Neither of the par 70 courses is overly difficult, as indicated by their ratings/slope from the back tees (Red 68/116, White 70.1/124). The fairways provide plenty of room on most holes to spray a drive, and if you do find yourself in the woods, there is usually enough space to squirm through and get back up the fairway. Most (but not all) greens are accessible without having to carry bunkers or water (although the 5th hole on the Red course has the unusual feature of a huge tree that stands in the fairway about 80 yards from the hole). But the main protector of par here are the greens; many are severely sloped from back to front and side to side, with very subtle breaks which are tricky to read. Putting can be an adventure, especially if you are above the hole.
The White course is usually considered as the better of the 2 courses, but I personally prefer the Red, which I think has a bit more variety and a higher fun factor. The Red course starts out with a short par 4 with trees tight off the left side, and a tiny postage stamp green that’s perched high above the fairway.
There’s room to bail right away from the trees, but
then you’ll have to contend with a large bunker in the side of the hill below the green. Don’t let the length (312 yds) fool you, this is not an easy hole. Three straight away par 4’s are followed by the previously mentioned 5th hole, a sharp dogleg left with the tree blocking your path; a well placed tee shot will allow you to either go over or under the tree without too much trouble. There is the opportunity for risk takers to cut the dogleg and go for the green with your drive, but you can’t see the hole from the tee and there are thick woods to carry, probably not a good play for most. The 6th hole is a short par 3 that requires a tee shot uphill to one of the tilted greens; miss your tee shot off the sides or over the back and be prepared for a treacherous 2nd shot. Hole 7 is a long par 4 that runs uphill to a small green with some subtle breaks, a really good hole, and #9 is a short par 4 with a lake the entire length of the right side, and large bunkers surrounding the green. This is a really scenic hole, especially later in the day when the sun is setting over the water.The back 9 has 3 par 5’s (10, 11 & 15) which are all good opportunities for par or better. And holes 16 & 17 are arguably the 2 best on the course. The 16th is a par 3 over a pond to a wide, plateau green; short will be in the water, long will be in the trees or out of bounds with a challenging chip shot coming back. The 17th is the “signature” hole, a 460 yard par 4 with a tough tee shot with out of bounds on the left, and a tougher 2nd shot that requires a long carry over a pond to a well bunkered green. If you’re working on a good score, this hole may be your undoing.
The White course begins with a par 4 that features one of those nasty greens (which are more numerous on the White), not a good way to start if you have a downhill 15 footer that just might roll of the green if you’re too aggressive. The 2nd hole is a good par 3 with trees tight on both sides of a large green that slopes hard to the right, and the 3rd hole is a long, uphill par 4 that usually plays into the wind, 2 really good shots will be needed to reach the green in regulation. Other highlights on the front side are #5, a tight driving hole that requires about 240 yds to avoid a blind approach down a hill to a narrow, sloping green. The 7th hole is a heavily bunkered par 3 with another slick back to front/left to right putting surface where pars are hard to come by, and the par 5 9th has the most difficult green on either course, an enormous, diabolical monster where the ball never quite does what you think it will.
There has been some renovations to the course over the years (the 10th and 16th holes on the Red course come to mind), but they are pretty much how I remember back when I started playing them (NOT in the 1920’s, as some would suggest). The layouts are both solid (good flow, enough space between greens and tees and parallel fairways), but some additional updating (more fairways like #15 White, for example) would go a long way in enhancing the experience. And some TLC would be welcomed, especially with the sand traps, which drain poorly and at times resemble the asphalt parking lot more than a proper bunker.
But in balancing the good and the bad, what these courses offer is a decently priced round of golf ($56 w/cart on weekends, or $5 less than Cog Hill 1 & 3), on a beautiful piece of land that is pure golf (you won’t be distracted by backyard sun bathers). The courses can be over powered by lower handicappers, but for most golfers they will provide enough challenge, and maybe even that “feel good” round that we all need once in a while. An added bonus is that both courses provide a great opportunity for those who prefer to walk. If you like traditional parkland courses and don’t mind a few rough edges, then you’ll probably enjoy Gleneagles.Mr Z Rating
Red Course
Layout - 7
Playability - 7
Conditioning - 6
Aesthetics - 7.5
Amenities - 7
Value - 7.5
Total Score - 70
White Course
Layout - 7.5
Playability - 7
Conditioning - 6.5
Aesthetics - 7
Amenities - 7
Value - 7.5
Total Score - 71
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