Great British Courses

With the Open returning to the Lancashire coast for the first time since 2008 when Royal Birkdale hosted the championship, Alex Jenkins and Mark Alexander highlight the best of the island's other golfing regions.

Gleneagles Estate in Perthshire

Perthshire
 

As the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2014, the lochs and glens of Perthshire will provide the perfect backdrop for the most anticipated tournament in golf. One venue that takes full advantage of the region’s dramatic views is the sprawling Gleneagles estate which is set in 850 acres of rolling countryside and boasts three championship courses, an award-winning spa and an array of outdoor activities. As well as hosting the Ryder Cup, the resort is also home to a number of renowned restaurants including the famed two-Michelin star eatery run by Andrew Fairlie.

Elsewhere, the James Braid course at Blairgowrie – known as Rosemount – is a perennial favourite with connoisseurs of the game, while nearby Pitlochry Golf Club offers a warm welcome and a challenging round through stunning scenery. Another example of Braid’s work is Alyth Golf Club which opened in 1894 after Old Tom Morris laid out the original nine holes and Braid extended it 40 years later.

As well as a bounty of picturesque golf courses, Perthshire is also home to 250 miles of waymarked paths that ramble through Roman camps, medieval castles and whisky distilleries. The Cairngorms National Park also provides a stunning playground for those with outdoor pursuits in mind.

Contacts
Gleneagles www.gleneagles.com
Blairgowrie Golf Club www.theblairgowriegolfclub.co.uk
Pitlochry Golf Club www.pitlochrygolf.co.uk
Alyth Golf Club www.alythgolfclub.co.uk

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Written by Alex Jenkins and Mark Alexander

Photography by David Cannon

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