Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa

A 175-room Kohler hotel beside the 17th hole of the Old Course at St Andrews, with the Duke's Course five minutes away, a whisky bar of more than 250 bottles and a contrast-therapy spa.

Every evening at six, the Road Hole Bar serves its “6 o’clock pour”, a taster from a collection of more than 250 whiskies. The Old Course Hotel, on Old Station Road in St Andrews, overlooks the 17th hole of the Old Course, the Road Hole, and the town centre is a five-minute walk away. Kohler runs the 175 rooms, suites and penthouses. They look over the course and the West Sands beach. The penthouse has a private balcony, a fireplace and a freestanding bath.

The hotel does not own the Old Course. The Links Trust manages it, and the Links Trust website lists the other ways to get on. The hotel’s own route is its Suite Golf package. It guarantees a tee time, runs for five nights from April to October and needs a group of at least four golfers. It includes a round on the Old Course, a second on the New, Jubilee or Castle course, rounds at Dumbarnie and Kingsbarns with transfers, and an 80-minute massage at the end. The Duke’s Course is on a Scottish estate five minutes from the hotel, with a courtesy transfer for residents. The team also books tee times at Carnoustie, Crail, Elie, Lundin and Leven.

Dinner is at the Road Hole Restaurant or at the Swilcan Loft, a rooftop seafood and chophouse room. The Jigger Inn is on the grounds, and the hotel calls it the most famous pub in golf.

The Kohler Waters Spa has a contrast-therapy suite with a sauna, a cold plunge, a foam steam room and a snow cabin, plus a rooftop hot tub. Residents get early-morning and evening access to the facilities. Away from golf, the hotel arranges horse riding, land yachting and paddleboarding on the West Sands, falconry and a tour of the Eden Mill distillery.

Edinburgh Airport is 51 miles away, and Leuchars station is 4.4 miles. For self-catering, take an apartment at Hamilton Grand, the red-brick building a few steps from the Old Course’s 18th hole.