No 20 - Gleneagles - Kings
Perthshire's Gleneagles is a James Braid masterpiece and the Kings course is simply a great all-round test of golf in perfect surroundings


20 GLENEAGLES – King’s
Architect: Braid 2006 position: 10 Stats: 6,471 yds; par 70; SSS 73 GF: £70-£145 T: 0800 389 3737 W: gleneagles.com
There’s a marvellous feeling of freedom in the Gleneagles air, perhaps nowhere more than on the King’s course – James Braid’s 1919 masterpiece in the beautiful Perthshire countryside.
It may no longer be a Tour venue, but Braid’s clever design legacy means every aspect of the average golfer’s game will still be tested.
Many greens are cleverly defended by bunkers or run-offs, placing a strong emphasis on precise, well-flighted approach play.
Loved by many, for whom there is a tinge of disappointment that the Ryder Cup is coming to Gleneagles too late for the King’s to be the host course. JE + Wonderful scenery and on-course ambience; good all-round test - Lacks club atmosphere; blind approach to 3rd now a little out of place Enter your review of Gleneagles King’s course below
Where next?
>>> Top 100 Golf Courses: No. 21 Back to the Top 100 Golf Courses list - An introduction to Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses by editor, Mike Harris - Who makes up The Top 100 Golf Courses panel? - How do Golf Monthly assess the Top 100 Golf courses?
- Gallery: Golf Monthly's Top 10 Golf Courses in pictures
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Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.
Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf
Jeremy is currently playing...
Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft
3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft
Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft
Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts
Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts
Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)
Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response
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