Scottish 5* Golf Resorts
Scotland has many golf courses (over 550) but has very few golf resorts. A whole host of accommodation – covering many styles and budgets – can be found close to golf courses but the choices for full scale luxury resorts with courses are fairly limited.
We thought we'd highlight Scotland's most famous 5 star golf resorts for those who seek the standards, choice and service that come with staying at a resort hotel. Championship golf courses are just a walk away from the reception desk at each hotel. Base your entire stay at one, or more, of these resorts or round off a Scottish golf tour with challenging courses and a touch of luxurious accommodation.
Showing no favouritism let's look at them in alphabetical order.
Fairmont at St Andrews
The relative new kid on the block the Fairmont started life as the St Andrews Bay Hotel. Fairmont is a global brand but the St Andrews hotel is the only Fairmont property in Scotland.
The hotel, set in a 520 acre estate, offers over 200 bedrooms, ranging up to 90 square metre Executive Suites and even a Presidential Suite, the Kingdom of Fife Suite. Unusually for a Scottish hotel, twin rooms offer 2 double sized beds.
The Fairmont enjoys a beautiful coastal setting and stunning cliff top views of St Andrews. The two championship golf courses, the Torrance and the Kittocks, make the most of the location. The Kittocks has a cart path and permits buggy use. The owners of the hotel have submitted plans to combine the two existing courses into one “world-class golf course” with the intent it becomes one of the top 100 courses in the world.
- Check availability at, and reviews of, Fairmont St Andrews on Booking.com.
Additional facilities include 2 restaurants in the hotel itself, dining in the golf clubhouse, a Spa with 16 metre indoor pool, fitness suite, steam room, sauna and a range of treatments.
St Andrews is always a great base for a golf tour and the Fairmont is one of the two 5* resorts that book-end the historic market town.
Gleneagles Hotel
The Gleneagles Hotel is just a year away from its centenary. Opened in 1924, the vision for this impressive grand old building included golf from the start. James Braid was engaged to create the King's and Queen's courses, which opened 5 years before the Hotel. The pre-cursor to the Ryder Cup was held at Gleneagles in 1921, the first international match between American and British professional golfers.
The King's and Queen's courses remain scenic and challenging golf tests in a beautiful location. They have been joined by the PGA Centenary course which in 2014 hosted the actual Ryder Cup.
There is enough golf here for a full trip, or mark the finish of a wider golf tour in this elegant setting in the heart of Scotland. Gleneagles is just an hour from either Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport.
Gleneagles has always combined leisure and sport with luxurious surroundings. Rooms are a mix of traditional with stylish modern touches, from cosy rooms in the main hotel, to spectacular suites. Rooms in the modern Braid Wing enjoy balconies or outdoor terraces.
- Check availability at, and reviews of, the Gleneagles Hotel on Booking.com.
Golf is just one of the outdoor activities available at Gleneagles. Visit the shooting school, the equestrian centre, the falconry school or play tennis on one of 5 outdoor courts. Indoors the Spa offers two swimming pools, a fitness centre, thermal suite and treatment areas.
The Strathearn restaurant and Scotland's only 2 Michelin starred restaurant, Andrew Fairlie, offer fine dining while three additional venues cover more casual eating.
Old Course Hotel
The Old Course Hotel is perhaps the Scottish hotel most viewed on television worldwide, sitting alongside the 17th fairway of the St Andrews Old Course.
The Hotel is a stylish resort, complete with a Kohler Waters Spa. The 175 guest bedrooms include spacious suites and a stunning penthouse suite. Rooms with course and sea views have floor to ceiling windows giving wonderful panoramas across to the town of St Andrews.
The Road Hotel Restaurant – with superb views from the hotel's 4th floor – is the fine dining option. Five other varied dining venues are available, including the Jigger Inn pub and the clubhouse at the Duke's course.
The Old Course Hotel could not be more conveniently located for the Old, New and Jubilee courses but the heathland Duke's, on the outskirts of St Andrews, is the Hotel's own course. The Hotel is not affiliated to the St Andrews Old course.
- Check availability at, and reviews of, The Old Course Hotel on Booking.com.
In an area with such a concentration of links golf, the Duke's is a championship standard inland course presenting an interesting contrast to other courses in, and directly around, the town.
In addition to the excellent golf close at hand the Old Course Hotel enjoys the bonus of being a 10 minute stroll to the heart of St Andrews.
Trump Turnberry Hotel
The Turnberry Hotel has an iconic exterior – a long, imposing, stretch of white building with a row of dormer windows and chimneys overlooking its own stunning golf courses to the Firth of Clyde.
Originally opened in 1906 the now Trump Turnberry Hotel has a wide range of accommodation styles and the choice of resort facilities you would expect.
Deluxe rooms and spacious suites overlook the championship Ailsa course to the sea, while separate Lodges offer self-contained apartments that are ideal for golfing groups with their own, exclusive lounge area. There is even a luxury signature suite in the Turnberry Lighthouse.
The grand 1906 restaurant, with course views, serves dinner every evening, while the clubhouse offers day time dining.
- Check availability at, and reviews of, Trump Turnberry Hotel on Booking.com.
The Turnberry Ailsa course is famous almost equally for Tom Watson's win during the Duel in the Sun in 1977 as his near miss of equalling a record 6th Open Championship win in 2009. The course dips and winds through sand dunes with truly challenging tee positions for the low handicap golfer. Whatever your golf, the views are glorious. If your golf tour wants to take in Scotland's famed Championship courses then the Ailsa is a must play.
In addition to golf there is a Spa with pool and fitness centre, or try horse riding, quad bikes, clay pigeon shooting, all of which can be arranged.
Other Scottish luxury hotels with their own golf course
- Cameron House by Loch Lomond
- Mar Hall on the banks of the River Clyde
- SCHLOSS Roxburghe Hotel in the Scottish Borders
Further information :
- Browse 5 star accommodation we suggest on the Golf Independent website
Published: 28 December 2022