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— Center of the Golfing Universe — |
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Three opulent parkland courses eyeing some of Scotland's finest scenery. |
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The
Gleneagles Hotel |
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Gleneagles is Scotland’s Greenbrier: a 5-star resort hotel complex with three excellent golf courses the centrepiece activities among many gentrified country pursuits. Both resorts became famous during the heyday of rail travel when they were owned by railways (the Caledonian and the Chesapeake & Ohio, respectively) And like the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV, Gleneagles is set securely among endless lonesome mountains and valleys, yet not far from the fabled capital city of a Western nation with an imposing history. Indeed, both resorts are known for their associations with top golf playing |
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professionals, but, even more, with notable politicians and statesmen. Gleneagles, you may recall, grabbed headlines as the site of 2005’s G8 conference when dignitary motorcades, heavily armed security forces, and clamorous protest confrontations invaded the normally serene Central Scotland landscape during four tumultuous days |
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in July. There may be reasons for the average golfer not to go to Gleneagles: cost, upper class resort atmosphere, occasional crowded conditions, and the criticism that Scottish golfers have bestowed on the new Nicklaus Centenary course. However, there remain two excellent reasons to take the pilgrimage to Gleneagles: James Braid’s wonderful King’s and Queen’s courses. The 5-time British Open Champion designed many great golf courses in the British Isles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including some that still rank in the world’s top courses (three of Braid’s links course contributions, Central Ireland’s Ballybunion, |
| Central Scotland’s Carnoustie, and southwestern Scotland’s Royal Troon, are most recently ranked 7th, 8th, and 15th respectively in the world outside the USA by GolfWorld.com). Braid’s two courses at Gleneagles are often cited as his best inland course designs. Playing Gleneagles King’s and/or Queen’s invites comparison with other of James Braid’s lesser-known inland courses, including Taymouth Castle, Blairgowrie, and Boat of Garten. Fans of Braid’s work can plan a golf itinerary throughout much of Scotland permitting play on a different quality course each day for five weeks. What a great way to discover Scotland! |
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THREE DISTINCTIVE 18-HOLE COURSES:
• The King’s
Course,
designed by the great Scot James
Braid, opened in 1919.
Blue Tees: 6,790 yards, Par 71
White Tees: 6,471 yards, Par 70
Yellow Tees: 6,125 yards, Par 68
Green Tees: 5,873 yards, Par 75
Red Tees: 5,220 yards, Par 71
• The Queen’s Course, a James Braid moorland classic.
White Tees: 5,965 yards, Par 68
Yellow Tees: 5660 yards, Par 68
Red Tees: 5,495 yards, Par 74
• The PGA Centenary Course,
designed by Jack Nicklaus,
opened in 1993.
The Centenary Course will host the Ryder Cup in 2014.
Blue Tees: 7,288 yards, Par 73 (Scotland’s longest inland course)
White Tees: 6,787 yards, Par 73
Yellow Tees: 6,342/6337 yards, Par 73
Green Tees: 5,911 yards, Par 71
Red Tees: 5,284 yards, Par 73
GREENS FEES FOR VISITORS:
May—September: £130
April: £95
VISITORS WELCOME every day year round.
MAXIMUM
HANDICAPS: No handicap certificate
or club membership required.
ADVANCE TEE-TIME: required
RESERVATIONS:
Advanced reservations
are required.
Tel: 0800 389 3737 (toll-free in the
UK)
Tel: 1 866-881-9525
(toll-free in the USA)
E-mail:
http://www.gleneagles.net/golf-booking_dev.html
LET HOME AT FIRST BOOK YOUR TEE-TIME AT GLENEAGLES as part of your Scotland travel plans. There is no service charge for making your booking.
FACILITIES:
• Pull Carts (trolleys)
rental: £6
• Motorized Carts rental
(Centenary Course only): £37
• Club rental: £37/round
• Shoe & Footjoy socks
rental: £16
• Caddies: £37
• Bar & Restaurant
• Clubhouse with Locker
Rooms
• Practice Area
• Pro Shop
PACKAGES: Several combination packages of golf plus lodging plus meals are available. See the selection at http://www.gleneagles.com/defaultpage131cd0.aspx?pageID=201
LOCATION: Just west of the A823 just south of its intersection with the A824. About 9 miles south of Crieff and about 1 mile north of the A9 trunk road.
NEAREST HOME AT FIRST LODGINGS: approximately 60 minutes from our lodgings in Lochearnhead and Callander, Central Scotland. Add 10 minutes from Home At First lodgings in Balquhidder and 20 minutes from Home At First lodgings in Killin. From Home At First’s lodgings near St. Andrews in eastern Central Scotland, Gleneagles is about 60 minutes distance.
GETTING TO GLENEAGLES from:
• Lochearnhead, Killin,
& Balquhidder: drive east on the A85 from Lochearnhead
to Crieff, then south on the A822, then the A823 south to
Gleneagles Hotel &
Golf Courses.
• Callander: drive
southeast on the A84 to Doune, then east on the A820 to the
A9.
Take the A9 northeast 12 miles to the exit onto the A823
north 1 mile to the
signed left turn into the Gleneagles
Hotel & Golf Courses.
• From St. Andrews:
drive west on the A91 to the A823 north at Yetts o’
Muckhart. Drive north 9 miles on the A823 to the entrance
left turn for
Gleneagles Hotel & Golf Courses one mile north
of the A9.
OTHER GOLF IN THE AREA
within easy reach of Home At First’s lodgings in Central Scotland:
• Killin Golf Club (9 holes), Killin
• Kenmore Golf Club (9 holes), Kenmore
• Taymouth Castle (18 holes), Kenmore
•
Aberfeldy Golf Club (18 holes), Aberfeldy
• Pitlochry Golf Club (18 holes), Pitlochry
• St. Fillans Golf Club (9 holes), St.
Fillans
• Crieff Golf Club (18 holes & 9 holes), Crieff
• Comrie Golf Club (9 holes), Comrie
• Callander Golf Club (18 holes),
Callander
MORE INFORMATION ON HOME AT FIRST'S TRAVEL PROGRAM TO: THE CENTRAL SCOTLAND HIGHLANDS
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THE REGION: Central Scotland has it all: empty, dramatic Highlands, populous, industrious Lowlands, two fascinating coasts, islands big and small and far and near, insular villages, welcoming towns, and cities great and neat as rare single malt Scotch. Activities are widespread, outdoorsy, and world class: golf, kayaking, sailing & cruising, and cycling. Rivers and lochs provide excellent fishing for salmon and trout. Hiking is excellent here on many miles of marked trails, as is hillwalking (climbing), starting at Ben Vorlich (above Loch Earn within sight of Gleneagles) up to the highest reaches of Ben Lawers (above Loch Tay near Killin), one of Scotland’s highest mountains. Touring offers endless possibilities: an |
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abundance of castles, prehistoric
sites, battlefields, monastic sites, whisky distilleries, lochs, mountains,
glens, and cities, towns, and villages of all pedigrees and purposes, all with
welcoming pubs and satisfying restaurants. Shopping
provides an additional purpose to days touring by car: for woolens,
for arts and crafts, for Scotch whisky, for antiques,
and for delightful local gastronomic specialties.
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