Shopping
Tom Morris Ltd. (011-44-1334-473499) on The Links, just opposite the eighteenth green of the Old Course, is a fine place for hats, shirts and the like. It was joined in May by Golf Shop St. Andrews (011-44-1334-472216), the R&A's new retail venture: The institution's new offices are upstairs; downstairs are top-of-the-line golf goods bearing the Claret Jug. It's now a crowded little corner with the St. Andrews Links Golf Shop (011-44-1334-466702) behind the eighteenth green and Auchterlonies of St. Andrews (011-44-1334-473253) down the road at 2 Golf Place. The latter is a specialty shop, making and selling clubs since 1895. Take home a hickory-shafted wooden putter for $87 (handmade on the premises) or splurge for an original 1882 C. Gibson Long Nose Play Club for $4,373. Suggestion: Nip down to the museum and confirm that you're making a good investment.
At 8 Golf Place is the Quarto Bookshop (011-44-1334-474616). This is a just-because-you-can't-find-it-doesn't-mean-we-don't-have-it treasure trove. Always ask. Alongside the latest coffee-table stunner, there's always a decent collection of dusty and musty volumes. Specially published pamphlets are real gems, such as Keith McCartney's Tom Morris of St. Andrews, yours for under $6.
If celebration is in order, Luvians Bottleshop (66 Market Street; 011-44-1334-477752) offers in-shop tastings of classic malts, a huge range of more than 500 whiskies and a knowledgeable staff. And Treasures of St. Andrews (3 Greyfriars Gardens; 011-44-1334-473118) manufactures its own line of Scottish and Celtic jewelry.
St. Andrews Hotels
From the simplest B&B room in an unremarkable backstreet to an Old Course Hotel suite overlooking the seventeenth tee (a frequent choice of Tiger Woods), St. Andrews abounds in comfortable choices.
THE OLD COURSE HOTEL GOLF RESORT AND SPA
011-44-1334-474371, oldcoursehotel.co.uk. Rooms: $394-$540. Suites: $578-$761.
From its origins in 1968 as an unwanted ugly duckling on the site of the old railway yard, the Old Course Hotel has matured into a five-star established property with 146 rooms, a spa, pool, conference venue, two restaurants, the Road Hole Bar and the Jigger Inn. Ask for a balconied suite overlooking the Road Hole: There is no better view in golf.
RUFFLETS COUNTRY HOUSE
011-44-1334-472594, rufflets.co.uk. Rooms: $147-$308. Suites: $322-$353. Cottage: $212-$250. Lodge: $882.
A traditional country-house hotel on the outskirts of town with ten acres of formal gardens and a minireplica of the Swilken Bridge. There are twenty-four bedrooms and the Rufflets Lodge, which sleeps six.
THE RUSACKS
011-44-1334-477896, heritage-hotels.com. Rooms: $72-$154. Suites: $145-$271.
Opened in 1887, the Rusacks has often been mistaken for a decaying, though comfortable, residence somehow out of step with the requirements of modern times. No longer. The place is finding itself again, with sixty-one bedrooms and seven suites, four of which look down on the Old Course. The few with a balcony and patio are worth any extra.
ST. ANDREWS BAY GOLF RESORT AND SPA
011-44-1334-837000, standrewsbay.com. Rooms: $218-$357. Suites: $473-$2,911. Manor Homes: Inquire.
This is the new kid on the block, a 520-acre, 209-room resort, spa and conference facility. The Manor Homes away from the main building and overlooking the Torrance course are ideal for small groups. A good choice if you value efficiency over tradition.
THE BEST OF THE REST
A half hour drive from St. Andrews toward Edinburgh is a 400-acre private estate, complete with a Georgian mansion, called Balbirnie House (Markinch; 011-44-1592-610066, balbirnie.co.uk). Smaller but similarly upscale is the Peat Inn (Cupar; 011-44-1334-840206, thepeatinn.co.uk), six miles from St. Andrews, with eight luxury rooms and one of Scotland's best restaurants. On the same route, two miles from town, the Old Station (Stravithie Bridge; 011-44-1334-880505, theoldstation.co.uk) is a guest house with the feel of a small hotel. The range and diversity of good B&B accommodations in St. Andrews are legendary; close to the Old Course is Murray Park, packed with serviceable establishments. For ratings and advice contact the St. Andrews Tourist Information Centre (70 Market Street; 011-44-1334 472021).
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