ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND Kohler Co. will convert Hamilton Grand, located adjacent to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, into 26 luxury residences.
The building overlooking the 18th green of the Old Course is one of the most photographed buildings in the golf world. It will become the fourth historic property restored and renovated by Wisconsin-based Kohler. A Kohler subsidiary acquired Hamilton Grand in 2009.
With input from the townspeople and the Fife Council, Kohler officially changed the name of the building to Hamilton Grand, combining the titles of the building’s previous uses—Grand Hotel, which opened in 1895, and Hamilton Hall, the University of St Andrews dormitory named after founder Thomas Hamilton.
“Our goal is to restore Hamilton Grand and create a dwelling that will make the people of St. Andrews proud,” says Debbie Taylor, president of Kohler’s hospitality and real estate group. “We have been honored to work with community members throughout this process. With their support, we are pleased to unveil our plans to the rest of the world.”
Hamilton Grand will offer 26 private residences ranging from two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, including a penthouse with expansive 360-degree views and a private balcony. Prices start at £1.35 million for a 99-year lease.
Along with butler service, valet parking and a golf concierge, Hamilton Grand will offer Grill Restaurant and Bar and a members’ library on the ground floor. For an added premium, a private chef and sommelier is available to cook in the comfort of resident’s apartments. Residents will have exclusive membership of The Duke’s Course, Kohler Waters Spa and all the amenities of the Old Course Hotel, including four dining experiences.
“Hamilton Grand will be a unique real estate opportunity for those who want to own a home in the birthplace of golf and a premier destination that is rich in history—the holy grail of golf,” Taylor says. “We are looking forward to restoring the building using our restoration expertise, and returning a piece of Scottish history to its landmark status.”
Included in Kohler’s renovation profile is The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin, which opened in 1918 as a dormitory for immigrant factory workers. The property was restored and reopened as a resort hotel in 1981, and today stands as the Midwest’s only AAA 5-diamond resort hotel, recognition it has earned for 25 consecutive years. The American Club is included on a list of Historic Hotels of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The company also restored Riverbend, an estate home constructed in 1923 by Walter J. Kohler, then governor of Wisconsin and president of Kohler Co. It was considered one of the 40 great mansions of North America. In 2001, Kohler refurbished the estate and reopened it with 31 guestrooms and its own spa as an exclusive private membership club.