St Andrews isn’t just where golf began — it’s where golf breathes. The salt air, the history woven into every blade of links grass, the feeling of standing on the same ground where Tiger, Jack, Ballesteros and Watson have all made history… this is a destination that every golfer dreams of experiencing at least once in their lifetime.
And there is no better place to stay while you live that dream than The Old Course Hotel — a legendary property set right along the 17th fairway, where the story of the game seems to continue inside every window, lounge chair, and whisky glass.
Where heritage meets indulgence
The Old Course Hotel has undergone an elevated transformation — blending contemporary Scottish design with tactile heritage touches, luxury fabrics, and warm tartans that honour place without feeling dated. Rooms and suites gaze directly over the iconic Links, giving you a front row seat to one of the most sacred sporting landscapes in the world.
Dining becomes ritual here — whether you’re enjoying sunset views over the finishing holes from the Road Hole Restaurant or raising a dram of single malt to the legends in the Road Hole Bar, every moment reminds you that this isn’t just a hotel stay — it’s participation in the game’s living legacy.
Kohler Waters Spa: where the body recovers so the mind can dream again
Then there’s the Kohler Waters Spa — the only Kohler Waters Spa outside the United States — and arguably one of the true hidden superpowers of a St Andrews golf trip.
This wellness sanctuary is designed for golfers. After a long, windy day on the Links, the hydrotherapy circuit works like a quiet miracle — warm vitality pools, cold plunge awakenings, waterfall showers that melt shoulder and back tension, an ice fountain and soothing sauna that feel like the body is being reset from the inside out.
Treatments incorporate mineral-rich Scottish sea salts and expert precision massage techniques — ideal for a post-round ritual that doesn’t just refresh you… but restores you.
It’s the perfect counterbalance to the adrenaline, the emotion, and the spiritual high of playing the Old Course itself.
Ready to fully step into the pilgrimage?
This is the trip every golfer should take at least once. The dream tee times. The history. The town itself. The sunsets over the Links. The whisky. The spa that makes your next round feel brand new again.
To see the full story — including the experience playing Eden, the walk across Swilcan Bridge, and the full St Andrews journey — read the full magazine feature now inside the newest issue of DRIFT Travel Magazine.
