One of the most famous views in world golf will be made even better after Macdonald Hotels was granted planning permission for a 44-suite extension to the Rusacks Hotel, overlooking the 18^th green at The Old Course.

The £7 million extension to the 128-year-old hotel in the ‘Home of Golf‘ will also include a rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace, as well as glass-fronted suites allowing visitors to witness up-close the grandeur of the venue. 

Macdonald deputy chairman Gordon Fraser said: “This is a tremendously positive announcement for our company and for St Andrews.

“We’ve owned the Macdonald Rusacks since 2001 and are especially conscious of being custodians of one of golf’s most famous locations so will be developing the site with the utmost sensitivity.”

The hotel already hosts many top golfers and US Open winner Justin Rose described his suite as ‘the best room in golf’. 

Mr Fraser promised the the design of the extension will carefully blend with its surroundings.

“We’ll now enter the next stages of the planning process and anticipate beginning work during 2016,” he said.

Stephen Gallacher, member of the winning 2014 European Ryder Cup Team and golf ambassador for Macdonald Hotels, said: “I’ve seen the plans for this fantastic development at the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel and they are stunning.

“The group is committed to developing a truly world-class hotel in keeping with its fabulous location, overlooking the most famous hole on the most famous golf course in the world.”

The extension to the hotel, which will also provide valet car parking on the lower ground floor, has been designed by Scottish firm WCP Architects and will be built using traditional materials in keeping with its location.