Fairmont St Andrews

Fairmont St Andrews

Fairmont St Andrews

Fairmont St Andrews | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

Fairmont St Andrews is one of the newest venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list, having opened just after the turn of the millennium. The 520-acre 5-star resort features two glorious championship golf courses, more than 200 luxury rooms in the hotel and incredible views of the North Sea. 
 
Gene Sarazen, one of just five men to have completed the Career Grand Slam in golf, had a hand in both the Kittocks and the Torrance Courses. The latter is named after Ryder Cup hero Sam Torrance, who also helped design the links. The Torrance has played host to the Scottish Senior Open, Hero Cup and the St Andrew’s Bay Championship in recent years. There are also incredible practice facilities at Fairmont, with an all-grass driving range and extensive short game area.  
 
The hotel at Fairmont St Andrews has more than 200 rooms and provides a luxurious experience for all that stay. There are guest rooms and suites, all featuring views of the golf courses or out to the North Sea. There are also a pair of Manor Homes which are suitable for larger groups, both sleeping up to eight people.  
 
Away from the golf course, there are plenty of activities to keep the kids happy. From a playroom to cycling and outdoor games, children will be entertained during their time at Fairmont St Andrews. There is also the opportunity to take in the glorious Fife coastline with walking and hiking trails, while for those guests that want to relax, the Fairmont St Andrews Spa offers the perfect place to do just that.  
 
  
Visit the Fairmont St Andrews website here.  
 

Fairmont St Andrews Overview | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

36 Glorious Holes

Fairmont St Andrews is perched on the cliffs to the east of St Andrews itself. The resort plays host to two stunning golf courses – the championship links of the Torrance Course and the coastal Kittocks Course.  
 
Torrance Course 
As the name of the course suggests, Ryder Cup hero Sam Torrance was the man behind the design of the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews. Gene Sarazen also had a hand in the design, which opened in 2001. The course was then redesigned in 2009 with eight new holes, and quickly achieved championship status. 
 
That redesign was ahead of the 2009 Scottish Seniors Open, which was also played at Fairmont a year later. The Hero Open, one of the DP World Tour’s COVID-19 tournaments, was played at Fairmont in both 2021 and 2022, with the Asian Tour’s International Series featuring the St Andrew’s Bay Championship. Eugenio Chacarra emerged as the victor after an amazing ten-hole play-off.  
 
The closing three holes of the Torrance Course are a joy to behold. The 16th, 17th and 18th offer completely different challenges from each tee box and that is what makes them so special and leaves you yearning for more. 16 is a straightforward downhill par 4, but the North Sea looms large behind the flag stick and every golfer will be fully aware that anything over the back of the green is in the abyss and gone forever. 
 
The 17th is a picturesque par 3 with an out-of-bounds wall on the left, and there is also a pot bunker that protects the front of the green. The closing hole on the Torrance Course is a lengthy par 5, but one that could be reachable in two with a solid drive. Be careful about trying to smash the drive, though, as danger lurks either side of the fairway.  
 
Kittocks Course 
Australian golfer Bruce Devlin and seven-time major champion Gene Sarazen, one of five men to have won the Career Grand Slam, were the team who designed the Kittocks Course at Fairmont St Andrews. Originally known as the Devlin Course, it was renamed the Kittocks Course due to the nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of the same name. 
 
The Kittocks is slightly shorter than the Torrance but is still more than 7,100 yards from the tips. However, there are a range of tees available to allow golfers of all abilities to enjoy a round. Four holes – the 7th, 10th, 16th, and 17th – all play with the North Sea down one side. The Kittocks also has two double greens, with 1 and 13, and 7 and 10 both meeting.  

Luxury Accommodation

There is a sublime range of accommodation on offer at Fairmont St Andrews, with rooms, suites and villas all available for guests to stay in during their time at the Scottish resort.  
 
The Fairmont Room, Fairmont View Room and Deluxe Room make up the selection of rooms on offer on site, with each having views over either the golf course or the North Sea. Fairmont also features a range of six distinct types of suites, for an even more luxurious stay at on the Scottish coastline.  
 
The Junior Suite is the smallest of those, but still has a nice open plan feel between the living area and bedroom. The Studio Suites, Deluxe Suites, Deluxe Suites Land View and the Executive Suites all add even more luxury, with the Kingdom of Fife Suite being the hotel’s presidential suite, and the creme de la creme. Fairmont St Andrews is also home to two Manor Homes – the Queenask and Kingask. Each of the Manor Homes can sleep eight and comes with a farmhouse style kitchen, breakfast bar and much more.  

Leisure & Activities

Golf doesn’t just finish on the 18th green of either course at Fairmont St Andrews. The Full Swing Golf Simulator provides guests with a fun golfing activity inside and away from any inclement conditions. There is also the Fife Coastal Path for walkers and hikers, while there are also plenty of activities for kids at Fairmont. There are outdoor games, cycling paths and a playroom.  
 
The Fairmont St Andrews Spa provides the relaxation space at the resort. There is a sauna, jacuzzi, aromatherapy room and ten treatment rooms where guests can enjoy massages. Ishga, a Hebridean brand, provides skincare products for the spa, which also has a swimming pool and a state-of-the-art gym. 

FAQs about Fairmont St Andrews

Where is Fairmont St Andrews?  
Fairmont St Andrews is located on the eastern coastline of Scotland, just down the road from the historic town of St Andrews. Dundee is 20 miles to the north, while Edinburgh is just over 50 miles to the southwest.  

What is the nearest airport and station to Fairmont St Andrews?
 
Edinburgh Airport – the biggest and busiest airport in Scotland – is the closest major international airport for visitors to Fairmont St Andrews. It is 50 miles from the resort and operates flights to and from most European countries, as well as flights to North America.  
 
Leuchars is the nearest train station to Fairmont St Andrews, sitting ten miles up the coastline to the north, past the town of St Andrews. Trains from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and even London Kings Cross visit Leuchars Station daily.  

What golf facilities does Fairmont St Andrews offer?
 
Fairmont St Andrews not only has two championship courses, but there is also an all-grass driving range as part of the practice facilities at the resort. There is also an extensive short game area, featuring a large putting green to allow players to hone their skills before taking on either the Kittocks or Torrance Courses.  
 
Under Armour, FootJoy, Adidas and J. Lindeberg are just some of the brands on offer at the pro shop at Fairmont St Andrews. There is also a rental service with guests able to rent buggies, trolleys, and clubs if they require.  

What are the green fees at Fairmont St Andrews?
 
The price of a green fee at Fairmont St Andrews changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  
 
For more information on current green fees at Fairmont St Andrews visit their website here

What accommodation is on offer at Fairmont St Andrews?
 
Guest rooms, suites and Manor Homes. Fairmont St Andrews has a little bit of something for all its guests. Each of the rooms and suites come with views of the golf course or the North Sea, while the Manor Homes can sleep up to eight people.  

What other resorts are nearby?
 
The Old Course Hotel & Duke’s is the nearest resort to Fairmont St Andrews that also has a place on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. Gleneagles and Murrayshall are the other two resorts that are within a short drive from Fairmont.  
 
  
  
Visit the Fairmont St Andrews website here.