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| Executive Travel |
Scottish Retreat, American Style
James Y. Bartlett
12/01/2003
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The resort is the brainchild of American Don Panoz, the founder of Elan Pharmaceuticals (pioneer of, among other things, the transdermal nicotine patch). In recent years, Panoz has brought to four the number of hotels in his upscale Chateau Elan resorts marque, whose other properties are in Georgia, Florida, and California.
Panoz’s genius in bringing his resort and spa to St. Andrews lies in his understanding of the reasons why American tourists love to visit Scotland—and those of us who prefer the comforts of home do not. The town, with its Old Course dating back at least as far as the 1500s, is rich in history and appeal to golf pilgrims, but luxury accommodations have long been lacking. Save for the deluxe, but small, Old Course Hotel, which sits at the strategic dogleg corner of the infamous Road Hole 17th, most of the hotels, inns, and B&Bs require something of an adjustment for those of us who expect data ports, working telephones, and private baths.
 While tourists will gladly suffer some degree of inconvenience in the name of authenticity, some of us are unwilling to compromise—especially when planning a retreat designed to energize and renew. The golf must be great, but so must the meeting facilities, the technology, the guest rooms, the food, the wine, and the service. Needless to say, private baths are not negotiable.
Panoz understands: His St. Andrews Bay has filled this void spectacularly. The 209 American-sized guest rooms are well appointed with special attention paid to bathroom amenities: heated marble floors and walk-in showers. In addition to the latest technological connections, guest rooms and suites feature dual electrical systems for those U.S. visitors who do not normally travel with foreign electrical adapters. In another nod to its U.S. guests, St. Andrews Bay maintains a small fleet of golf carts—rare in Scotland and referred to (a tad condescendingly) as "buggies." They can be hired for the Torrance course, but the Devlin track, like most courses in Scotland, is walking only, although trollies (pull carts) are available.
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