Enter the Queen’s Course, the “pretty little sister” of Gleneagles’ three courses. It’s the most benign of the trio, but is also the most beautiful. Like its sibling the King’s Course, the Queen’s was designed by James Braid, and it’s often cited as his most elegant work.
Braid was originally instructed to create a second course that would be easier than the King’s. What he came up with, though shorter, is just about as hard to score on as its neighbor. This course demands accurate tee shots and deft putting strokes on many of its holes, and the lowly par of 68 keeps things interesting.
The Queen’s Course looks better than ever following a renovation that took place in 2017. As part of this renovation, fairway mowing lines were modified to return the course to Braid’s original layout. 89 bunkers were also rebuilt to improve drainage and enhance sandline visibility.
The efforts of this renovation are particularly evident on the 11th, where one bunker was removed and another resurrected and more strategically placed. Because if there’s any lesson to be learned from playing the Queen’s Course, it’s to not be fooled by a pretty face.