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January 24, 2019 by Alexander Meldrum
Gleneagles Hotel
History
The hotel, which opened in 1924, was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company which also built the nearby Gleneagles railway station. The hotel itself once had its o...Gleneagles Hotel
History
The hotel, which opened in 1924, was built by the former Caledonian Railway Company which also built the nearby Gleneagles railway station. The hotel itself once had its own dedicated railway branch line.
During the Second World War, as with many large country hotels, it was converted into Gleneagles Hospital under the charge of Dr Thomas Ferguson as Medical Superintendent.
The hotel's golf course and luxurious surroundings meant that golf and grouse shooting at Gleneagles had, by the 1950s, become a fixed part of high society's calendar, along with yachting at Cowes and polo at Deauville.
When the hotel was being built, an up-and-coming dance band leader named Henry Hall was involved in buying their pianos and organising the dance band entertainment.
He decided that radio broadcasts would be an ideal way to advertise the new hotel, so was given permission to move his Trafford Band from Manchester's Midland Hotel to the Gleneagles and form a new band in Manchester.
The hotel's opening night was celebrated with Scotland's first ever outside broadcast on 4 June 1924.
After the season ended, the band moved to the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. Summer 1925 saw the band return to Gleneagles, although their commercial recordings were made in Manchester, and the winter seasons were in Liverpool.
Between 1982 and 1986, £11 million was spent on renovation and since 1982 the hotel has been open all year round. In 1986, and every year since the hotel has been awarded five red stars by the AA.
The hotel was owned for 31 years by the international alcoholic beverage firm Diageo until it was sold to a private investment company Ennismore in 2015.
The hotel was redeveloped in preparation for hosting the 40th Ryder Cup Matches in 2014 played on the PGA Centenary Course.
Facilities
Restaurants
Gleneagles has 9 bars and restaurants.
Golf
Gleneagles has remained famous for its golf courses: the King's Course, Queen's Course and PGA Centenary Course, previously known as the Monarch's Course.
There is also a nine-hole course called the PGA National Academy Course, informally known as the Wee Course. Gleneagles Golf Academy opened in 1994 and in 2010 was re-branded to The PGA National Academy for Scotland.
The Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course opened in 1993 and hosted the Ryder Cup in 2014. When asked about his work, Nicklaus said, "It's the finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with."
Significant tournaments that have taken place (or will take place) at Gleneagles include:
Glasgow Herald Tournament from 1920 to 1927
Curtis Cup in 1936
Women's British Open in 1957
Scottish Open from 1987 to 1994
McDonald's WPGA Championship of Europe from 1996 to 1999
Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles from 1999 to 2013
40th Ryder Cup Matches in 2014
European Golf Team Championships in 2018
Solheim Cup in 2019
Conference venue
Significant conferences that have taken place (or will take place) at Gleneagles include:
The Gleneagles Agreement on sporting contacts with South Africa at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1977.
The 1986 meeting ( 25–27 April) of the Bilderberg Group
31st G8 summit in July 2005. This meeting saw the foundation of the G8+5.
Other facilities
Sir Jackie Stewart, of Formula One fame, developed close ties with Gleneagles Hotel and established a successful clay pigeon shooting school, now known as The Gleneagles Shooting and Fishing School.
The British School of Falconry has been located at Gleneagles since 1992.
Glenmor Holiday Homes
The village of Glenmore has holiday homes set within the grounds of the hotel.
The homes are leased to owners for periods of one or more weeks per year until 2058 (55 years since opening in 2003).
Awards
Gleneagles Hotel has won/holds many awards, including
5 Red AA Stars (since 1986)
Conde Nast Gold List 2009 - Best Hotel in the World for Facilities
Scotland's leading resort at the World Travel Awards 2008
Best Golf Resort in the World (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017) - Ultratravel Magazine
Scotland's Best Hotel - Today's Golfer Travel Awards (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017)
Go to Wikipedia for more facts.
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