ITS TIME FOR STANDREWS THE HOME OF GOLF

WHY PLAY?

SUMMARY

Fairmont’s Torrance and its sister course Kittocks are a wonderful addition to St Andrews and The Home of Golf.  The Torrance course was built-in 1991 to satisfy the ever-increasing number of worldwide golfers arriving in Scotland to experience this mecca of Links golf and its many world-class courses.   Despite being relatively new the courses have grown quickly in stature and now regularly host The Seniors Open and from 2020 The European Tour. The Torrance was also the Final Qualifying Venue for the 2010 Open Golf Championship. That same year, the World Deaf Golf Championships and the Scottish Seniors Open were held on the Torrance.

The Torrance Course at St Andrew’s Bay was designed by Denis Griffiths, Gene Sarazen and Legendary Scottish Ryder Cup golfer and winning Captain Sam Torrance.  Once flat farmland the course was carved out of an incredible piece of land on the clifftop above St Andrews Bay.  The course overlooks the North Sea and plays 7,230-yards long.

In 2009, the course was redesigned by golf architect Gary Stephenson who is now the head of Phil Mickelson’s Golf Course design operations.  The changes included eight new holes, in preparation for the 2009 Scottish Seniors Open.

The 360-degree views are simply stunning.  Set on 520 acres of land you never seem to be too far away from the beautiful 5-star Fairmont Hotel and Spa which is located in the very heart of award-winning Golf Resort.  Many of the hotel’s bedrooms and Lodges have wonderful course views or balconies where you can relax and watch the sunset over the bay.  Despite opening as recently as 2001 the course has matured and somehow looks timeless as though it has been there forever.

The Torrance Links course is very playable.  Expect a Scottish style Links design with strategically placed traditional revetted bunkering throughout.  These bunkers are deep and should be avoided at all costs.  Make no mistake there is danger around every corner.  There are plenty of hazards to avoid such as High deep rough, Gorse, Cliff edges, and small internal lochs throughout the course.  All together they help make this a formidable test of golf. The final stretch is dramatic and visually stunning as you follow the cliff back from the 14th green to the Clubhouse.   At the end of the round, a visit to the clubhouse with its elevated views is a wonderful place to discuss the day’s adventures.