Gleneagles is a well known golf destination in Scotland and has been venue for the Ryder Cup. I have been to Scotland many times to play golf but this was my first time to add Gleneagles to the itinerary. Normally we go to Scotland to experience links golf but I have always wanted to experience this kind of golf in Scotland and to play Gleneagles Kings Course.
Driving Range & Short game area
We started with a short trip to the practice facilities that are located across the street from the Kings Course. A nice facility with plenty of opportunities to improve your game.
HOLE 1
The opening hole at Gleneagles Kings Course is an uphill par 4. There is plenty of space from the tee but I still managed to get in trouble with my tee shot. I had to chip out sideways from the bushes and got a bad lie for my 3rd shot that came up short of the green. It rolled back down the fairway and all in all resulted in a triple bogey on the first hole. Disappointing start to the round.
HOLE 3
The third hole is a blind uphill tee shot and an approach shot that is also blind. I opted for the driver and hit a perfect shot. My approach shot found the green and I made par.
Hole 5
The first par 3 hole on the course and a good looking hole. I took a 9 iron that was well struck and landed pin high. It is one of those hole where you can easily get in trouble so I was happy to walk away with a par.
HOLE 7
The 7th hole is a dogleg right to left and blind from the tee. It was difficult to judge how much of the corner you could cut so I opted to go straight down the middle and ended up going long into the rough. It was not too bad but I could not reach the green so ended up making bogey.
HOLE 8
Gleneagles Kings course hole 8 is a par 3 downhill. My tee shot found the green and I made par.
HOLE 9
Hole 9 is a short par 4 and I decided to play safe with a 4 iron from the tee. My tee shot was in the fairway and I hit a great approach to make my first birdie of the round.
BACK NINE ON GLENEAGLES KINGS COURSE
HOLE 13
The 13th hole is a nice par 4 playing 410m. There is more space in the faiway that it looks from the tee. My tee shot found the fairway but I missed the green with my approach shot.
HOLE 14 - favourite hole on Gleneagle Kings Course
The 14th is a great and well designed par 4. It is only playing 238m but the tee shot is blind over bunkers if you decided to go for the green. I had to try but missed my tee shot right. My approach shot to the green was blind and I misjudged the shot. It came up short and I made bogey.
HOLE 15
Hole 15 is a long par 4 playing 420m where you aim for the stick in the fairway. It is downhill to the green and I managed to scramble for a good par after missing the green long.
HOLE 16
16th hole is a nice downhill par 3.
HOLE 18
The finishing hole is a good par 5 back towards the clubhouse. I hit 2 of my best shots of the day to reach the green in two and setup an eagle putt. It was a long putt and I was happy to get a finishing birdie.
MY EXPERIENCE
Gleneagles Kings Course is a good test of golf. I shot 84 and really did not play that well. The course is difficult but my game was just not good enough to shoot a decent score.
Course was in good shape and we had perfect conditions for a day on the golf course.
It is probably not a place I will visit again but only because there is so many other good courses in the area and you are spoiled for choice when visiting this part of Scotland.
MY SCORE
