Going for Golf

Fairmont St Andrews - Five-star luxury at the home of golf

Fairmont St Andrews

The Old Course has been lengthened on more than one occasion to cope with the demands of modern golf and the town is teaming with bars and restaurants. There’s no doubt the Kingdom of Fife’s most famous venue would be virtually unrecognisable to his eyes but something tells me he would derive a great deal of pleasure from St Andrews’ role as the golfing Mecca, bar none.

The choice isn’t strictly limited to the golf either. Visitors to St Andrews can choose anything from youth hostels to five-star hotels as their base for a golfing break and it’s hard to ignore the sheer modern-day luxury on offer at resorts such as the world-renowned Fairmont St Andrews.

Positioned at St Andrews Bay atop a cliff overlooking the ancient town, the view from the hotel is tantamount to golfing pornography. Inside both the hotel and the clubhouse the exuberance doesn’t end. But while such attention to detail is appealing, a quick glance out the clubhouse window reminds visitors exactly why they have ventured to this part of the world. The two courses, the Torrance and the Kittocks, snake their way out along the coast in opposite directions from the resort centre.

Both have had to fight to establish themselves among such exalted golf-course royalty and although neither can quite lay claim to the same tradition as the Old Course they make up in imagination and scenery what they lack in history.

Both are more manufactured cliff-top links tracks rather than winding their way through sand dunes like some of their neighbours but they are no less of a challenge because of this. Excellent stay-and-play deals and a willingness to accept 2-Fore-1 vouchers also make them terrific value.

Of the two courses, the Torrance is the more renowned. Designed by Ryder Cup legend and home favourite Sam Torrance, it will this year host the Scottish Senior Open – for the second time – and was a final qualifying venue for the Open Championship, four miles along the coast at the Old Course.

The Torrance has actually just undergone a pretty major facelift in preparation for these two high-profile events. The result is a course that makes much more of its enviable location than it did previously and one that provides a stern test in any weather but, like most seaside courses, particularly when the wind blows – which it is prone to do in this part of Scotland.

When it comes to the holes, some will linger long in the memory – and all for the right reasons. The par-four seventh is the classic risk/reward hole measuring just 274 yards with a dog-leg to the right. Longer hitters can look to cut the corner with a high, slinging fade but gaping bunkers short of the green can mean a struggle to make par rather than the birdie you were hoping for standing on the tee.

The signature 17th is an equally memorable par-three, not least for its expansive green which is as undulating as any you’ll find in this golfing region.

The Kittocks was asked to step up to the plate while the Torrance was undergoing its refurbishment and has done so with aplomb. This interesting layout features the hallmarks of classic links golf but sprinkled with a flavour of parkland resort course – particularly in the par-four second hole flanked by a small pond and the par-four fourth, with a second shot played to a raised green over a deep ravine.

The blind opening tee shot sets the tone for the round with the obvious emphasis on keeping the ball in play and, if you do so, scoring is eminently possible here. The par-five fifth and par-three 16th holes are eye-catching thanks to the ‘infinity’ greens set against the backdrop of St Andrews Bay, and the Kittocks would rightly earn itself a nomination in any ‘best course in a supporting role’ competition.

Who said St Andrews was all about one course?