Gleneagles Queen's Course
The most delicate of the three championship courses at Gleneagles, the Queen's is a James Braid moorland design from 1925, a par 68 of about 5,965 yards that trades length for charm. Set in the Perthshire hills with views to the Grampians, it is shorter and more playable than its famous sibling the King's, full of variety, fun and some of the prettiest holes in Scotland.
Photo: Gleneagles, Perthshire, via Google.
The verdict
The Queen's Course is the quiet pleasure of Gleneagles, the course the regulars often love best. James Braid laid it out in 1925 alongside the King's, on the same heaving Perthshire moorland, but where the King's is a brawny championship test, the Queen's is shorter, gentler and arguably more fun. A par 68 of under 6,000 yards, it asks for placement and a deft short game rather than length, and it never lets the scenery out of sight.
This is mountain golf at its most serene, the fairways running through heather, broom and silver birch with the Grampians, the Ochils and Ben Vorlich filling the horizon. There are no blind shots, the greens are true and the variety is glorious, from drivable short par 4s to demanding one shotters. Paired with the King's it makes a perfect Gleneagles day, and it is the ideal foil to a links heavy Scottish tour.
The Queen's Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1925
- Designer
- James Braid
- Type
- Moorland
- Par
- 68
- Yardage
- About 5,965 yds
- Green fee
- Resort, indicative
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Gleneagles and leading course databases. The Queen's Course was laid out by James Braid and opened in 1925, a par 68 of about 5,965 yards, the shortest of the resort's three championship courses. Green fees vary widely by season and by whether you stay at the hotel, so the figure here is indicative for 2026 only; always confirm the current rate and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Queen's is a masterclass in how much fun a short course can be in the hands of a great designer. Braid routed it over rolling moorland with springy fairways and quick, true greens, and the variety is the joy of it: five par 3s of real character, a clever run of short par 4s and a single par 5 that tempts the bold. Scoring chances come at the short two shotters around the 4th, 8th, 11th and 15th, all under 355 yards, where placement off the tee opens the green.
The par 3s are the heart of the test. The 14th, at around 180 yards, is the pick, a long one shotter where a pin on the top tier of the green makes par a small triumph and the surrounding hills make the walk to the tee a pleasure. Throughout, water, heather and the natural fall of the land are the defenses rather than length, so a controlled, well struck round is rewarded and a wild one is gently punished.
What stays with you is the setting. The Queen's wanders past lochans and through stands of birch with the Grampian Mountains as a constant backdrop, and the lack of blind shots means you see and savor every hole. It is a course to play for the love of golf and the glory of Perthshire, not to grind over a card, and it leaves most visitors wishing they had time for a second loop.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to resort guests and visitors; book through the Gleneagles golf reservations team, with hotel guests given preferential tee times |
| Green fee | Resort green fee, indicative for 2026 and varying widely by season and whether you stay at the hotel (always confirm directly before booking) |
| Booking | Reserve in advance, especially in summer; often played as a pair with the King's Course |
| On the day | Walking or buggy; caddies can be arranged; the full resort practice ground and clubhouse are at hand |
| Getting there | Auchterarder in Perthshire, about an hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow, with its own Gleneagles rail station nearby |
| Best months | May to September for the longest days and the warmest, driest moorland conditions |
Access arrangements and indicative fees verified June 2026; rates change by season and with hotel stays, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with Gleneagles or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Gleneagles itself, one of the great resort hotels of Europe, with all three championship courses, a famed spa, shooting, fishing and a clutch of fine restaurants on the doorstep. Staying on the estate unlocks the easiest tee times and turns a round on the Queen's into a full Perthshire golf and country break.
For a wider tour, Auchterarder and the surrounding Perthshire countryside offer charming hotels and inns, and the central location makes it easy to pair Gleneagles with the courses of Fife, Angus and the east coast. It is an ideal hub for a Scottish golf trip that mixes moorland and links.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Gleneagles.
Build a Perthshire golf trip
We secure the Queen's Course tee times, pair them with the King's and the wider Gleneagles experience, and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gleneagles Queen's Course questions
Who designed the Queen's Course at Gleneagles and when did it open?
The Queen's Course was designed by the five time Open champion James Braid and opened in 1925, alongside his King's Course, on the moorland of the Gleneagles estate in Perthshire.
What is the par and length of the Queen's Course?
The Queen's Course is a par 68 of about 5,965 yards, the shortest of the three championship courses at Gleneagles, with five par 3s and a fine set of short, strategic par 4s that reward placement over power.
Can visitors play the Queen's Course at Gleneagles?
Yes. The Queen's Course is open to resort guests and to visitors, booked through the Gleneagles golf reservations team, with hotel guests receiving preferential rates and tee times. Indicative green fees vary widely by season, so always confirm the current rate and availability directly before booking.
How does the Queen's Course compare to the King's at Gleneagles?
Both are James Braid designs from 1925. The King's is the longer, more famous championship test, while the Queen's is shorter, more delicate and arguably more fun, with no blind shots, more variety and the same glorious Perthshire scenery. Many visitors play both as a pair. The PGA Centenary, a later Jack Nicklaus design, hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup.
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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.