Nestled amid the undulating hills of Perthshire, the championship courses of the world-renowned Gleneagles Hotel—historic hosts to some of golf’s most celebrated moments—recently welcomed an unexpected guest: Canadian pop artist Justin Bieber.
Over the weekend, the 31-year-old entertainer was seen confronting the characteristically dreich Scottish weather as he navigated the iconic greens near the Highlands, employing a golf buggy to traverse the course. His leisure tour concluded with a visit to St Andrews, where he was observed enjoying a bottle of locally brewed Innis & Gunn beer while posing beneath the evening sunset. The singer appeared to endorse the beverage with a characteristic thumbs-up and broad smile, images of which he later shared on social media.
Accompanied by members of his entourage—and notably apart from his wife, Hailey Bieber, and their one-year-old son, Jack Blues—Bieber’s stay included an afternoon tea at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel and an impromptu piano performance of one of his recent compositions. His Scottish excursion follows previous remarks in which the artist humorously hinted at exchanging his music career for one in professional golf.
Having released two albums, Swag and Swag II, in July and September respectively, Bieber has been increasingly seen practicing at exclusive golf venues in California, where he resides with his family. Accordingly, his visit to what is widely regarded as the “home of golf” appeared both fitting and symbolic—even if it required the addition of a Saltire beanie and a windbreaker jacket to weather the storm.
Following his time at Gleneagles, Bieber proceeded to the Castle Course in St Andrews, braving Storm Amy—whose high winds left parts of Scotland without power—to complete the 18-hole round alongside his companions. Although he did not participate in the concurrent Dunhill Links Championship, Bieber was in proximity as Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre secured the £700,000 grand prize.
Despite weather interruptions that briefly suspended tournament play, Bieber appeared undeterred, pausing intermittently for photographs. During his stay, a honeymooning couple at Gleneagles reported a chance encounter with the singer, describing him as “very pleasant,” though they refrained from requesting a photo out of respect for his privacy. They later discovered that a photo Bieber posted from the resort’s breakfast room incidentally featured them in the background.
The trip was punctuated by lighthearted moments shared online, including a late-night attempt by Bieber and his friends to place an order at a fast-food drive-thru.
His upbeat demeanor in Scotland contrasts with recent sightings in Los Angeles, where he appeared pensive in public shortly after news emerged of his former partner Selena Gomez’s marriage to record producer Benny Blanco—a development that prompted a wave of social media commentary directed at Bieber and his wife.#newsafro_
