St Andrews spa hotel is well above par when it comes to luxury, dining and pampering

YOU don’t have to be a golfer to know a little about the world famous Old Course in St Andrews.

If you can’t book a place on their extensive waiting list, you’re entered into a ballot then, just 48 hours before, told if you have a place on the course and when.

It was no surprise then, that when I opened the curtains of my suite in the Old Course Hotel to blustery, biting rain and wind, I was met with a handful of golfers and their caddies wrapped up and playing the course, not letting the rain ruin their opportunity.

Many of the golfers make the Old Course, St Andrew’s most luxurious coastline resort, their home for the weekend. And while I’ve never swung a club in my life, I too was enjoying a lovely couple of nights at the five-star hotel, determined to spend most of my time out of the Scottish springtime weather enjoying the beautiful, newly refurbished spa and leisure facilities.

Kohler Waters Spa at the Old Course Hotel has reopened following an £8m refurbishment, and is the famous brand’s only spa outside of America.

New additions to the space will please sporty guests – a 20m lap pool, new gym area, fitness space and exercise studio which offers instructor-led classes and novel virtual sessions.

As well as a redesign of the treatment rooms, there are two wet treatment rooms with Kohler baths.

I arrived for my own treatments after a delicious lunch in the new spa café – the passionfruit posset is still the stuff of my daydreams – and took to the thermal suite before being led to one of the beautifully appointed treatment spaces, complete with heated beds and duvets, for a Kohler Waters Signature massage and facial.

I left feeling totally reinvigorated.

There’s much more to enjoy than just the spa at this resort – indulge in lunch or dinner at one of the seven on-site restaurants and pubs.

Dine a little finer in the Road Hole Restaurant, where sommeliers pair delicious local seafood and meat with gorgeous wines. For something equally as delicious but more casual, the Sands is informal and comfortable.

What stands out at the Old Course Hotel is the level of service. You can be assured that the staff here will do everything they can to make your stay enjoyable.

It’s the little touches that make this resort worthy of its luxury name and price tag.

If you do want to leave the resort, venture down to West Sands beach (those brave enough can even book to go land yachting, at around £55 per person from Blown Away Experiences) before taking the short 15-minute stroll into the centre of town, alive with tourists, and students.

The great thing about St Andrews is that everything is relatively close together, and the town is lined with pretty boutique shops selling crafts and sweet treats, studded with trendy eateries and bars.

The history is palpable wherever you turn, with the beautiful medieval cathedral and university must-see landmarks.

We went out, wrapped up warm, for a fish supper at the highly recommended Tailend Restaurant, where they process 95% of their own fish onsite.

No visit to St Andrews would be complete without a pitstop at world-famous Jannetta’s Gelateria, an ice cream parlour with more than 100 years’ experience in creating delicious gelato flavours. I was happy as a clam with my scoop of coffee drizzled in hot chocolate fudge sauce.

You can get to St Andrews from Glasgow in a couple of hours by public transport, or from Edinburgh in one hour, and if you want to get the train to Leuchars Train Station (St Andrews doesn’t have a station) then it’s a 10-minutes taxi ride from there.

It’s the beautiful surroundings, array of dining and nightlife options and of course, the wonderful hotels, that keep people coming back to this historic town time and time again.

The Facts

The classic day package at Kohler Waters Spa starts from £180pp, with the option to bring a guest at half price. Room rates at the Old Course Hotel start from £307 per room per night on a B&B basis.

For further information on the Kohler Waters Spa at the Old Course Hotel or to book, call 01334 474 371 visit oldcoursehotel.co.uk/spa/kohler-waters-spa