Pitlochry Golf Club

The Pitlochry course climbs 400 feet in the first three holes — starting at valley level beside the town and arriving at the upper plateau by the time the routing settles into its rhythm. This elevation gain is the defining character of the round. Willie Fernie of Troon, winner of the 1883 Open Championship, designed the course; Major Cecil Hutchison later revised it. It opened in 1909 on ground that looks down over the River Tummel and the forested ridges of the Tay Forest Park.

What makes Pitlochry distinctive is the elevation and the views. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd climb steadily; the 4th plays out across the valley with the Tay Forest visible on the western horizon; the 7th and 8th sit at the highest point of the course. The walk back down to the clubhouse on the 17th and 18th is one of the more pleasant in Scottish golf, a long descent with the town and the river spread out below.

Par is 69 across 5,800 yards — short by championship standards but the elevation changes add several clubs to most approach shots. Buggies are available and worth the £30 hire fee for the climb up the 1st. Visitor green fees of £45–£65 are reasonable for a course of this scenic quality.

Pitlochry the town is a Victorian-era spa resort with hotels, restaurants, and the Festival Theatre next door to the golf course. The course is closed in heavy snow but otherwise plays year-round. For visitors driving the A9 between Edinburgh and Inverness, Pitlochry is the natural stopping point — and the round is the natural reason to break the journey.