moorland turf and the long Highland evenings |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the resort; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Gleneagles or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is Gleneagles itself, a grand five star hotel set in its own Perthshire estate, where you can play all three championship courses, take on the par 3 academy course and fill the off hours with shooting, riding and a celebrated spa. For a golf and luxury week, few resorts in Britain match it.
For a wider Scottish tour, Gleneagles sits within easy reach of St Andrews and the Fife coast to the east and the Ayrshire links to the southwest, making it a comfortable inland anchor between the great links stretches.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Auchterarder.
Stay and play at Gleneagles
We arrange the PGA Centenary alongside the King's and Queen's courses and a Gleneagles stay, secure the tee times and resident rates and sort the wider Scottish tour around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gleneagles PGA Centenary questions
Who designed the Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course?
The PGA Centenary Course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1993, originally as the Monarch's Course. It was renamed the PGA Centenary in 2001 to mark the centenary of the Professional Golfers' Association.
What is the par and length of the PGA Centenary Course?
The PGA Centenary is a par 72 of around 7,300 yards from the championship tees, graded down through several tee sets to suit all standards. It is a moorland parkland course rather than a links, with wide fairways and large, contoured greens.
Did Gleneagles host the Ryder Cup?
Yes. The PGA Centenary Course hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup, won by Europe, and the 2019 Solheim Cup, also won by Europe. Those championships are central to the course's reputation and to the drama of its closing holes.
How much does it cost to play the PGA Centenary Course?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from around 95 pounds in the winter months to around 325 pounds in peak summer, with preferential rates for resort residents. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play the PGA Centenary Course?
Yes. It is a resort course open to both hotel guests and visiting golfers, with priority and better rates for those staying at Gleneagles. Book ahead, especially for summer and for resident golf packages.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.