Gleneagles

By Neville Leck Last updated: 22nd August 2011

Gleneagles, venue for this week's Johnnie Walker Championship is situated on one of Scotland's most luxurious five-star resorts.

The resort is a member of the prestigious 'Leading Hotels of the World'.

Located within an hour's drive of the international airports of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Gleneagles is set in 850 acres of magnificent Perthshire countryside, is home to three of Scotland's top championship golf courses and is the venue for a wide range of exhilarating outdoor leisure activities.

A spacious new destination spa by ESPA compliments the luxury of its bedrooms and restaurants and helps make it unique place to escape for business and pleasure.

GLENEAGLES GOLF

The PGA Centenary Course where the Johnnie Walker Championship will tee off on Thursday, is one of Jack Nicklaus' modern classics.

In fact, it is more than that.

The PGA Centenary Course

The great man, holder of the record for major wins with 18 and one of modern golf's most highly acclaimed golf architects, has described the land the PGA Centenary Championship course is built on as "The finest parcel of land I have ever been given to work with".

Because of his great feelings for the land, Nicklaus decided the course had to be unique in its challenge, a course in the modern design ethos that at its fullest stretch, tests the greatest players, while, in the immortal phrase of Bobby Jones, "offering problems a man may attempt according to his ability...but never hopeless for the lesser player nor failing to concern and interest the expert."

To make this possible, all the tee boxes on the course in this picturesque corner of Perthshire in Scotland are graded in five stages including a challenging 7,320 yards from the championship blue markers down to 5,072 yards from the red so as to give golfers of every ability and handicap a challenge to enjoy.

A feature of the Course is its plethora of stunning views offered by the spectacular countryside in which Gleneagles is set.

Putting on the two-tier second green, for instance, you are distracted by the lush panorama of the rich Perthshire straths.

As you move westwards over the next few holes, the rugged Grampians come into view on the right, then looking distantly purple in the distance is Ben Vorlich and the mountains above the Trossachs.

The Kings and Queens Championship Courses

Incredibly The PGA course is just one of three magnificent 18-hole championship courses you can enjoy at the famed Gleneagles Hotel golf resort.

James Braid, a five-time winner of the Open Championship and a golf architect of great renown in in the early years of the 20th Century, was responsible for designing the King's and Queen's championship courses

The sheer natural beauty of the Queen's Course has left some of the world's most experienced golfers open mouthed while the King's Course, opened in 1919 as a masterpiece of design, has tested the aristocracy of golf, both professional and amateur.

The 'Wee Course' is there to provide an enjoyable experience for beginners while the eleven acre championship practice ground offers a superb range of practice facilities including a nine-hole pitch and putt course and several putting greens dotted around the estate

HOLE BY HOLE COURSE GUIDE

Click Here to see the official hole-by-hole course guide for the PGA Centenary Course on the Gleneagles website.

FEES

Green fees (per person):
- Visitor (15 May - 15 Oct 2010):
£155 for the PGA Centenary, King's and Queen's Courses
£30 for the Wee Course
- Hotel guests (15 May - 15 Oct 2010):
£110 for the PGA Centenary, King's and Queen's Course
£25 for the Wee Course

Hire Items (Jan-Dec 2011)

- Trolley £7
- Clubs Per Round £45 (includes 3 golf balls)
- Clubs - per day £60 (includes 3 golf balls)
- Clubs - Wee Course per 18 holes £25
- Golf cars - resident & visitors (available on The PGA Centenary course only) £50
- Shoes (includes complimentary Footjoy socks) £22.50
- Powakadies £22

THE GOLF ACADEMY:

The Golf Academy, which opened in 1994, "enshrines a philosophy," according to the Gleneagles website, "that by improving a player's performance improves their enjoyment of the game."

The academy, which includes a covered 320 yard double-ended driving range with capacity for 40 golfers, provides an important focus for developing a player's short game in addition to improving play from the tee.

The team of PGA professional coaches are qualified to improve the performance of enthusiastic beginners and advanced players alike.

Two swing rooms use the latest Dartfish software to analyse and perfect every aspect of your game, starting with your grip, and going through your posture, your rhythm and the consistency of your contact with the ball.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES (GOLF)

- The Dormy Clubhouse Bar & Restaurant: It's the ideal place to discuss your day out on ther course while enjoying top quality food and drink.

- The Dormy Suite is just one of the wide range of rooms available at the Gleneagles® Hotel for private dining or prize giving ceremonies.

- The Halfway House: Situated at the halfway point of both the Queen's and King's Courses sustenance is on hand here at the midpoint of your round. In this most natural setting of the Scottish countryside a hearty broth, hotdog or burger awaits along you along with a refreshing beer or soft drink.

The Refreshment Cart: This cart replaces the Halfway House on the PGA Centenary Course and offers coffee, tea, cold refreshments and a selection of well filled sandwiches and rolls.

OTHER FACILITIES:

Gleneagles offers some of the finest country pursuits and leisure activities you can find on a Scottish holiday. They include:

- The world famous Shooting School
- The Equestrian School - one of the most impressive riding centres in Europe
- The British School of Falconry
- The Gundog School - the first of its kind in the world
- Off-road 4x4 driving on two specially developed courses
- The Club, with two swimming pools including an outdoor hot pool, tennis courts, a gymnasium, cycle hire and walking/running tracks
- The Gleneagles Spa which offers 'The Gleneagles Day Spa Experience'. This allows guests the opportunity for day spa membership to enjoy full use of The Spa's facilities over 2 hours of treatments and lunch at Deseo at The Spa for a cost of £185 per person

CONTACT GLENEAGLES:

For further information or to make a booking please call The Gleneagles Resort Sales Team on Freephone: 0800 389 3737 (UK only) Toll Free: 1 866-881 9525 (USA only), Main: + 44 (0) 1764 662231

You can visit the resort's website at http://www.gleneagles.com/home

Neville Leck