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From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Gleneagles Centenary Course
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The PGA Centenary Course, originally called the Monarchs course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and opened in 1993. It is a modern "American" style course located in the midst of Scotland's Highlands on an 850 acre resort, Gleneagles. The course plays 6,558 yards from the back tees and begins at the first hole playing southeast towards the glen. It moves up the Ochil Hills to the summit of the pass below Ben Shee which joins it to Glendevon, and the views of the countryside continue through the course. It's rather typical Nicklaus, lots of bunkers, long, large undulating greens, and some water. If you've been playing links courses before you get here, you'll need to switch back to your "flying the ball to the pin" shots as the greens are ample and soft. The Ryder Cup is scheduled to be played here in 2014, and it is fitting indeed. The very first attempt to set up a International event between the US and Great Britain was held here in 1921 with Harry Vardon, joined by James Braid, J.H. Taylor from the UK who prevailed over a group of Americans which included Walter Hagen. The US lost 9 to 3 with three matches halved, and it was played on the Kings Course.
Published by: rogern
Posted by: Trevor
Dec 25th, 2009
Loved playing the Centenary course, it will be a fantastic venue for the Ryder Cup. Immaculate conditioning, interesting "American style" of layout, a bit refreshing to be able to take a buggie! Suggestion, playing here is expensive, staying here even more, we stayed at the Cairn Lodge, about a mile away, very nice facility, half the cost of staying at Gleneagles, et still able to play any of the courses.
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Posted by: Jason B
Jul 26th, 2009
An American style course in the Highlands, definitely a nice break from the links style courses we've been experiencing here, and extremely well done design-wise, and top shelf conditioning and service. Quite an atmosphere and experience here, must return,
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Posted by: JayM
Mar 18th, 2009
I've got to say that I rather enjoyed the Nicklaus course here over the Kings, It had been at the tail end of our trip, and we'd been beaten up by the links golf, and welcomed the ability to ride a cart for 18 holes, which they allow you to do here. Very nice course, tough Nicklaus type of layout, and a beautiful setting. The Kings is a killer.
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Posted by: joes
Aug 12th, 2008
The trip to Gleneagles was not suppose to be problematic, but with the Scotish road system we had a couple of problems, requiring two stops for direction. There was a sign that said, “Welcome to the Kingdom of Fife”, and I expected Bilbo Bagan to step out from behind a tree. We were in the central part of Scotland, near Perth. We made our tee time with 5 minutes to spare after being in the car for 2 hours. The ride home took us about 90 minutes. The Google directions said, “Make a U turn”, sort of in thin air, and we missed a turn. The Centenary course is a Nicklaus design, and if you didn’t know it, you wouldn’t know that you had left the states. Bent grass fairways, bent and poanna greens, it was like being at TVCC, except the greens were slower than Todd at the bar. You either left putts short or your frustration level kicked up and a few putts went flying by the hole. The bump and run shot you perfected at the Old Course went right out the window, and you had to remember how to hit a pitch shot. The wind was strong all day and caused great deliberation on club selection. The front 9 was very interesting, but the back was a bit mundane, and reminded me of some of the courses in North Carolina. Unlike the course at St. Andrews, you flew the ball to about 15 feet of the hole, then three putted. The “three putt jar” is just about filled, as is the swearing jar. I’ll post some pictures tomorrrow, but we had a good round and, best part, got to take golf carts. Saved our legs and we didn’t have to work so hard, although it was carts on path. In 2014 the Ryder Cup will be played here and if they don’t take care of some of the green issues, the Americans will have a frustrating time. The rough was about 1 foot tall and if you missed the fairway by 20 feet you either had an impossible lie, or a lost ball. Twenty five feet off the fairway and you didn’t even look for the ball.
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