Review of Kohler Waters Spa at The Old Course Hotel

Kohler Waters Spa at the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews - 5 bubbles

The interesting and unusual spa in this elegant hotel offers luxury combined with excellent water-based therapies. The pool, rooftop hot tub, hydrotherapy pool, plunge pool, Japanese steam room, sauna with light therapy (and more) will keep happy golfers and non-golfers alike. Ideal for a relaxing spa day or stay.

First impressions?

What's on offer?

Which treatments did you have?

What were the treatments like?

What else could you have?

Food facts

Was it worth it?

We loved

We didn't love

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

You know you are somewhere special when the road sign says "Welcome to the Kingdom of Fife". Note the "Kingdom". You expect something quite royal, and St Andrews (and the Old Course Hotel) certainly delivers. There has been a university in the town since the late 1500s and the town is crowded with ancient gateways and stone buildings. The Old Course Hotel is on the edge of the town and easy to spot as it is surrounded by golf courses -- yes, plural. The Old Course is a golfer's heaven, and many of the rooms overlook the courses and the beach.

The hotel is not quite as old as the university or the golf courses, but what it lacks in history it more than makes up for in comfort, elegance and service. A charming man in a kilt greeted us, whisked off both luggage and car, we were escorted to reception, then to our room which overlooked the golf courses and the sea.

What's on offer?

The Kohler Waters Spa uses thalassotherapy principles. The thermal suite has a hydrotherapy pool, cold plunge pool and deluge shower, a Japanese steam room, and a sauna with light therapy.

The main 20-metre pool has a cascade waterfall at one end and seating along one side. The rooftop spa garden has a hot tub and seating area, and a relaxation room divided into bays by very long, almost black curtains, which gives it a slightly medieval feel. It's quite austere, though the relaxation beds are comfortable and the soft blankets are great to snuggle under for a post-treatment snooze.

The treatments reflect the tradition of "taking the waters" with bath treatments and Vichy showers alongside more traditional facials and massages.

The changing rooms are spacious and clean and have a crystal steam room within them.

The Fife coastal path runs along the beachfront and makes for a good walk. The hotel can also arrange falconry, off-road driving, whisky tasting, hot-air ballooning, or sightseeing from a helicopter or seaplane.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the Carita Diamond of Beauty facial (105 minutes, £210 weekdays, £220 Saturdays) and the Highland Fling, their signature treatment (50 minutes, £88/£98). My husband had a golfer's massage (50 minutes, £90/£100).

What were the treatments like?

Excellent and unusual.

The Carita Diamond of Beauty facial began with a foot ritual and a short shoulder massage, carried out while I was seated. This let me settle into the zone. I then got on the bed. Carrine, my therapist, altered the setting of the bed so that my shoulders were raised, as were my knees, which felt very supportive and comfortable. This position takes the pressure off the lower back, which is very useful during a long treatment.

Carrine began the treatment with a cleanse followed by an exfoliation. The most unusual element of the facial is the use of metal balls rolled across the skin though which a current passes to contract the muscles. There was a slight tingling feeling, especially noticeable around the jaw line -- just where I need the most lift! A similar session followed with pads. This time the tingling was noticeable over my forehead. Carrine then applied a very thick ultra-firming mask that sets on the face. While this was working, she gave me a hand and arm massage.

The results were pretty amazing. My horribly saggy jawline was noticeably tighter and the frown lines on my forehead were much softer. I couldn't stop looking in the mirror, just to check that the result had not faded. In fact, the benefits lasted several days.

My husband's golfer's massage included some re-aligning of joints, loosening the arms and legs and pulling them to stretch the muscles and then settling the limb back. He was thoroughly relaxed and his joints were looser and more balanced.

The Highland Fling is an aptly named treatment as it involves large quantities of hot water being flung at you. You begin with a Vichy shower, an overhead "arm" of a shower that sprays water onto you while you lie naked on a massage bed.

Shirih, my therapist, protected my modesty throughout with carefully placed towels. She began with an exfoliation involving a product with coffee, then used the Vichy shower with lovely warm water to wash the exfoliant off. Then she flung those buckets of hot water at me. The water felt hot and powerful. I warmed up quickly. Shirih dried me with some huge towels, then delivered a good body massage with a chocolate butter moisturiser.

The Highland Fling would be a great treatment to have after a brisk walk on that lovely beach in the winter. Also, it would be great for anyone with creaky joints. Mine certainly benefited from the hot water soak.

What else could you have?

An amazing collection of water-based therapies including the sok Overflowing Bath, which involves an exfoliation, a soak in a deep bath under colour-changing lights, followed by the application of a hydrating moisturiser. The Riverbath also uses changing lights but adds whirlpool jets to the treatment.

You can also have massages, body treatments, and manicures and pedicures. There is a small studio for classes which hotel guests are welcome to attend. They also run occasional sessions such as the "chariots of fire" beach run if you are feeling energetic.

Food facts

We had dinner in the Sands restaurant which specialises in steaks and seafood. The beef was well hung and the fish was local and fresh. You have breakfast in the fourth-floor restaurant which has huge windows overlooking the golf courses (busy even early in the morning). You can also have light meals in the spa lounge; ideal if you have booked a spa day and don't want to change out of your robe.

Was it worth it?

Even though the Kohler Waters Spa is more expensive than many spas, we say it is well worth it for the water-based facilities, and the unusual treatments. The hotel is delightfully luxurious without being stuffy. Spa addicts will find something very new and different here.

We loved

The setting, looking over the home of the Royal and Ancient game, and the beach.

The quiet elegance of the hotel.

The unusual treatments in the spa.

The "back staircase" to the spa, which means you can get from your room to the spa in your robe without having to go through the reception area.

The rooftop spa garden: small but perfectly formed with a hot tub, plants, chairs and the open sky.

We didn't love

The music in the relaxation room, which was rather loud. Despite several attempts to turn it down, no-one seemed to be able to find the volume control.

The slightly cramped gym, but you can jog while overlooking the golf course!

Who do you think would like it?

Golfers and their partners. Parents who have dispatched their offspring to St Andrews university and want to visit them.

Spa goers who want an unusual and top quality treatments.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Last time we were invited to the Old Course Hotel, the Kohler Waters Spa earned 4 bubbles. The addition of the new relaxation room (so that there is somewhere to relax!) and the rooftop hot tub means that we now award the spa 5 bubbles.

The spa is spotlessly clean, offers good facilities and a range of unusual treatments. The staff are well trained and do an excellent job of explaining the treatments, what they are going to do, and answering questions. The spa journey is well thought through: you start in the bright and quite buzzy lounge, move through the wet area and heat experiences, on to the treatments, and finally end up in the subdued deep relaxation area.

See more on how we rate the spas.