9 - Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Old Course Hotel/Dukes

Stay and Play Old Course Hotel/Dukes. Golf Monthly takes a look at the Top 50 places to Stay and Play in the UK and Ireland

9 - Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Old Course Hotel/Dukes

Regardless of any additions or modifications in the golf-obsessed town of St Andrews, the magical splendour of the Old Course Hotel will remain indissoluble. Flanking the iconic Road Hole, with views over famous links courses, West Sands beach and the Scottish coastline, this 144-room resort combines elegant decor with all-round luxury. From the famous Jigger Inn to the Road Hole fine-dining restaurant and luxury spa, quality and atmosphere is assured. These fixtures are complemented by the hotel-owned Duke's course, one of the UK's most highly regarded heathland tracks and host of the 2014 International European Amateur Championship. Rooms & suites: 144 Courses: 1 Golfbreaks.com best Mar/Apr 2014 deal: One night's B&B & one round from £179pp. Visit www.golfbreaks.com

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x