Perthshire golf guide
A three-day Perthshire golf itinerary
Perthshire is inland golf at its best — moorland and heathland framed by hills and pine. Gleneagles can fill two days on its own, and Blairgowrie adds Scotland’s finest heathland course a short drive away, so a three-day route needs very little travel.
Day 1
Gleneagles King’s and Queen’s
Start with James Braid’s pair: the King’s is the moorland masterpiece, the Queen’s a shorter, more intimate companion that makes a natural 36-hole day on the estate.Day 2
Gleneagles PGA Centenary
Give the Jack Nicklaus course that hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup its own day. It is the modern, championship-scaled contrast to the two classic Braid layouts.Day 3
Blairgowrie Rosemount and Lansdowne
Finish among the pines and heather at Blairgowrie. Rosemount is widely rated Scotland’s best heathland course, with the Lansdowne alongside for a full day.Local judgement
Four Perthshire courses to plan around
Gleneagles and Blairgowrie between them define Perthshire golf: three contrasting courses on one estate, plus Scotland’s finest heathland layout a short drive north.
Gleneagles King’s
Gleneagles (King's)
James Braid’s crowning moorland design — rippling fairways, heather and birch, and arguably the finest moorland course anywhere.Explore the course →Gleneagles Queen’s
Gleneagles (Queen's)
Braid’s shorter second masterpiece, rewarding shot-making and creativity over raw power.Explore the course →Blairgowrie Rosemount
Blairgowrie (Rosemount)
Set among majestic pines at the feet of the Grampians — widely regarded as Scotland’s finest heathland course.Explore the course →PGA Centenary
Gleneagles (PGA Centenary)
The Jack Nicklaus course that staged the 2014 Ryder Cup, the modern championship contrast at Gleneagles.Explore the course →The Perthshire courses in more detail
A Perthshire trip is really two destinations — the Gleneagles estate and Blairgowrie — with a couple of scenic, well-priced courses to round things out.
Gleneagles King’s and Queen’s
The King’s is James Braid’s moorland masterpiece and the reason many golfers come to Perthshire: a majestic landscape of rippling fairways, heather and birch that plays firm and strategic. The Queen’s is shorter and more intimate but no less charming, and the two together make an ideal 36-hole day on the estate.
Gleneagles PGA Centenary
Designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1993, the PGA Centenary is the modern championship stage at Gleneagles and the course that hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup. It is longer and more American in feel than the two Braid courses, which makes it a genuine change of pace within the same resort.
Blairgowrie Rosemount and Lansdowne
Blairgowrie is a short drive north and a different world of golf again: Rosemount winds through majestic pines, birch and heather and is regularly rated Scotland’s finest heathland course. The Lansdowne alongside is a sterner, more modern test, so the two make a rewarding full day away from the links.
Auchterarder and Pitlochry
For value and scenery, Auchterarder sits right beside the Gleneagles estate and offers an enjoyable, affordable round, while Pitlochry climbs into Highland Perthshire for one of the most scenic short courses in the country. Neither is a trip-anchor, but both are lovely additions when the schedule allows.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Perthshire
The Gleneagles Hotel is the destination stay if the estate is your focus, with Auchterarder and Perth offering more flexible bases for the wider region.
Five-star resort on the estate
The Gleneagles Hotel
The obvious splurge if Gleneagles is the centrepiece. Guests get priority tee times across the three courses, making a two or three-course visit far simpler to arrange.Village base near Gleneagles