Golf and the Good Life… A combination just destined for one another, like surf & turf or rooms with a view. Speaking of the latter, although the phrase typically conjures images of sandy beaches on some far flung isle, the game of golf has more than its fair share of room and view duos. When it comes to those found across the pond, we’ve conducted fact-finding missions to them all, and are delighted to report on a few of our favorites.
Old Course Hotel
Fresh off a multi-million pound renovation, the Old Course Hotel is the epitome of everything a great hotel should be. The excellent accommodations, exquisite food & beverage, and exceptional spa, are often overshadowed, however, by what might be the finest room with a view in golf. Book a room overlooking the Old Course at St. Andrews, and you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the action on the famous Road Hole. So close, in fact, that you may awake in the morning to find a new ProV on your balcony. See: Phil Mickelson in the 2015 Open.
Old Head Suites
The panoramas at Old Head are so incredible, so sublime, that many of our Members of the Forces choose to play it twice. For those where two loops around still isn’t enough, an evening in Old Head’s Seaview Suites is sure to suffice. Overlooking the 18th green and the Atlantic beyond, each suite features a private patio where you can soak it all in with a glass of your beverage of choice.
Macdonald Rusacks
The original “room with a view” in St. Andrews, the Macdonald Rusacks boasts a location which is difficult to top in The Home of Golf. Situated along the 18th fairway, the morning view across the Old Course is a fitting way to begin what will likely be an unforgettable day. Combine that with dinner at their award-winning restaurant – Rocca – and you’ve found the very definition of Golf and the Good Life.
Turnberry
Perched high atop a hill overlooking its famous links, the views from the Turnberry hotel are nearly as famous as the Ailsa itself. On a clear day, the sunsets along Scotland’s west coast can easily give their famous Key West counterparts a run for their money. But if it’s a sunset unlike any other that you’re after, a splurge for a night in the new Lighthouse Suite is the only way to fly. Cloudcover willing, of course.
Royal Golf Hotel
When it come to rooms with a view in golf, location near the course itself is sort of a given requirement. At the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch, they take “near” the course to a new extreme. Immediately adjacent the 1st tee, many of the rooms at the Royal Golf provide a marvelous view over this storied links. This is especially true if you find yourself in the Donald Ross Suite – it’s Tom Watson’s and our own Sam Baker’s room of choice for a reason.
Aghadoe Heights
After an inspiring morning on the links of Southwest Ireland, returning to the comfortable confines of the Aghadoe Heights hotel yields some of the best Good Life found in Ireland. Their Deluxe Lake View rooms provide breathtaking panoramas of the lakes of Killarney National Park and the MacGillycuddy Reeks mountains. The Terrace Bar is a great option to soak it all in with a post-round cocktail, or unwind with a visit to their award-winning spa which features the same sweeping views.
Almenara
It should come as no surprise that the Spain’s Costa del Sol has its fair share of rooms with a view. Major Haversham’s favorite in the area is found at the Almenara Hotel, which overlooks their superb course, the Sotogrande development, and the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean. On a clear day, one can see clear across the sea to North Africa and the Rock of Gibraltar. He suggests a visit to one of his favorite 19th holes – the cleverly named, Veinteeocho – for a little alfresco dining alongside the marvelous view. 
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