PERTHSHIRE
The home of the world’s No.2 resort is blessed with surprising depth
Think of golf in Perthshire and one name springs to mind: Gleneagles. The resort ranked as No.2 in the world is a peerless experience on and off the course. Only Bandon Dunes’ five courses surpasses it in our Resort ranking.
Perthshire’s No.1 is Gleneagles King’s and its No.2 the Queen’s, James Braid classics that adorn our GB&I ranking. They are just the start of Perthshire’s appeal, though.
3 BLAIRGOWRIE (ROSEMOUNT)
A long-time GB&I entrant that would be a worth entry now. It is a gorgeous, tranquil woodland course that’s short, forgiving and has flat, velvet greens. A pure experience.
4 BLAIRGOWRIE(LANSDOWNE)
Very different to the Rosemount, the Lansdowne is a much stiffer test and while it may lack its sister’s charm, it is a classy test.
5 GLENEAGLES (PGA)
Enjoys the same Ochil Hills setting as the Braid courses here and, of course, has the X Factor of being a Ryder Cup host.
6 AUCHTERARDER
Some say it is the third course in Auchterarder (home to Gleneagles). This fine, easy-walking parkland is literally in the shadows of the PGA Centenary course and while its modest 5,775 yardage won’t alarm most, accurate tee shots are the key to a good score.
7 PITLOCHRY
Another Scottish Top 100 entry, Willie Fernie’s par 69 has been entertaining golfers since 1908. You’ll adore the undulating greens as well as the aweinspiring mountain backdrop and sweeping views of the Tummel Valley.
8 ALYTH
Unsung Old Tom Morris/james Braid heathland. It may be on the short side, but the combination of tree-lined fairways and rolling terrain means it’s no stroll in the park with the course weaving wonderfully between pines, silver birch and heather.
9 DUNBLANE
The so-called New course, created by James Braid and Major Cecil Hutchison nearly a century ago, is a splendid parkland with glorious panoramic views in whichever direction you gaze.
10 MURRAYSHALL (MURRAYSHALL)
The main attraction at this ever-improving resort is a championship parkland immaculately plotted within 350-plus acres of beautifully idyllic countryside. Finishes with a flourish, a testing 199-yard par 3.
11 STRATHMORE
Opened in 1996 and has quickly matured and gained a reputation as a fine, friendly all-round venue. It has something for everyone, with the 18-hole par72 Rannaleroch course the main attraction.
12 CRIEFF
One of Scotland’s most handsome inland courses (1891), Old Tom Morris-designed Crieff is plotted on gently sloping parkland, once the grounds of Ferntower House.
13 KINROSS (THE MONTGOMERY)
The older and longer of the two neighbouring parkland layouts is a serious examination and finishes with a potential card-wrecking 443-yard par-4.
14 KINROSS (THE BRUCE)
Also known as the ‘Wild Child of Kinross’ owing to the fact it unusually features four par 5s in six front nine holes!
15 KING JAMES VI
Historic Old Tom Morris layout plotted on Moncreiffe Island, where it has resided since 1897. Believed to be Scotland’s only inland island course.
16 COMRIE
Among the finest and most scenic nine-holers (James Braid, 1891) in the UK. Climaxes with a nailbiting tee shot through an avenue of trees.
17 BLAIRGOWRIE (WEE)
An imaginative and charming heathland combination of par 3s and par 4s. Graced our Fun and Under £35 rankings.
18 DUNKELD AND BIRNAM
Scenic heathland opened by the Duchess of Atholl in 1922 and extended to 18 holes in 2000 with the new holes alongside the Loch of Lowes.
19 MUCKHART
Now boasts 27 holes in three loops of nine, and although all different they all fit snugly at the foot of the Ochil Hills and offer awesome views.
20 MURRAYSHALL (LYNEDOCH)
Reduced to 10 holes in 2019, but the venue’s second layout – with tighter fairways, bracken-filled gullies and tall Scots pines – is well worth putting to the test.