Lady Golfer Spas
PRACTICALLY A PRO
at Fairmont St Andrews
Fairmont St Andrews is hard to fault. A 520- acre estate on the Scottish coast, it is famous as a golfer’s paradise.
You don’t need me to tell you that, but it’s always nice to know that a destination is continuing to uphold its reputation with accolades such as European Golf Resort of the Year 2012 from IAGTO and Golf Resort of the Year 2011 from Golf Tourism Scotland. The spa itself is inspired by the natural surroundings thanks to its position on the cliff tops, fused with elements of Celtic lore. There are 12 treatment rooms, so naturally it makes sense that this forms the basis of your spa experience of locally themed treatments using the appropriately named, Pure Lochside, products. Whether you choose to spend your day on or off the course however, it is best completed with a slice of homemade Dundee cake as part of the hotel’s afternoon tea – all very much deserved for players and observers alike.
Recommended package:
Ultimate Spa Special from £209.50 per person. One night’s, bed and breakfast, four hours of spa treatments on the day of arrival or day of departure, and full use of the spa facilities.
CLASSIC SPORTSMANSHIP
at Gleneagles
There are so many reasons to love Gleneagles. To start with, it is set in 850 acres of land, a large proportion of which is devoted to the three spectacular golf courses.
The outdoor activities are not limited to golf however, with fishing, falconry, horse riding and shooting available on site. The hotel’s widely-respected spa is overseen by resident Naturopath, Louise Westra, who specialises in tailoring visits to address specific health concerns, the natural way on the ESPA Life retreats.
Recommended package:
Sunday Spa from £175 per person One night’s bed and breakfast, one 55- minute treatment or one round of golf, and full use of the leisure facilities.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
at The Green Hotel & Leisure Resort
The Green Hotel is a family friendly destination with two golf courses enjoying views of Loch Leven and the West Lomond Hills. However, in addition, the extensive grounds, surrounded by 5000 acres of Perthshire countryside, also provide facilities for curling, fishing, tennis, cycle hire, and hiking on the Loch Leven Heritage Trail. All that being said, perhaps the nicest way to spend time outside here, if the weather permits, is to have an alfresco breakfast at the Boathouse Bistro, also overlooking the loch.
Recommended package:
One Night Simple Break from £65 per person. Includes dinner, bed and breakfast, a bottle of wine in your room, 10% off treatments and use of facilities.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
at Duchally Country Estate
Duchally Country Estate is well situated to provide something for every member of the family, on the understanding that golf might not be the favoured pastime of everyone.
It consists of 55 contemporary lodges across the estate which sleep six to eight guests. There are also a few rooms in the main building that are contrastingly traditional in their design. The sight lends itself to the exploration of the natural surroundings, with highland safaris giving you a glimpse of Red Deer and Golden Eagles in the nearby vicinity, and discounts are available to hotel guests.
There is a leisure centre, with pools, saunas, steam rooms and so forth, as well as a children’s pool – all of which have the accessible and family-friendly vibe of a leisure venue rather than a dedicated spa, but treatments are overseen by resident therapist, Brenda, whose repertoire of personalised therapies spans full body treatments and massages, facials, brow and lash treatments, manicures, pedicures and Siennax spray tanning.
Recommended package:
Two-night Lodge Break from £46.33 per person – includes two nights’ self-catering accommodation in a lodge and full use of the facilities. Based on six sharing.
CITY ESCAPE
at Blythswood Square Spa
A city isn’t the usual destination for time to recuperate, but after all the excitement of the four days observing what’s happening on the course, a few days treating those sore muscles with the expert help of the therapists at Blythswood Square Hotel, just over an hour away in Glasgow, could be exactly what you are looking for.
Once the clubhouse for The Royal Scottish Automobile Club (RSAC), while the outside of the hotel has the appearance of a Georgian terrace, inside it is extremely modern and reminiscent of the set of Moulin Rouge; quirky, ostentatious and every inch the boutique hotel.
The spa continues that theme by being dark and seductive, with huge treatment rooms, a hydro pool, and a complete thermal suite. There isn’t a gym but then you have probably seen or participated in enough activity for one week by then.
Recommended package:
Weekend Spa Deluxe Taster from £185 per person. One night’s bed and breakfast, one 55-minute spa treatment, and full use of the facilities
Bonnie Friend is the editor of Spabreaks.com.
All packages available from the website www.spabreaks.com or by calling 0800 043 6600
Lady Golfer’s Justine Board visits the spa at Gleneagles. Learn why this could be the perfect break for you and you loved ones HERE
Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
