Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa Fact Sheet

Deluxe five red-star resort hotel of exceptional quality offering its own golf course, luxury spa and four restaurants. Spectacular views of the Old Course links, Fife coastline and St Andrews—Scotland’s oldest university town. Highly professional and friendly staff creates a welcoming ambience.

Location/Transport

St Andrews, Kingdom of Fife, Scotland. Overlooks the world-famous Old Course, to which it owes its name, and borders the fairway of the infamous Road Hole (17th). Served by four airports; Edinburgh 52 miles, Dundee 11 miles (domestic/private flights only), Glasgow 100 miles, St Andrews Leuchars Air Base (private/chartered aircraft up to Boeing 737 by arrangement). Leuchars Railway Station 4 miles (regular services London Kings Cross via Edinburgh).

History

The Old Course Hotel was built in 1968 by British Transport and sold to European Ferries in 1982 after the Thatcher Government’s privatisation programme. Upgraded and re-opened by HRH The Princess Royal to accommodate the 1984 Open, it was then bought in 1988 by an international consortium called The Old Course Limited. The hotel re-opened in 1990 after a total refurbishment and in 1992 Kosaido Co. Ltd. joined The Old Course Ltd. becoming the majority shareholder. In May 2000, over £5m was invested to create The Millennium Wing for The Open. Further investment in 2002 tripled the spa in size. In October 2004, Kohler, Wis. – Kohler Co., bought the Old Course Hotel and Duke’s Course.

Accomodation

This magnificent resort has been lavishly refurbished and features 35 beautiful suites including 16 Old Course Suites with silk-lined walls.  A total of 23 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 also feature the distinctive Kohler bathroom products, including the Kohler chromatherapy (colour therapy) baths.

Hotel Services and Facilities

24-hour room service, same-day laundry/dry cleaning, chauffeur service and helipad. Concierge can arrange river, loch or sea fishing, tours of historic sites, towns or villages, horse riding and field sports. Designer shops include the hotel’s own Pro Shop and The Duke’s Pro Shop, Mappin & Webb, Golf Links to the Past and Golfino – a perfect combination offering quality unique and exclusive gifts; golfing accessories and sportswear;  luxurious jewels, crystal and silver; original golfing art and historical memorabilia.

Restaurants and Bars

The Road Hole Grill
Quality Scottish and organic produce for classic dining. Located on the fourth floor, seats 100. Open-grill kitchen, glorious views of the coast, links courses and town.

The Road Hole Bar
Famous selection of almost 200 malts representing every Scottish distillery, mothballed or otherwise. Adjacent to the Road Hole Grill.

Sands Restaurant
From the deep cold of the North Atlantic to the radiant warmth of the Mediterranean.' Stylish interior, upbeat atmosphere. Imaginative menu featuring mainly seafood dishes with a Mediterranean twist. Located on the ground floor, seats 80, offers private dining for up to 30. Separate Champagne and Martini bar.

The Jigger Inn
Traditional Scottish pub with open-hearth fires; originally built as the station master’s lodge circa 1850. Located next to the Pro Shop. Serves hearty Scottish pub food and accepted as the 19th hole by all who play and walk the Old Course.

The Duke’s Bar & Grill
Located within The Duke’s Clubhouse, this dining venue offers spectacular views to the town of St Andrews and the Fife coastline. The Duke’s Bar & Grill is open to the public from 7.00am to 6.00pm daily; seats 46 in the restaurant and up to 20 guests for private dining in the Captains’ Room. Informal bar area. Terrace for al fresco drinks/dining in good weather.

The Conservatory
The Conservatory is a favourite venue in which to enjoy full afternoon tea, which includes a selection of rare teas, finger sandwiches, fruit and plain scones, and our pastry chef’s own hand-made pastries and cakes.  Served daily between 2pm and 4pm, £17.00 per person or £27.00 per person with a glass of champagne.

Conference and Banqueting

Perfect location to host meetings, conferences, product launches, incentive trips, or weddings. Seven rooms, state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, secretarial/translation facilities, dedicated business centre and extensive car parking. Member of Kingdom of Fife Convention Bureau, which provides access to a wealth of unusual locations, including University Halls dating back several centuries. The Millennium Wing provides a high-tech computer system for simultaneous link between public areas and bedrooms, to enable companies to download/utilise their own software during their stay. High-speed wireless internet access is available in all public areas and bedrooms.

New conference facilities are to be launched at the Old Course Hotel at the end of March 2006.

The Ballroom
A classic grand function room with vast glass chandeliers. Ideal for use in either large scale dining or conferences for up to 300 people. From product launches to fashion shows and beyond, this space is fully equipped to answer all meeting and banqueting needs.

The Atrium and The Gallery – Millennium Wing
The Atrium and Gallery is the focal point of the Millennium Wing; a cool, elegant space, with an exhibition platform raised on an under-lit wooden deck and surrounded by translucent screens. Accommodates 500 for a product launch or full-scale presentation and stages ‘Art on the Links’ exhibitions of painting and photographic works from galleries and private collections worldwide.

The Links – Millennium Wing
Dedicated meeting room flooded with natural light. French doors open onto the Commonwealth Garden alongside the 17th fairway of the Old Course. Seats 60 theatre-style.

The Jubilee – Millennium Wing
Dedicated boardroom with natural light and an Old Course view. Seats 20 around the table.

The Strathtyrum – Millennium Wing
Dedicated boardroom with natural light and views of St Andrews. Seats 20 around the table.

The Boardroom – Hotel
On the fourth floor, natural light and Old Course views. Seats 16 around mahogany table.

The Swilken Room – Hotel
On the fourth floor of the hotel. Seats 12 for private dining or meeting.

Duke's Course Boardroom - Duke's Clubhouse, Craigtoun Park
In the Duke's Clubhouse (complimentary transfers to/from hotel). Accommodates 24 for round table meetings or dinners. Natural light, Duke's Course views.

Golf

St Andrews is the most extensive golf destination in Europe with ten championship golf courses in the immediate vicinity and many more in the outlying villages. The resort’s own Duke's Course is the only inland golf course at the Home of Golf.

PGA Pro Shop - Hotel
Old Course own-label merchandise (accessories/clothing), plus all well-known luxury golf brands. Golf Club hire. Caddies, golf outings, lessons arranged via Golf Steward.

The Duke’s Course - Par 72, 7271 yards
Designed by five-time Open champion, Peter Thomson. Inaugurated July 1995. Resort-owned to guarantee tee times. 18-hole championship course, 2 miles inland at Craigtoun Park. Private clubhouse, panoramic views of St Andrews, overlooks the 9th and 18th holes. Pro shop, high quality changing rooms/facilities. Bar, restaurant, private Captains' Room.

Significant investment has taken the course to an even higher level, strengthening the enjoyment factor for all golfers. In addition to a number of existing holes being modified, the already impressive views have been enhanced further. Originally designed as a challenging championship course, new forward tees have been introduced enabling the less experienced golfer to enjoy the course to the full.

The new Duke's Pro Shop, situated immediately inside the Clubhouse entrance is now open with a much larger range of both men's and ladies' clothing and equipment is being offered. All the cart paths have been extended allowing buggies to operate all year round and in all weather conditions.

Work on four new holes has started and will continue through to the end of the year. The four new holes (15, 16, 17 and 18) will come into play in the spring of next year.

St Andrews Links Trust Golf Courses:

Old Course - Par 72, 6566 yards; daily ballot for unreserved tees, closed Sundays. Handicap required: 24 for gents and 36 for ladies The world’s oldest course, c.1400AD. Rare layout of shared greens.

New Course - Par 71, 6604 yards; reservations eight weeks in advance. Opened 1896.

Jubilee Course - Par 72, 6223 yards; 24-hour reservations system. Opened 1897.

Eden Course - Par 70, 6112 yards; 24-hour reservations system. Opened 1914.

Strathtyrum Course - Par 68, 5094 yards; 24-hour reservations system. Opened 1993.

Balgove Course - 9 holes, 1530 yards; opened 1972, redesigned and re-opened 1993.

Other Courses of Interest:

Kingsbarns - Par 72, 7100 yards; last links course built in St Andrews. Opened June 2000.

Devlin – Par of 72, 7049 yards; part of the St Andrews Bay complex. Opened August 2002.

Torrance – Par 72, 7029 yards; part of the St Andrews Bay complex. Opened September 2001.

Kohler Waters Spa™

The extensive investment programme in the Kohler Waters Spa has dramatically transformed it into one of Europe's most advanced concepts in total well-being. Many of the outstanding new facilities are now available:

• Fitness suite featuring new resistance and cardiovascular equipment including state-of-the-art cardio-theatre stations plus plasma screens and a free weights area.
• Ladies' locker room featuring a crystal steam heat experience.
• Nail studio offering a range of manicures.
• Four new treatment rooms.
• Open plan reception with water features, retail area and spa cafe offering light refreshments.
• New fitness studio featuring a floor to ceiling mirrored wall and offering classes such as 'Spinning' and 'Stretch & Flex'.
• Further work is currently taking place to introduce a new 20-metre pool with waterfall, thermal suite and six additional treatment rooms.

Representation

The Leading Hotels of the World; Connoisseurs Scotland.
Tel: 01334 474371

For more information please contact Mango PR:
107 Fleet Street
London EC4A 2AB
Telephone: 020 7936 9069
Email: sarah.hurley@mangopr.co.uk or lucinda.buxton@mangopr.co.uk