ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Located just up the road from the town of St. Andrews on A917 is the Fairmont St. Andrews resort. Set on 520 acres of former farmland, the property is now home to a luxury resort and golf club, home to two 18-hole golf courses, the Torrance and the Kittocks.
Fairmont St. Andrews Kittocks Course (formerly called the Devlin) was originally designed by Gene Sarazen but was redesigned by Gary Stephenson in 2008. It's unquestionably the more scenic of the two courses at the Fairmont St. Andrews, full of sea views and holes playing along the cliffs.
Both the front and back sides have stunning holes, starting with the seventh, which tumbles downhill from an elevated tee straight toward the sea. The par-4 15th hole doglegs left and tumbles down toward the sea, making for one of the most dramatic shots on property. The 17th hole is a long par 4 that plays right along the cliffs the entire way.
Also on site is the Torrance Course, designed by Scotsman and former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance. It was an Open Championship qualifying site in 2010 and will also host the Scottish Senior Open in 2012. A few minutes east is Kingsbarns Golf Links, which the Fairmont St. Andrews books rounds with as well.
Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - hole 10
The par-4 10th hole on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews plays away from the sea.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - hole 14
The 14th hole on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews is a long par 4 that plays beside the sea.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - hole 16
The 16th hole on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews is a short par 4 that plays beside the sea.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - hole 18
The 18th hole on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews plays away from the town of St. Andrews.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - hole 3
The third hole on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews is a short par 3.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - scenery
The Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews has beautiful scenery.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - bunkers
Watch out for the bunkers on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - hole 15
The 15th hole on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrew is a dogleg right toward the sea.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - hole 17
The 17th hole on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews plays toward the town of St. Andrews.
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Fairmont St. Andrews - Kittocks Course - hole 2
The second hole on the Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews features water down the left-hand side of the fairway.
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Fairmont St. Andrews: Kittocks