Old Course Hotel Review: Does It Earn Its Iconic Status?

The combination of outdoor adventure, breathtaking scenery, a thriving foodie scene and the warm welcome from locals has made Scotland one of the premier travel destinations in the UK. Such is the variety of activities on offer, it’s a great bet for an excursion all year round. Earlier this year we headed to The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews for a short break to explore ruined castles, cinematic beaches, spa treatments and, of course, golf. Read on for our full review.

The Location

Situated on the Fife coastline just north of Edinburgh, its location is a true unique selling point. Picture a resort hotel and you might have in mind a vast estate you need a 30 minute shuttle bus to get anywhere from. It’s a resort hotel that also functions perfectly as a central town location, and within just a five minute walk is the stunning West Sands beach (yes, that beach from Chariots of Fire), the centre of St Andrews town and all of the many available golf courses.

What Sets It Apart

The Rooms

In 2021 the hotel underwent a multi-million pound renovation, including the addition of 31 guest rooms and a penthouse on the fourth floor, complete with an internal lift and a balcony overlooking the Old Course.

I stayed in a ‘Championship’ room, one of the rooms dedicated to past winners of the Open, which was complete with a luxurious king-sized bed, modern bathroom, and stunning views over the course, the ocean and the town – there are few hotels that provide such an all-encompassing view of its location.

St Andrews is one of the most visited tourist spots in Scotland, and staring out from the window of one of the Old Course Hotel’s rooms the predominant reason is right in front of you: The Old Course. There is much more to the town than just golf, but the historical significance of this one course brings. Celebrities are frequent visitors, and while they are offered full discretion, I was told that when Harry Styles played the course earlier this year a group of fans caught wind and formed a small gallery.

Aside from its prime location, the relationship between embracing its specific place history and yet offering all the luxury expected from a modern hotel is not an easy balancing act to strike, but it’s one the Old Course Hotel achieves with ease. There are quirks to the place – the winding hallways, the fact that one tee shot on the Old Course specifically requires you to hit the ball over the hotel itself – but comfort for the guest is clearly front-of-mind.

The Facilities

As stated, this is not the type of resort hotel where you are marooned on the property, only venturing outside via shuttle bus or taxi. If you were, however, there would still be enough to keep you happily entertained and relaxed. As well as a variety of culinary options (more on that later), a standout offering is the Kohler Water Spa, which includes two couple’s rooms, two wet treatment rooms, a 20m indoor swimming spa pool, a hydrotherapy pool, steam room for deep muscular relaxation and detoxification, experience showers, refreshing ice fountain, cold plunge pool and sauna.

A relative novice to the wellness scene, I opted for a signature massage – what I hoped would be a relaxing experience turned into not only that, but coupled with a sort of unofficial physio appointment where I got advice on how to ease the various ailments and injuries I’ve accumulated from years of reckless treatment to my body, and discovered the wonder of CBD oil.

Other highlights include a relaxing library complete with a warming fire, and the hotel’s very own golf course – The Duke’s Course.

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Hotel bars are common, but how many hotels have an old school pub dating back to the 19th century attached to them, especially when that pub is one of the most iconic locations in the town? The convenience means that you can sneak an extra pint in before stumbling into your room, and they also do top-quality traditional pub food including fish & chips, burgers as well as a great vegetarian selection.

Other food & drink highlights include The Road Hole Bar, offering great views over the course and coast and more than 300 whiskies from distilleries all over Scotland; past and present, and the Spa Café specialising in health and wellness.

Food & Drink

The culinary options on offer at the Old Course Hotel are a true standout. Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining, a more casual pub setting or afternoon tea, they have you covered.

Firstly, a special shout out to breakfast. There are few things in life better than a good hotel breakfast, and I think we can all agree that the ultimate combination is one that has both a buffet and menu options. Stock up with all the pastries, juices and fresh fruit you want – I managed to get 14 different types of fruit in one bowl – before ordering anything from porridge, an omelette, fry or, if you want to treat yourself, waffles and pancakes.

If you want to treat yourself to a special meal try out either The three AA Rosette awarded Road Hole Restaurant or The Swilcan Loft, opened in 2021 and boasting stunning views of the surroundings. We tried The Swilcan Loft, which paired creative cocktails and great local produce – the celeriac soup and fresh cod were standouts.

Things To Do In St Andrews

If St Andrews is Disneyland for any golf fans, The Old Course sits right at the very top. Considered the “home of golf”, it’s considered the oldest course, and there are records of golf being played dating back to the 15th century. What makes the course even more special, in contrast to the private courses in America, it’s a public course and is actually accessible to play.

A tee-time is not the easiest to acquire, but, especially in the winter months (when the course is still pristine) you can arrive on the scene the night before, get a cancellation and find yourself teeing off the next day on the most coveted course in the world – this happened to the group behind us. From hitting shots over the hotel itself to playing alongside an active road, this is the most unique experience you can have playing the sport.

Golf might be the heartbeat of the town, but by no means is it all there is. White Sands beach runs alongside the town and is perpetually bustling with dog walkers, surfers and swimmers throughout the year. After just a five minute walk from the hotel you can find yourself right in the centre of St Andrews itself, which features ruins of the main cathedral, a medieval castle, the ancient university and a host of boutique shops and great bars and restaurants. As expected for a University town, it’s constantly bustling with energy and enthusiasm.

A recent quirk which should lead to an even greater boost in interest is St Andrew’s prominence in the new season of The Crown, which details how William and Kate met while students at the University. Of course, it helps that the filming takes place in such a picturesque part of the UK.

The Verdict

Such is the strength of the location and history behind the hotel, there is a danger of some complacency creeping in as, inevitably, crowds would continue to flock. But there isn’t a hint of that happening at The Old Course Hotel, who clearly recognise just how important a role they play in, for many, what is a bucket list trip.

Getting There

Trains run roughly every thirty minutes from Edinburgh and Glasgow, taking one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half hours respectively. It works as a standalone trip, but would also fit in beautifully as a part of a wider Scotland trip, a perfect midpoint between Edinburgh and the Cairngorms, from where you can launch into a full exploration of the Highlands.