Gleneagles Queens Course
The Queens is the course Gleneagles regulars love most. Shorter and gentler than its famous sisters, this James Braid moorland gem winds between lochans, silver birch and purple heather beneath the Ochil Hills, and at under 6,000 yards it proves that great golf has nothing to do with length. It is the prettiest round on the estate and, for many, the most purely enjoyable.
Photo: Gleneagles via Google, contributor garrett san.
The verdict
Gleneagles has three courses, and while the Kings and the Ryder Cup PGA Centenary take the headlines, the Queens is the one that quietly steals affections. Designed by the five time Open champion James Braid and opened in 1919 alongside the Kings, it is a par 68 of around 5,965 yards laid across the same glorious high moorland, with five par 3s and a layout built on strategy and beauty rather than brute length.
Do not mistake short for soft. The Queens asks for precise iron play, clever positioning and a deft touch around small, well defended greens, and the heather punishes the wayward shot just as firmly as any links rough. What it adds is sheer charm, lochans in play, birch lined fairways and Highland views at every turn. For a couple, a mixed group or anyone who values the round as much as the scorecard, the Queens is a treasure.
Gleneagles Queens at a glance
- Opened
- 1919
- Designer
- James Braid
- Type
- Moorland
- Par
- 68
- Yardage
- 5,965 yds
- Green fee
- From £95 to £325
Designer, opening era, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the resort and course databases. Green fees are indicative, ranging from roughly 95 pounds in winter to about 250 to 325 pounds for a summer round across the Gleneagles championship courses in the 2026 season, with resident rates for hotel guests. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Braid routed the Queens to make the most of the natural moorland, and the early holes set the tone with tumbling fairways, heathery banks and greens tucked into folds in the ground. The par 3s are the heart of the round, varied in length and direction, each framed by heather, birch and the hills beyond, and each asking for a precise, committed strike to hold the putting surface.
Water comes into play more than on the Kings, with lochans guarding several greens and tightening the second shot on the short par 4s, so that placement off the tee matters far more than distance. The greens are small and subtly contoured, rewarding the player who can flight an iron and read the borrows, and a wild swing into the heather is as costly here as anywhere on the estate.
It all builds to a round that feels like a walk through a Highland painting. The Queens never overwhelms you with length or drama; it charms you with variety, beauty and the constant demand for a thoughtful, well struck shot. Many who play all three Gleneagles courses come away naming the Queens their favourite.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course open to visitors and hotel guests with a tee time booked through Gleneagles |
| Green fee | Around 250 to 325 pounds for a summer round, less in spring and autumn, from about 95 pounds in winter, with resident rates for hotel guests (indicative) |
| Booking | Reserve through the resort; hotel guests get priority tee times and the keenest rates |
| On the day | A walking or buggy friendly moorland course; caddies available. The resort runs to a smart dress code |
| Getting there | At Auchterarder, Perthshire, about an hour from both Edinburgh and Glasgow with its own railway station |
| Best months | May to September for the heather in colour and the firmest moorland turf |
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 the Gleneagles hotel itself, the grand five star resort that owns all three courses, with spa, fine dining and the keenest tee times and resident green fees on the estate. Staying on site turns a round on the Queens into a complete golf and country house break.
For a wider trip, Gleneagles sits within an hour of both Edinburgh and Glasgow and a short drive from Perth, so you can pair the Queens with St Andrews and the Fife coast, or with Carnoustie to the east, basing in the resort or a Perthshire country hotel.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Gleneagles.
Build a Gleneagles and Perthshire week
We pair the Queens with the Kings, the PGA Centenary and the best of Perthshire and Fife, book the tee times in the right order and handle the resort stay and the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gleneagles Queens questions
What is the par and length of the Gleneagles Queens Course?
The Queens is a par 68 moorland course of around 5,965 yards, with five par 3s. It is shorter than its sister courses but prized for its beauty and its subtle, strategic challenge rather than raw length.
Who designed the Queens Course at Gleneagles?
The Queens was designed by the five time Open champion James Braid and opened in 1919, alongside his Kings Course. Both are classic Scottish moorland heathland layouts laid across the high ground of the Ochil Hills.
How does the Queens compare to the Kings and PGA Centenary at Gleneagles?
The Kings is the longer, sterner Braid championship test and the PGA Centenary is the modern Jack Nicklaus course that hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup. The Queens is the shortest and the prettiest of the three, a charming moorland round that many players love most for its scenery and variety.
How much does it cost to play the Queens Course?
Indicative green fees across the Gleneagles championship courses run from around 95 pounds in winter to about 250 to 325 pounds for a summer round in the 2026 season, with resident rates for hotel guests. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.