Gleneagles : A Class Unto Its Own

If you had not already noticed Gleneagles was on a roll with the G8 Conference, the 2014 Ryder Cup and Andrew Fairlie’s second Michelin star (Scotland’s only such restaurant), now they have begun a £3.5 million refurbishment of the hotel’s entire top floor. The project will completely renovate the space in order to produce nine fourth floor 2 bedroom suites and a 1 bedroom suite. One will be split-level with bedrooms, a luxurious bathing room and steam shower on the lower floor and a spiral staircase leading to an upstairs lounge. The project is overseen by international designer Amanda Rosa, who is responsible for creating the interiors which will have a contemporary feel and will be dressed in natural soothing tones of sage, cream and brown. Silk, velvet and cotton textures will create warmth and depth. All will have magnificent views. The work is on schedule for completion in May 2007. A boardroom is also being created on the top floor, taking advantage of the views within a relaxed business environment.

Additional refurbishment of the main hotel’s corridors will begin at the same time and is due to be completed by mid-March 07. This project is being overseen by interior designers, Sedley Place, who are placing new wall coverings, carpeting, lighting and furnishings on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors of the hotel.

The Story of Gleneagles

Gleneagles, the 'Palace in the Glens', lies at the heart of Scotland, but the resort is only a one hour motorway drive from Edinburgh and Glasgow. This Five Red Star golf resort hotel is set in 850 acres of stunning scenery in Perthshire, Scotland. It was designed in the style of a French chateau. Capability Brown, the celebrated 18th century landscape gardener, inspired the landscaping. Due to the current fourth floor renovations, the room count has changed. Currently it is 232 bedrooms including 16 suites and from May 2007 it will be 232 bedrooms and 26 suites.

Braid House, an additional accommodation wing, opened at a cost of £10 million in December 2002. This wing houses 59 luxurious bedrooms, many of which have balconies and four state-of-the-art meeting rooms. An investment programme in excess of £60 million has shaped a luxury destination for the 21st century. Gleneagles celebrated its 80th anniversary in June 2004.

Golf

Golf at Gleneagles is a perfect pleasure offered by three distinct courses:

PGA Centenary Course

The PGA Centenary Course put Jack Nicklaus to task. It had to be a great course, set as it is in the heart of Scotland, the country that gave the world golf. Nicklaus described the site as "The finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with." which is a challenge akin to being expected to win. Moreover, he would follow in the great James Braid’s footsteps at renowned Gleneagles. Pressure? It focuses the senses, and inspired Mr. Nicklaus to one of his most prized accomplishments.

From the back tees, the PGA Centenary Course measures 7,088 yards, the longest inland course in Scotland. However, the tees are graded at each hole in five stages, including a challenging 6,558 yards from the white markers down to 5,072 from the red. Fittingly, the PGA Centenary Course begins by playing southeast towards the famed glen of the eagles sweeping up the Ochil Hills to the summit of the pass below Ben Shee which joins it to Glendevon.

A feature of the PGA Centenary Course is the feast of views of the spectacular countryside in which Gleneagles is set. Putting on the two-tier second green, you are distracted by the lush panorama of the rich Perthshire straths. As you move westwards over the next few holes, the rugged Grampians come into view on the right, then distantly purple ahead, Ben Vorlich and the mountains above the Trossachs.

Gleneagle’s privilege to host the 2014 Ryder Cup is anxiously awaited!

Queen's Course

Threading through high ridges on the north and west sides of the estate, the Queen's offers lovely woodland settings, lochans and ditches as water hazards, like a splendid classic moorland links. Great names have enjoyed this unusual 5,965 yard par 68 on numerous occasions: Johnny Miller, Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, and Lee Trevino, as well as great names from the entertainment and sports worlds including Sean Connery, Burt Lancaster, Bing Crosby, Jackie Stewart, and moon golfer Alan Shepard!

King's Course

The King's Course, opened in 1919, is a masterpiece of design by James Braid who has placed an absolute premium on club selection. Sloping greens and yawning bunkers await if you’re wrong. The King’s Course is certainly one of the most exhilarating places to play golf in the world. With springy moorland turf underfoot, the sweeping views from the tees all around, the rock-faced mountains to the north, the green hills to the south, and the peaks of the Trossachs and Ben Vorlich on the western horizon. The layout is par 71 -- 6790 for the boys and 5220 for the girls

Gleneagles Golf Academy

The Golf Academy at Gleneagles enshrines the philosophy that improving a player's performance improves their enjoyment of the game. The Academy provides an important focus for developing a player's short game in addition to improving play from the tee, and includes a covered 320 yard double-ended driving range with capacity for 40 golfers.

Fine Dining

Gleneagles has earned international acclaim for the excellence and variety of dishes prepared in the Kitchens. The Strathearn is Gleneagles' two rosette award winning restaurant with magnificent views across the estate. The service is stylish and the food is from a classical era. Its dressy if you like, or smart/casual. The very best of the world's wines await your arrival and there is a collection of some of the rarest malt whiskies in Scotland.

In May 2001, Michelin award winning chef, Andrew Fairlie, opened his own restaurant at the hotel offering the delights of French influenced cuisine. The restaurant received Michelin Star rating in January 2002, after only 8 months of opening, and another in January 2006 making it the only two star in Scotland.

The Club & Spa

The Club at Gleneagles sets new trends in leisure enjoyment for members and guests alike. Facilities include a 20 metre length lap pool, leisure pool and Jacuzzi, and outdoor hot pool; 280m² gymnasium with 28 types of Technogym cardiovascular equipment, 18 flat-screen televisions, and Wellness computer system monitoring individual’s performance; aerobics dance studio; lavishly appointed health suite with mixed steam baths, sauna and solarium; and luxurious changing accommodation. The Club restaurant is equipped with a wood-fired pizza oven and wood-burning grill.

Adjoining The Club, The Spa offers an exclusive range of beauty care and therapeutic treatments with ten treatment rooms for gentlemen and ladies, sauna, steam and hydrotherapy bath, and hairdressing at The Salon.

Shooting & Fishing

Shooting and fishing enjoy a world class reputation at Gleneagles for providing the most expert instruction in all disciplines, at all levels of skill. Guests come from all over the world to test their skill in shooting clay targets, and fly fishing for novice and experienced anglers is available at lochs on the estate and locally.

Gleneagles' skilled ghillies will share their unrivalled knowledge with anglers at all levels of experience who can enjoy their sport on local salmon beats.

Falconry

Courses at The British School of Falconry at Gleneagles are internationally acclaimed as the finest introduction to the ancient sport. Lessons meet every level of experience and involvement, and guests who are seriously keen can develop their skills further by hawking on the Perthshire moors. Gleneagles invested £¼ million in a new falconry building, which is, located a short walk from the hotel’s reception.

Equestrian

The Gleneagles Equestrian School is one of the world's finest equestrian facilities and has become one of the largest training and examination centres for British Horse Society qualifications. More than 70 competition days are held each year for all disciplines. Stabling is available for 43 horses, including more than 20 mounts available for students and guests. Private and group lessons are available on own mounts or centre mounts for adults and young riders under 14 years. Tuition includes the art of riding sidesaddle, the new sport of vaulting and carriage driving.

Gleneagles: The Perfect Extension to the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie
Visit Gleneagles before or after either of our exclusive 2007 British Open Grand Tours
2007 British Open by Sea
2007 British Open Aboard The Royal Scotsman

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