Old Course Hotel plans glass bar overlooking famous Road Hole.

FIFE: Pub patrons would be able to watch golfers in action at the Road Hole 17th

Hotel bosses are bidding to build a glass-fronted bar overlooking one of the most famous holes in golf.

Owners of the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews have unveiled plans for the luxury pub with views over the 17th, known as the Road Hole.

Drinkers will be able to sit on the 77-seat bar’s terrace and watch some of the world’s greatest golfers in action in the Fife town.

It is hoped that construction will be complete when the Old Course plays host to the 150th Open Championship in 2022.

The five-star hotel has submitted a planning application for the bar to Fife

Council, which is due to make a decision in August.

A planning statement accompanying the application states: “The proposal will extend and improve the hotel’s guest offer, enhance the visitor experience and offer exceptional views across the Old Course and West Sands.

“The need for the development is to continue to meet the demands for function space and to provide the highest quality of facilities to guests in a five-star hotel.

“The use of glass on the north and north-east elevations is designed to maximise and enhance views across the links and towards the town’s skyline, but also sensitively arranged to avoid overpowering the existing window forms and arrangements.

“The small-scale nature of the extension and the proposal to use likefor-like materials and finishes to match the existing hotel building is not likely to harm the setting or the historical significance of the St Andrews Links Designed Landscape.”

The hotel, which is owned by the Kohler Company, said they have had “positive” discussions about the project with management at the Old known as the Home of Golf.

They said they will implement measures to ensure the bar has no impact on golfers playing rounds at the course in terms of noise.

Their statement added: “The development itself is not considered to result in any significant impacts on the amenity of the area.

“Furthermore, early engagement and consultation with the St Andrews Links Trust and R&A (nearest neighbours managing the Old Course links) has been generally positive and they will be kept in close briefing as the project progresses on to construction.”

The bar will be sited on the fourth floor of the hotel adjacent to the existing Road Hole restaurant.

The Kohler Company has undertaken several refurbishment and extension projects at the hotel in recent years including full replacement of the main building roof, its windows and an upgrade to the ballroom.

The hotel is set to reopen to guests on August 1 following the easing of restrictions in place as part of the coronavirus lockdown.

Course,

The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews.