Play next door to Gleneagles
Auchterarder is a pleasant, easy-walking 18-hole course with tree-lined fairways and views towards Gleneagles and the Ochil Hills. It is a good choice if you want to play in the Gleneagles area without making an expensive championship round the centre of your day.
Longer hitters can have a go at the par fives in two, and some of the shorter par fours may tempt them to take on the green. Everybody loves an eagle putt. The six par threes give you a different sort of test, while recreational golfers should find plenty of chances to enjoy the round.
And where the course runs right beside Gleneagles, a wild hook might be the cheapest way to get your ball onto the PGA Centenary Course. You still can’t say you’ve played it—but it would make a good story back home.
If Gleneagles is on your itinerary but its green fee is beyond your budget or no tee times are available, Auchterarder is a great option.
A natural stop on the way to Carnoustie or the Angus coast
If you’re driving from Glasgow towards Carnoustie or the Angus coast, this is an easy way to break up the journey with a round near Gleneagles. From Edinburgh, make it a planned detour if you want to see Gleneagles and play Auchterarder on the same day.
Make a day of it
Start at Gleneagles. Have a look at the hotel, browse the golf shop, and stop at The Dormy clubhouse for coffee or lunch before your round. Then head down the road to Auchterarder Golf Club and play the course you’ve just been looking across at.
If you have more time, Tullibardine Distillery in Blackford makes a good addition to the trip, particularly if you are heading south afterwards.
