Often overlooked in favor of the many great links courses Scotland has to offer, a recent round over the King’s Course at Gleneagles on a crisp fall day was a gentle reminder that not all the best courses in Scotland are to be found by the ocean. The King’s was the first course to open at the hotel in the 1920’s and was laid out by Scotland’s legendary James Braid. There are a few blind shots to handle which make it a standout from modern design but I strongly believe they add to the overall experience. Hiring a caddie is a wise move, with very large greens that have deceptive contours and some lines from the tee offering the chance to “steal a few yards” their local knowledge is well worth the caddie fee. Playing in a 3 ball under competition conditions the round was completed comfortably under 4 hours, the caddies certainly help with pace of play, if only all rounds could be completed in that time the game would be more enjoyable for all. While the PGA Course will host the Ryder Cup in 2014 (it is longer and designed to cope with the world’s best) the King’s provides a unique challenge for all, in truly magnificent surroundings. One more point single figure players should play from the white tees, a greater challenge on the par 3’s and some of the longer 4’s become two good hits to get home.
