This is a short 9 Par 3 hole course forming part of the impressive 5-course complex at Gleneagles Hotel in rural Perthshire. Polly and I played here on 25 September before our round on the next morning with Craig and Stu over the PGA National Centenary Course at Gleneagles. The Academy Course, or the Wee Course as its still more generally known, is parkland/moorland in nature and at only 1481 yards, Par 27 is intended mainly as a training course for beginners. Accordingly, it's not too testing, but some of the holes require straight hitting, so be warned. This is the 3rd, a 174 yard Par 3. The plateau green is easy to miss and with the flag tucked away back left and my ball buried in the rough to the right and short of the green, I did well to escape with a bogey.
This is the 7th, a 194 yard Par 3 played from an elevated tee with the Hotel and the 1st tee of the PGA Centenary Course in the background. I had a 33, net 28 on the course or net 1 over par, with 14 putts. I thought this small course was overpriced at £25 and offered poor value. By all means play it if your playing one or more of the 3 main courses at Gleneagles (the Kings, Queens, and PGA National) but you might want to keep your cash for the Dormy clubhouse that serves all of the courses. At over £100 for a 2 course meal for 2, plus a few drinks, you may need it.
This course is £35 now. Luckily when my mate and myself were there last month, they let us play it for free as we had a day-ticket for the Kings and Queens courses. But I do agree it is overpriced. Should be £20 maximum.
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