Destinations / JOURNEY
A brief disclaimer: Although we enjoy playing golf, we
are by no means even above-average golfers. Still, it has
been a fantasy to play in Scotland — the land where golf
was invented. We played the par 71 King’s Course on our
first full day at Gleneagles. It was designed by the legend-
ary Scottish golfer James Baird and has been testing links
lovers since it opened 95 years ago. How did we do? Not the
caliber of golf the King’s Course deserves, but we received
more grins than grimaces and for us that’s a good round.
Also, considering we walked (as they do not allow golf carts
on the King’s Course), we were continually challenged and
mesmerized by the physical beauty of the well-manicured
terrain. The sun was poking in and out from behind big
puffy clouds, and there definitely was a breeze. When
we asked locals about the weather, they would say, “It’s
Scotland; we never know from one hour to the next.” When
it actually did rain one day, some people played the course
with rain gear and big umbrellas.
Baird also designed the secluded Queen’s Course,
which, being inundated with appealing things to do, we
couldn’t find time to play. But talking with golfers at the
Dormy Clubhouse bar, we learned Queen’s Course is
known throughout Europe for its wavy fairways, towering
pines and feltlike, very challenging greens.
Jack Nicklaus’ creation, the PGA Centenary Course and
the one chosen to host the 2014 Ryder Cup, is Gleneagles’
third 18-hole option. On our last day, we got in nine holes on
that absolutely gorgeous course before wind-driven showers sent us into Dormy Clubhouse for chowder and grilled
cheese. In case you’re wondering, Gleneagles provides use of
immaculate Callaway, Titleist and TaylorMade equipment,
so you don’t have to lug your bag half way around the world to
enjoy what has to be one of the world’s top golf experiences.
School of Falconry
Gleneagles offers more than golf. Has a falcon ever landed on
your forearm? One will — provided you’re wearing a thick
leather glove — when you participate in the British School of
Falconry, one of many activities offered at the resort. Truth
be told, our training was not with a falcon, but with a Harris
hawk. “Nigel, here, may seem loyal and well trained,” said
Steve Burdett, referring to the 7-year-old hawk he was about
to put through its paces, “but there’s just one thing causing
him to respond; that’s food — fresh meat, to be exact.”
Burdett, who has the wit and charm of Animal Planet ’s
late Steve Irwin, then sent Nigel flying to a perch 25
feet away. “ Watch what happens when you yell at him,”
whispered Burdett as he put a pinch of raw beef on my
