EXCLUSIVE: Our pictures and video show a course that could be a jewel in Scotland’s crown – but lies almost empty as the wider project remains in limbo
08:15, 22 Feb 2026Updated 11:53, 22 Feb 2026
Drone footage gives incredible views of Scotland’s ‘ghost golf course
Gleneagles is a Mecca to golfers the world over. The venue has played host to the Scottish Open and Solheim Cup and was the centre of the sporting world when the Ryder Cup was held there in 2014.
With three quality courses sprawling out across the rolling Perthshire countryside, it is easy to see why so many people flock to the fairways every year. But right next door is a golf course said to be Gleneagles’ equal.
But there’s a catch – hardly anyone has ever played it. In fact, the public has barely been given a glimpse inside – with some even chased off for walking on it. But the Scottish Express can now share this incredible drone footage of the golf course that is supposed to be the centrepiece of the gWest development.
Despite the project sitting in limbo, a full greenkeeping staff continues the upkeep of the course. With pristine fairways, spectacular bunkers and glistening water features, the course expertly blends into the landscape and looks every inch a venue that could be a jewel in Scotland‘s golfing crown.
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The images include close ups of the domed clubhouse, nicknamed ‘The Mosque’ locally, but actually a homage to Mereworth Castle in Kent. Yet, even if the gWest development ever goes ahead, the course is likely to remain the preserve of a select few. Unveiled almost 20 years ago, gWest is mooted as an exclusive, private community for the ultra-rich.
The driving force behind the project is Mahdi Al Tajir, owner of nearby Highland Spring, in the village of Blackford, and one of the richest men in Scotland with a net worth of over £1.6 billion. According to the gWest website, the estate covers an area of more than 620 acres.
The shell of the clubhouse, known locally as ‘The Mosque'(Image: Alasdair MacLeod)
Initial plans for gWest set out proposals for 170 homes – all with seven-figure price tags. The course, designed by celebrated course architect David McLay Kidd, was completed in 2009 and the select few who have played it – including 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson – have raved about its quality.
When the course opened, it seemed to be full-steam ahead for gWest, but the financial crash of the late 2000s and the uncertainty created by the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 set the project back. In 2016, it seemed to be back on track with designers unveiling plans for a suite-only ultra-luxury hotel and spa facility.
But Brexit added to the political upheaval and the future of the project appears uncertain. Speaking in 2020, al-Tajir’s son Mohsin blamed the political climate of the past 15 years for the delays – as well as criticising the local community for its lack of support for the family.
Designed by David McLay Kidd, the select few to have played gWest rave about its quality(Image: Alasdair MacLeod)
One local we spoke to was sceptical that there would ever be a gated community on the site. They added: “I can’t imagine anyone paying that sort of money to live there. It’s a lovely view over the valley, but it’s very windswept. It’s not somewhere you’d want to live in Scotland in the winter.”
A spokeswoman for gWest insisted the al-Tajir family was “fully committed to maintaining the golf course and wider estate as these plans”. She told the Scottish Express: “We are currently considering a range of options for the gWest estate.
“This is a unique and significant opportunity, and we want to ensure that any further development is progressed with careful consideration and delivered to an exceptional standard with the right strategic partners.” Locals, though, remain in limbo and issues have been raised about access to the site.
The course blends in perfectly with the Perthshire countryside(Image: Alasdair MacLeod)
Dog walkers report being asked to leave the grounds by the security guards that patrol the site, despite Scotland’s access laws. And while the course is little used, plush cars have been spotted driving up to the site, suggesting someone is enjoying the course.
Asked to comment, the Blackford Community Council directed us to a comment it made public in 2022, saying it was still relevant, about an “ongoing access issue” at the gWest site. It added: “The course is playable but the building work is incomplete. Following a spate of damage to the clubhouse, gWest employed a security guard to ensure further damage did not occur.
Locals have complained about access to the site(Image: Alasdair MacLeod)
“Following complaints about access received by Blackford Community Council, some Community. Councillors visited the site. They were also told by the guard that public access is restricted to the core path. This however does not fit with the Scottish Right to roam legislation.”
For the time being, the gWest project is on ice, with planning permissions having lapsed. It remains to be seen of the project is resurrected in some form.
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