• On The Course

Fairmont serves up a golfing treat

The views of St Andrews are stunning from Fairmont St Andrews © Getty Images

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Fairmont St Andrews Gallery

Does anyone know of any houses for sale in the St Andrews area for a man on a shoestring budget? Probably not, but it is a plea from ESPN's golf scribe after learning that residents of St Andrews are entitled to unlimited golf on the seven courses - the famous Old Course among them - managed by the St Andrews Links Trust for the princely sum of £170 per year.

If like the majority and you are unable to get your hands on a St Andrews abode then the best option is to do exactly what we did and check in for a couple of nights at the Fairmont St Andrews.

The flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh with BMI is a shade over an hour and the transfer from the airport is 60 minutes. So in a fraction over two hours you can go from London to the home of golf.

Fairmont sits a couple of miles up the coast from St Andrews and the views of the town are simply stunning - you can almost forgive your ball flying into the North Sea off the tee as your gaze locks onto the town below.

You are spoilt for choice with regard to golf in the region, Kingsbarns Golf Links should not be missed, but Fairmont offers two courses of championship standard - The Torrance and The Kittocks - in its 520 acre estate.

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, the clue is in the name, played a key role in the redevelopment of the Torrance course. It now stretches out to 7320 yards and from the Championship tees it is a severe test.

We were greeted with glorious sunshine and a gentle breeze, everyone I spoke to told me it is like that all the time but I was not totally convinced, and from the yellow tees we found it immensely playable - yet still a true test. The 63 bunkers were completely rebuilt and are now in the traditional revetted style and if you find one off the tee it is no more than a splash out. If you want fairway bunkers that you can crack a long iron from, you are in the wrong place.

The man himself, Sam Torrance, is aware of the threat on the course © Getty Images

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The Torrance has played host to Final Open Qualifying and Scottish Seniors Open and you get the impression that if played off the back tees and the pins tucked away, it could prove a test even for elite golfers.

The Torrance opens up with a par four that doglegs to the left and it gives an immediate insight into what is required. Many of the holes meander to the left and right, with tee boxes tucked away, and you do need to be able to shape the ball. Those that like to pick up the driver and give it a hammer without thinking could be in for a rude awakening as bunkers are lurking on many holes.

What you do learn from the first is the size and quality of the greens. The putting surfaces were untouched in the redesign and you can see why, as they run true allowing you to putt with an air of confidence.

The standout hole as far as I am concerned is the par four 10th. It may have something to do with the glorious birdie that was signed for, but in truth it is the sight of St Andrews staring back at you from the tee. The nervous among you and right handed slicers need to be careful as a dyke meanders the length of the fairway and will swallow up anything off line. A precise approach is required to a wide, narrow green and anything long will find real trouble.

Fairmont's second course is The Kittocks, formerly The Devlin. Opened in 2001, it was revamped to incorporate a couple of holes from the original Torrance Course. It hugs the coastline and is split by a deep ravine called the Kittock's Den that cuts through the course. Things start in low-key fashion with a not-too-challenging par five, solid par four and a short par three. The test ramps up on the fourth with a brutal par four, with an approach over a deep ravine. Anything other than a flushed drive will leave you with a long carry and you are more than happy to walk off without obliterating your card. After the disappointment of the sixth hole, a short par three that appears something of an afterthought, the course springs into life with the stunning seventh. Hugging the coastline on the left, you are faced with a demanding tee shot as anything left disappears into the sea 100ft below and anything right is swallowed up by four cavernous bunkers. The view over the Eden Estuary is sensational and just about worth the two balls that were sent flashing into the sea. Holes nine and 10 also hug the coastline, with the latter a superb risk-reward par four that offers the chance to drive the green.

We were tipped off in advance that the 15th is a hole that will live long in the memory and it was sound advice. You stand on the tee glancing at your strokesaver not quite sure what all the fuss is about as you are faced with a fairway that disappears over the brow. But once you breast the rise you are met with a downhill approach to a green that sits on the edge of a cliff. Stunning.

The 17th © Fairmont St Andrews

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The 17th hugs the cliff and has fabulous views of St Andrews, although not as fabulous as those from the clubhouse which is perched above the finishing holes of both courses and affords you panoramic views of the town, estuary and the two courses.

As you would expect of a five-star venue, the service is outstanding as those who want to retain their energy for the course can hop on the shuttle bus that will whizz you down the length of a meaty par five to the clubhouse.

Between rounds there is plenty on offer. A shuttle bus will whisk you into St Andrews where along with the many welcoming hostelries that are on offer, a rare treat is a visit to the British Golf Museum. Sitting adjacent to the Royal and Ancient clubhouse, it does what it says on the tin but anyone with even a passing interest in the sport will find it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We were restricted to an hour before departing but we could happily have spent more time gazing at the vast collection of golf memorabilia. We were fortunate enough to secure a guided tour and if you get the chance, see if Alfred is available. The resemblance to Tony Jacklin is uncanny and the deadpan delivery a treat.

The Fairmont boasts a swimming pool and jacuzzi, state-of-the-art health club with instructors on hand to lend some advice. But if all that sounds too energetic, the Pure Lochside Spa is the only option. A range of treatments are on offer that are sure to soothe those tired muscles, while a pre-golf treatment is also offered which is targeted at lengthening specific muscle groups used in the swing to increase movement and mobility.

You are not short of dining options at the Fairmont, ranging from an informal bar menu in Kittock's Den to award-winning fare at Esperante. Adam Handling is head chef at Esperante and he was recently named Young Chef of the Year at the Scottish Culinary Championships. He has his sights trained on a Michelin star and judged on the standard of the food we tasted, it would be most deserved.

Ceud Mìle Fàilte translates as one hundred thousand welcomes and whether it is golf, a conference or spot of pampering that draws you to the Kingdom of Fife, it was what you will experience at Fairmont St Andrews.

The Venue:
Fairmont St Andrews. Set on a 520-acre estate with a stunning coastal setting, the hotel offers 209 rooms and suites and is a stunning base for your trip to the home of golf.

The Golf:

The Torrance Course
Par 72 and 7,230 yards from the Championship tees
Torrance Course flyover

Kittocks Course
Par 72 and 7,192 yards from the Championship tees
Kitttocks Course Guide

Eating out:
We did not have a great deal of time to sample the excellent nightlife St Andrews has to offer, but the Esperante restaurant in the hotel is highly recommended. The menu provides a combination of the flavours and cooking styles of the Mediterranean using the finest, local Scottish ingredients.

Getting there:
British Midland International. bmi offers up to seven daily direct flights between Heathrow and Edinburgh with fares from £87 return including all taxes and charges. Customers enjoy free checked baggage to a total weight of 20kg, free allocated seating and time saving benefits such as online and mobile check-in. For more information and to book visit flybmi.com

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