Perthshire Golf Courses - Gleneagles Hotel

The Links of Carnoustie is generally accepted as one of the ultimate tests in golf. The British Open returned here in 1999, with Scotland's Paul Lawrie winning a 4-way play-off, which included Frenchman Jean van de Velde, who needed only a 6 on the par-4 last for victory. Ben Hogan won here in 1953, and the par-5 6th Hole at Carnoustie was officially renamed after him in 2003 as Hogan's Alley, because of the Champions strategy of driving between the fairway bunkers and out-of-bounds, to set up winning birdies. Carnoustie once again will host the British Open in 2007.

Jack Nicklaus describes the Gleneagles Centenary course as "The finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with".

From the back tees, the PGA Centenary Course is the longest inland course in Scotland. The tees are however graded at each hole in five stages, including a challenging 6,558 yards from the white markers down to 5,072 from the red.

A feature of the PGA Centenary Course is the feast of views of the spectacular countryside in which Gleneagles is set - a scene which will become more familiar to golfers worldwide when the Centenary course hosts the Ryder Cup in 2008.

The Gleneagles King's Course, opened in 1919, is a masterpiece designed by James Braid to test the shot-making skills of even the best player over 18 holes.

As a course, the King’s Course is certainly one of the most beautiful and exhilarating places to play golf in the world, with the springy moorland turf underfoot, the sweeping views from the tees all around, the rock-faced mountains to the north, the green hills to the south, and the peaks of the Trossachs and Ben Vorlich on the western horizon. As a test, selecting the right club for each approach shot is the secret on the King's.

All the holes have evocative and pithy Scots names. For example, the fifth, "Het Girdle" (Hot Pan), is a challenging par 3 with trouble everywhere except on the green, while the 17th's name, "Warslin' Lea" (Wrestling Ground), reflects the difficulty so many golfers have had with this long, sweeping par 4.

The natural beauty of the Gleneagles Queen's Course inspires the world's most experienced players.

Threading through high ridges on the north and west sides of the estate, the Queen's offers lovely woodland settings, lochs and ditches as water hazards, as well as many moorland characteristics.

While the length of the course suggests a more leisurely challenge than on the other Gleneagles courses, the Queen’s does tend to surprise the golfer with well-positioned bunkers and small greens placing a strong emphasis on course management.

“Six miles south of Scotland’s Old Course at St Andrews is the new Kingsbarns Golf Links, so splendiferous in its concept and execution that we felt compelled to declare it our first ever Best New International Course” – Golf Digest, 2001.

Kingsbarns is a relatively new but classic links set against the rugged coastline of the North Sea in the most famous stretch of golfing terrain in the world. The land in East Fife is perfect for golf and Kingsbarns makes great use of the sandy soils, ridges and hollows. Glorious sea views, deep, revetted bunkers, smooth, undulating greens and the picturesque Cambo burn make for an attractive but stern test of golf which requires excellent shotmaking.

The course is now included within the end of PGA European Tour season Dunhill Links Championship!

Muirfield is a renowned host to major championships - eleven Amateur Championships have been played over the course and 15 Open Championships.

With the exception of the Championship tees, the course has changed little since 1936. In 2008 however, in conjunction with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, golf architect Martin Hawtree was commissioned to advise the Club on how best to ensure Muirfield remains a challenge to the world’s great golfers. As a result, some amendments are being made before the next Open Championship scheduled to be played in 2013.

The ethos of golf for the Club (The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers) is two-ball match play on Muirfield, either singles or foursomes, other forms being discouraged but permitted on occasion.

Among the most memorable rounds at Muirfield was Nick Faldo’s march of 18 straight pars to defeat Paul Azinger to the his first Open in 1988. More recently, Ernie Els captured his only Open Championship at Muirfield in 2002. For many golfers worldwide, Muirfield offers the ultimate golfing experience.