Top 5 Reasons to Stay at Hawkswood Country Estates Near St Andrews

Private Home Rental VBRO for Golf Vacation

By Brian Weis

When you're planning a golf trip to Scotland, St Andrews is the obvious magnet. But what if you could play the world-class courses nearby and stay somewhere that feels like your own private luxury golf retreat? Just a short drive from the Home of Golf sits Hawkswood Country Estate, a hidden gem near Fife that caters perfectly to golfers looking for space, comfort, and a few unforgettable extras. Here are the top 5 reasons you'll want to stay here on your next golf trip.

1. The Perfect Lodging Setup for Golf Groups Going To St Andrews - Fife

Hawkswood Country Estates isn't your typical golf lodging. You're not booking hotel rooms - you're booking entire houses. The estate has three private homes that sleep between 8-10 people each, accommodating up to 30 guests. It's perfect for a big group trip or a smaller crew that wants extra room to spread out. Each house comes with high-end amenities, large living spaces, and more comfort than any standard hotel. You're getting resort-level perks with the privacy of your own space - all for the same price you'd pay for a top-tier hotel room in St Andrews.

2. Private Transfers with a Local Touch

Forget rental cars or overpriced taxis. John, the owner, handles your transfers personally. He runs a 16-passenger minibus to shuttle your group to and from the airport, as well as daily trips to nearby courses. You can relax and enjoy the ride, and maybe even pick up a few local stories along the way - John knows a thing or two about the area and the game of golf.

3. A Golfer's Playground at Your Doorstep

Need to fix a bunker swing before hitting Kingsbarns? Want to get some reps in before a round at Carnoustie? Each house at Hawkswood is equipped with its own short-game practice area, complete with a putting and chipping green - yes, even traditional sod-stacked bunkers. There's also a 300-yard driving range on the edge of the property. So whether it's a pre-round warm-up or a late-night wedge contest with your buddies, you've got the tools right outside your door.

And when the sun goes down? The putting and chipping areas are fully lit, so you and your buddies can settle the day's bets under the lights - preferably with an Irish whiskey in hand and bragging rights on the line.

4. Time to Relax, Recover, and Recharge

Scottish links golf can be a grind on the body - especially when you're walking 36 a day. At Hawkswood Country Estates, recovery is built in. Each house has a private hydro spa or Jacuzzi where you can soak those tired legs or work out a few back spasms. If the bubbling water doesn't do the trick, the fresh country air and peaceful setting will.

5. Minutes from Scotland's Best Courses

St Andrews may be the crown jewel, but the entire Fife coast is packed with incredible golf. From Hawkswood Country Estates, you're within 15 miles of more than a dozen top-tier tracks:

Nearby Golf Courses:
St Andrews Links: 7.9 miles
Dumbarnie Links: 7.4 miles
Lundin Golf Club: 6.4 miles
Castle Course: 9.4 miles
Kingsbarns Golf Links: 12 miles
Ladybank Golf Club: 13 miles
Crail Golfing Society: 14 miles
Scotscraig Golf Club: 14 miles
Anstruther Golf Course: 9.5 miles
Elie Golf House Club: 7.4 miles
Leven Links: 8.7 miles
Carnoustie Golf Links: 28 miles
Gleneagles: 42 miles

When looking at a map the Country Estate is located in the epicenter of golf. If you're chasing the late-night pub crawl scene, best grab a pint before heading back to the estate. Hawkswood Country Estate is all about peace, privacy, and space - not crowds, tour buses, or packed hotel lobbies. It's a true golf retreat, built for recovery and relaxation. You've got easy access to the best courses in Scotland, without sacrificing comfort or elbow room. Base your entire trip here and tee it up at a new world-class track every day.

Bonus Reason: A Family That Cooks

Hawkswood Country Estates isn't just a business - it's a family-run operation. John, the owner, is a chef by trade and still gets behind the stove. His daughter, Mary Jo, helps run the estate and handles most of the booking and guest communication. She'll likely be the one answering your emails and also welcoming you with a hot breakfast and a soft smile.

Expect a full Scottish spread in the morning - eggs, mushrooms, tomato, and of course, haggis. If your group wants a catered meal after golf, the large kitchens and dining areas are ideal for gathering around fresh pizzas, a proper BBQ, or a perfectly grilled steak - all made by the in-house team. If you have a chef in your foursome you have the ability to cook your own meals as well. Just work with the staff on your grocery needs before hand and your fridge and cupboards will be fully stocked.

From your first welcome to your final goodbyes, you're treated like more than just a guest. At Hawkswood Country Estates, you arrive as golfers and leave as part of the family.

Getting There

The estate is located in Peat Inn, Fife. It's about 45 minutes from Edinburgh Airport, which has international flights daily. Dundee Airport is even closer for domestic arrivals. From St Andrews, it's a 15-minute drive. Transfers can be arranged with Hawkswood Country Estate, so once you land, you're covered.

Ready to Book?

For more information and to check availability, visit:
https://www.hawkswoodcountryestate.com/.

Looking to build an itinerary or golf package? Consider working with a tour operator state side in the US who has experience booking golf packages and trips to Scotland.
Scottish Golf Trips
Jason Kauflin
414-499-8607 (mention Hawkswood Estates Golf Packages when calling)

Revised: 03/23/2025 - Article Viewed 91 Times

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.