The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa

The Old Course Hotel is home to 35 beautiful suites, including 16 Old Course Suites with silk-lined walls. Suite 268 (an Old Course Suite) is often referred to as the “Tiger Woods Suite” in honour of a very famous former guest.

Twenty three of the suites have been completely redesigned with sumptuous interiors by star French designer Jacques Garcia (of Hôtel Costes, Paris and Hôtel Metropole, Monte Carlo fame) – think rich, red, divine opulence. The majority of the suites have private balconies with picture-postcard views of the Old Course and the town of St Andrews. Many of the suites feature the distinctive Kohler bathroom products, including the Kohler chromatherapy (colour therapy) baths.

The Fairway Suites, in the Millennium Wing, are the newest of all the suites and are all very spacious with a separate living room area, bedroom, luxury bathroom and all have balconies with views of the Old Course. These suites all feature contemporary photography of St Andrews including St Andrews Cathedral, Old Tom Morris and West Sands Beach, and some have open fireplaces.

The Royal & Ancient Suite – and some say one of the best in Scotland – is situated above the famous 17th fairway of the Old Course, offering spectacular views across the links courses to the sea. This suite, which has direct views of its namesake, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews – the caretaker of the rules of golf and development body and organiser of The Open Championship – features a relaxing lounge with open fireplace and large dining area, bedroom and a large marble bathroom with separate changing area. The Royal & Ancient offers the highest standards of design and comfort, including a CD player, video and two televisions.

History

1968 – The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa was constructed on the site of the original St Andrews’ railway station. The hotel was built on underground floats to counterbalance the ever-moving sand on which it stands. This magnificent hotel, which flanks the fairway of the 17th Road Hole on the world-famous Old Course, has become an icon thanks to its location and subsequent pan-global TV exposure during major golfing events.

1974 – The historic Jigger Inn, which was originally built as the station master’s lodge circa 1850, became part of the Old Course Hotel. Structurally nothing has changed since 1850 as the Jigger Inn is a listed building. Today the Jigger Inn is a cosy and informal pub, fondly referred to as the town’s best 19th hole.

Between 1982 to 2004 – The property was developed through a progression of changing ownership and in 1984, the hotel was re-developed to coincide with the British Open Championship and re-opened by HRH The Princess Royal. Previous owners include the British Transport Authority, European Ferries, the entrepreneur Frank Sheridan, P&O Ferries, Seiyo Saison, The Kosaido Co. Ltd and finally, in October 2004, American investors Kohler Co. Since Kohler’s ownership, the hotel has been fully refurbished, taking in the public areas, all bedrooms and suites, conference rooms, The Duke’s, Sands Restaurant and the fourth floor (Road Hole Grill and Road Hole Bar).

1995 – The Duke’s opened as St Andrews’ first parkland golf course. The inaugural tee shot was played by HRH The Duke of York. The course, which was designed by five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson, achieved championship status in 1996. Bunkers were created using selected sands from Scottish town Broxburn and the capital city of Edinburgh, and all vegetation originally used was indigenous in respect of the natural environment: trees are beech, oak, rowan, silver birch, sycamore; plants include 35,000 gorse, 15,000 broom, 5,000 heather; grasses were sheep’s fescue and crested dogtail. The amount of turf to lay the course was equivalent to that required for eight football pitches, 15,000m of perforated drainage and 7,000m of solid pipe were laid on the course and construction took 23 months from first turf-cutting to opening. HRH The Duke of York is the Patron of The Duke’s, while Gavin Hastings, former Scotland Rugby Captain, is the Captain of the Clubhouse.

2000 – The “Millennium Wing” was opened, which spans three floors and houses the stunning and contemporary Fairway Suites, as well as state-of-the-art conference and banqueting suites.

2006 – In March, Kohler Waters Spa officially opened as one of Europe’s most advanced concepts in total well-being.  Luxury facilities include 11 treatment rooms including two designed specifically for Kohler Waters treatments with a Vichy shower and Sok overflowing bath, a 19.5-metre swimming pool with its very own cascading waterfall, rooftop hot tub, thermal suite with its own hydrotherapy pool, plunge pool, Japanese steam room, sauna with light therapy and laminar flow showers, fitness suite and a luxury make-up studio and Kohler nail room.

2006 – In June, The Duke’s re-opened, transformed by American golf course architect Tim Liddy, protégé of Pete Dye, and one of the most talked-about influences in the modern game, whilst the most recent remodelling and creation of a further five tees on each hole has broadened the flexibility of the course, making The Duke’s one of the finest inland championship tests in the British Isles.  This dynamic development is integral to the vision to shape the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa as one of the world’s leading, luxury golf and spa resorts.

2008 – The Old Course Hotel celebrated its “40th” anniversary.

2008 – Worked started at the Victorian mansion, Craigtoun House, at The Duke’s, with a mission to create one of the world’s most luxurious private residence clubs for golfers and guests.