Fairmont St Andrews

off the A917 (Crail Road),

St Andrews, Fife KY16 8PN

  • Office

    +44 (0)1334 837 000
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1334 837 000
  • Fax

    +44 (0)1334 471 115
  • Golf pro

    Callum Nicoll (Head of Golf).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links-style. Gently undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal cliffs and rural countryside.

  • Designer:

    Sam Torrance (with contributions from Gene Sarazen)

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
7230
6051
5415
Par
72
72
74
SSS or slope

At the same location:

Above distances are for the Torrance course. Also at Fairmont St Andrews is the 18-hole Kittocks course (par-71; 7192 yds from back tees).

Location

Latitude:

56.320580

Longitude:

-2.734302

How to get there:

3 miles east of St Andrews

From the centre of St Andrews take the A917 direction Crail. After 3 miles turn left into Fairmont St Andrews.

Fairmont St Andrews (Torrance Course)

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.

Est. 2001

Fairmont St Andrews (Torrance Course): Sam Torrance's task here at Fairmont St Andrews was to transform relatively featureless, gently rolling farmland into an authentic links golf course. Its clifftop location would ensure many wonderful views out across St Andrews Bay and west to the Auld Grey Toon. However, it was up to earthmovers, landscapers and horticulturalists to create the dunes, water features, knolls and valleys that would bring this well-designed and testing layout to fruition.

The dune-like earth mounds, low dry-stone walls, stylish pot bunkers, natural water ditches and firm, fast greens have combined well, although some of the mounding has yet to acquire the fescues (whispy grass) found on more mature golf links. Looping around the impressive Fairmont St Andrews hotel on the front-nine, you'll have the opportunity to hit onto reasonably generous fairways. But beware the meandering burn and good-sized pond that threaten on the opening holes.

On the undulating back-nine, the magnificent sea views are at their best and the layout eventually gets you to the cliff's edge at the par-3 17th. Often accompanied by a fresh sea breeze, you will find tighter fairways, with accompanying rough and water hazards that are definitely worth avoiding.

"Sam's Favourite", the cliff-edge long par-4 17th, has now been moved (with the original Torrance 16th) to form part of the neighbouring Kittocks course. But that hasn't diminished the golfing challenges on the Torrance's final stretch. The cliff-hugging, long and fearsomely bunkered par-3 17th and long par-5 18th present a formidable and scenic closing duo.

Stay&Play at Fairmont St Andrews: luxury onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.

List of courses: Home of Golf

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance. Handicap required.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season (June thru' Sept) on the Kittocks or Torrance course: £130 (all days). Shoulder season (May & Oct): £95.

Contact club for full details, discounts, Stay&Play packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Golf carts are not permitted on the Torrance course, but are available for use on the Kittocks course. Caddies available if pre-booked.

Practice facilities

Excellent

Did you know?

Fairmont St Andrews was originally known as St Andrews Bay, the creation of Don & Nancy Panoz, founders of US-based Chateau Elan Hotels & Resorts. The resort was re-named after acquisition by the Fairmont group in 2005.

The Torrance was an Open Championship Qualifying course for the 2010 Open at St Andrews, and has also hosted the European Tour's Scottish Seniors Open (see our Tournaments section >by Venue >Fairmont St Andrews). Immediately to the west of the Torrance Course is the St Andrews Links' Castle course.

Published ranking

Scotland's 71st best course (Golf World, 2022).

Where2Stay

  • Fairmont St Andrews Hotel5-star

    St Andrews, Fife KY16 8PN (off the A917, east of St Andrews)

    +44 (0)1334 837 000

    Visit website

    Located close to the historic city of St Andrews, the Fairmont St Andrews overlooks the beautiful coastal landscape of Scotland's east coast. The resort is home to two renowned championship golf courses (the Kittocks and Torrance) as well as being one of Scotland’s largest and most luxurious hotel and conference facilities.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Fairmont St Andrews (Torrance & Kittocks courses)

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      The Castle Course; St Andrews Links (x7 courses); St Andrews (Duke's); Kingsbarns

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Crail (Balcomie and Craighead Links); Ladybank; Scotscraig; Lundin Links; Leven; Elie.

  • Hotel du Vin St Andrews4-star

    40 The Scores, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AS

    +44 (0)1334 472 611

    Visit website

    Following a significant refurbishment and extension from 22 to 40 rooms, the Hotel du Vin St Andrews (formerly St Andrews Golf Hotel) now boasts a new and contemporary interior design inside this spacious Victorian townhouse. The views over St Andrews Bay and beaches are as spectacular as ever. In its quiet terrace location near the Promenade, this stylish, boutique hotel offers underground parking, external courtyard, whisky sampling room and wine cellar, as well as the famous student bar Ma Bells.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      St Andrews Links (Old, New, Jubilee, Eden and Strathtyrum courses); St Andrews (Dukes course); The Castle Course; Fairmont St Andrews (Devlin and Torrance courses).

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Kingsbarns; Crail (Balcomie and Craighead links); Ladybank; Scotscraig; Lundin; Leven; Elie.

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