Golf News Travel Section March 2017

TRAVEL COMPETITION | FEBRUARY 2017

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

YOUR GUIDE TO GOLFING TRIPS AT HOME AND ABROAD

[67]

TRAVEL AND BREAKS

FEBRUARY 2017 WEB: GOLFNEWS.CO.UK/TRAVEL

16-PAGE GUIDE TO GOLF IN THE WEST COUNTRY

SARAH STIRK

VISITS TAMPA – A DESTINATION FULL OF SURPRISES

THE

WEST COUNTRY 2017 GUIDE TO GOLF

FOR HELP OR ADVICE IN PLANNING YOUR CAVENDISH MACKENZIE TRAIL PROGRAMME, PLEASE CALL 01298 79708 OR EMAIL PROSHOP@CAVENDISHGOLFCLUB.COM

STRADEY PARK HOTEL & SPA

WHERE TO STAY & PLAY



DEVON

The ideal base for your perfect golfing break

CORNWALL SOMERSET DORSET

Easy access to Machynys, Ashburnham & Glyn Abbey Golf Clubs, also Gower golf clubs

WILTSHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Stay in our luxury 4 star hotel, with fine dining Samphires Restaurant and private rooftop lounge. Treat yourself to a relaxing massage in our award winning Parc Spa.

BRISTOL &

A

HEREFORDSHIRE

Unwind in our comfortable Parc bar area with a range of beers, ales and wines and treat yourself to a delcious meal from our mouthwatering bar menu.

SUPPLEMENT Stradey Park Hotel & Spa, Llanelli, SA15 4HA | T: 01554 758171 E: reservations@stradeyparkhotel.com | W: www.stradeyparkhotel.com

TREVOSE G&CC, CORNWALL

WIN A LUXURY GOLF BREAK A FLYING VISIT TO ST ENODOC BEST IN THE WEST: OUR TOP 18 HOLES

ALSO IN THIS MONTH'S TRAVEL:

ME & MY TRAVELS WITH WILL GREENWOOD

TRAVEL & UK GOLF BREAKS WIN A TRIP TO TREVOSE IN CORNWALL LATEST PACKAGES

[68] MARCH 2017 | UK TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

TAKE A TRIP TO TUNED-UP

TEWKESBURY G

olfers looking for a relaxing break in the Gloucestershire countryside should head for the tranquil surroundings of the Tewkesbury Park Hotel, Golf & Country Club, which offers an 80-bedroomed 18th century manor house hotel with enviable views over the historic town of Tewkesbury.

The resort, which has recently come back under family ownership, has been the subject of a £4m renovation, with every element of the venue enjoying substantial improvements.

Improvements inside the hotel include nine new luxury suites, two meeting rooms, two new spa treatment rooms, an orangery, and a new cocktail lounge. Luxuriously appointed by interior designer ADS-Design, the new bedrooms draw upon the historical connections of the venue, which overlooks the site of the Battle of Tewkesbury.

Besides the multi-million pound new additions, the renovation programme saw all 85 guestrooms receive a complete refurbishment with new interiors, new Hypnos beds and 40-inch Smart TVs. The 18-hole, 6,579-yard course, which was originally designed by architect Frank Pennick, has recently benefitted

from a complete bunker renovation programme by Peter McEvoy, and features plenty of interesting and testing holes, with wooded areas and water hazards appearing early in the round before it opens up onto spacious fairways on the back nine.

Guests have a range of dining ■ TEWKESBURY HAS RECENTLY BENEFITTED FROM A £4M RENOVATION

options, including with the Garden Room, which serving traditional English and French cuisine, while The Place offers a range of light snacks and meals. Guests’ leisure needs are taken care of by an indoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, gym, and squash and tennis courts, all of which are free to use.

Nearby attractions include the cathedral city of Worcester, the surrounding Malvern Hills and Cotswolds, and the races at Cheltenham.

The hotel is currently one nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast, two rounds of golf, and full use of the leisure facilities for £115pp Mon-Thurs, £119 Fri/Sat, or £99 for Sunday.

For more details call 01684 272320 or visit www.tewkesburypark.co.uk.

BREAK FOR THE BORDERS AT NORTHUMBERLAND’S LINKS

T

he Northumberland coast is home to a vast range of great golf courses, located in some of the most stunning and dramatic landscapes in Britain.

Bamburgh Castle Golf Club is often described as one of the most scenic courses in Britain with views of Lindisfarne, Bamburgh Castle, Farne Islands and the Cheviot Hills.

Dunstanburgh Castle, situated at beautiful Embleton Bay, is a traditional links, designed by James Braid.

Seahouses was founded in 1913, as a traditional 9-hole course and upgraded in 1976 to 18 holes. The course has hosted many Northumberland County competition events over the years

Belford, is a 9-hole course that can be played as an 18-holer thanks to variety of tees. It is set on undulating parkland, with the fairways lined by mature trees. Within half an hour’s drive you will find Goswick Golf Club, on the coast south of Berwick upon Tweed. Ranked the No.1 club in Northumberland, it was an Open qualifying course from 2008 to 2012, and will be again in 2018.

The Northumberland Golfing Parsport is a great way for visiting golfers to enjoy some of the county’s best golf courses at discounted rates.

If you’re looking for a base from which to sample these courses, then Outchester and Ross Cottages, near

STAY & PLAY AT THE FOREST OF ARDEN IN 2017

Call 01676 526 335, pop in or visit MarriottGolf.co.uk Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club Maxstoke Lane, Meriden, CV7 7HR subject to availability; prices vary throughout the year

Bamburgh, is the perfect spot, with Bamburgh Castle, Dunstanburgh Castle, Seahouses and Belfor all within a 20-minute drive.

Not only are these lovely four- and five-star cottages at Outchester and Ross set in stunning rural scenery, but if not all your party are golf fanatics, then you’re also surrounded by endless other opportunities for fun nearby, including boat trips to the Farne Islands, magnificent beaches, friendly pubs serving great food and majestic castles, historic houses and gardens to visit. Outchester and Ross Cottages are available from just £320 per week, per cottage. For more information or to book, visit www.rosscottages.co.uk.

1 NIGHT 2 ROUNDS, DINNER, BED & BREAKFAST FROM JUST £109 Follow in the footsteps of champions on the Championship Arden (British Masters & English Open) and play its more forgiving sister course, The Aylesford during your overnight stay, which also includes a hearty buffet dinner and a filling English breakfast. Options also available for 2 Night 3 rounds

■ BAMBURGH CASTLE

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

UK TRAVEL | MARCH 2017 [69]

TEE UP A SPRING BREAK TO

GLORIOUS GALGORM G

algorm Resort & Spa, Northern Ireland’s premier luxury hotel and spa, situated just 30 minutes from Belfast, is the perfect location for a spring golfing break.

Set within 163 acres of stunning parkland, with the spectacular River Maine flowing through the estate, the Ballymena-based resort, which has recently undergone a £10 million makeover, has a truly unique setting.

Close to both Belfast airports and the spectacular scenery of the North Antrim Coast, it is the ideal base to escape to the beautiful nearby golf courses, as well as sample the resort’s brand new 9-hole pitch-and-putt facility.

The new executive course is located to the rear of the hotel’s river-facing self-catering cottages, with clubs, balls, tees being provided by the spa reception, where bookings are also taken.

Opened by Ireland’s rugby captain Rory Best last year, hotel guests are welcome to enjoy the new course, whose difficulty is enhanced by numerous bunkers, a pond, and several ditches.

Fully warmed up, golfers can try their hand at the 18-hole championship course at nearby Galgorm Castle, before making the short trip to take on the challenge of some of Ireland’s most

renowned links layouts on the coast, including Royal Portrush, venue for the 2019 Open Championship.

Prices for overnight accommodation, full Irish breakfast, and 18 holes at Galgorm Castle, start from £90 person, based on a minimum of two people sharing a double room.

For further enquiries, visit www.galgorm.com

ENJOY HIGH STREET SAVINGS BY BOOKING WITH QHOTELS

G

olfers placing society and corporate bookings at any of QHotels' 10 golf destinations will be able to reap their own reward on the high street, after the UK's largest golf resort operator introduced Golf Rewards, a new loyalty scheme.

With every golf event booked, for 12 or more golfers, the group organiser

will be rewarded with shopping vouchers by way of a ‘thank-you'. And the big-brand names from which to choose include John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Debenhams, and Love2Shop, among many others.

Any event booked

by April 13, to take place before the end of the year, will be eligible for double rewards, meaning even more savings to be made.

Alan Foley, QHotels' group golf sales

and marketing manager, said: "We value the business that golf organisers place with us, and we never take it for granted, because we know they have a choice.

So we always look to say ‘thank you' in one way or another, and this new Golf Rewards programme gives them something back where everybody can appreciate it."

The four-star QHotels group offers championship-standard courses in locations across the whole of the UK, including Slaley Hall, Belton Woods, Oulton Hall, Mottram Hall, and Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort.

For more details, visit www.QHotels. co.uk/golf-rewards.

Rentals at Glenmor The Gleneagles experience is one of a kind – you can now enjoy it from the comfort of a Glenmor luxury holiday home, locate in the heart of Gleneagles.

On your stay you can enjoy complimentary golf for one person, plus access to all of the leisure, dining and pursuits of the 5 star Gleneagles estate.

A main season 2 bedroom rental starts from £2,720 for 7 nights.

Find out more Visit gleneagles.com Call 01764 694 321 Email own@gleneagles.com

Make yourself at home in the heart of Gleneagles

The Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulation 2010 requires Gleneagles to provide you with certain key information in relation to the proposed seasonal ownership contract. A standard information form which contains this key information in relation to that contract may be obtained by contacted us via the above methods.

[70] MARCH 2017 | UK TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

FOLLOW MACKENZIE’S TRAIL IN DELIGHTFUL DERBYSHIRE Mackenzie course, its flowing contours require careful course management and accurate shot placement, but it’s also a course that gives you a chance, and is both quirky and fun to play. Despite advancements in equipment technology, it’s a course whose design has stood the test of time, with the only significant changes being to the 16th hole, which was extended from a par-3 to a par-4. www.rvgc.co.uk

The Cavendish MacKenzie Trail offers nine courses designed by legendary golf course architect Dr Alistair MacKenzie, all within easy reach of Buxton in Derbyshire.

These courses are all different, offering great variety and all demonstrate the influence of MacKenzie’s creative golfing brain.

MacKenzie’s great body of work throughout the world is well documented and is often revisited in the lead-up to the first of the major golf tournaments of the season. Playing Cavendish offers a tangible link to the past and the re-discovered joy of golf.

The ‘Cavendish MacKenzie Trail’ offers four MacKenziedesigned courses within 20 miles of Buxton (Hazel Grove, Bramall Park, Reddish Vale); two more with 40 miles (Sitwell Park, Bolton Old Links), and three more within 60 miles (Nelson, Walsall, Sutton Coldfield).

NELSON GOLF CLUB Nelson is situated on a plateau overlooking Nelson, Burnley and Colne with stunning panoramic views. MacKenzie managed a skillful design to avoid any wearisome climbing.

Laid out in two loops of nine, the front nine follows the outer perimeter of the course and runs clockwise, whilst the second nine returns on the inner, in an anti-clockwise direction. The foundation for a low score lies in negotiating the five par-threes. None is particularly long, except the 185yard 16th, which is slightly uphill and tends to play longer than its number on the card, while winds can cause problems with club selection, and all the greens are well protected. www.nelsongolfclub.com

REDDISH VALE GOLF CLUB Reddish Vale is the combination of MacKenzie’s magical eye and 100 acres that are rich in feature and beauty. Like any

GOLF CLUB

GOLF CLUB

HAZEL GROVE GOLF CLUB Often described as one of Cheshire’s finest hidden gems, Hazel Grove is a beautiful parkland course with excellent views over Manchester and the rolling Cheshire plains. Numerous water hazards, tree-lined fairways and true USPGA specification greens, provide an enjoyable test of golf all year round. www.hazelgrovegolfclub.com

CAVENDISH GOLF CLUB Widely regarded as one Dr MacKenzie’s most accomplished designs in the UK – and quite possibly one of the best layouts in the world measuring under 6,000 yards – Cavendish was also one of the inspirations for Augusta National.

Opened in 1925, it exemplifies MacKenzie’s belief that ‘length has nothing to do with the quality of a hole’, and illustrates how creatively he blended the layout of the 5,721-yard course into the surrounding landscape. Nothing jars the eye, nor distracts from the beauty of the natural setting, while sloping fairways, meandering water hazards and dangerous greens will soon put you in the mood for the Masters. www.cavendishgolfclub.com

SITWELL PARK GOLF CLUB Sitwell Park is a tough but fair challenge, with arguably one of the most highly respected finishes in the area. The layout snakes its way across picturesque parkland, offering a diverse challenge for golfers of all abilities and experience. And then there are the classic Mackenzie greens, fast, with some tricky reads. The

FOR HELP OR ADVICE IN PLANNING YOUR CAVENDISH MACKENZIE TRAIL PROGRAMME, PLEASE CALL 01298 79708 OR EMAIL PROSHOP@CAVENDISHGOLFCLUB.COM

Machynys

Machynys

course is located in a wonderfully quiet spot, away from the hustle bustle of modern life, but just five minutes from junction 33 of the M1. www.sitwellgolf.co.uk

Machynys GOLF CLUB

Machynys

STRADEY

GOLF CLUB

PARK HOTEL & SPA 

Machynys

Machynys

CLWB GOLFF

CLWB GOLFF

Machynys CLWB GOLFF

Machynys CLWB GOLFF

The ideal base for your perfect golfing break

Easy access to Machynys, Ashburnham & Glyn Abbey Golf Clubs, also Gower golf clubs

SOCIETY/ CORPORATE GOLF FROM

£35.00pp

GOLF BREAKS

TWILIGHT GOLF

£72.50pp

£20.00pp

FROM

FROM

FREE £100 VOUCHER

TO BE SPENT ON PRIZES IN THE GOLF SHOP WITH BOOKINGS OVER 20 GOLFERS*

CALL NOW TO BOOK 01554 744888 www.machynys.com Machynys Peninsula Golf Club & Premier Spa, Nicklaus Avenue, Machynys Llanelli. SA15 2DG All prices per person. Terms & Conditions apply. Weekend Supplement of £5.00 per person* Applies to full seasonal rate only

Stay in our luxury 4 star hotel, with fine dining Samphires Restaurant and private rooftop lounge. Treat yourself to a relaxing massage in our award winning Parc Spa. Unwind in our comfortable Parc bar area with a range of beers, ales and wines and treat yourself to a delcious meal from our mouthwatering bar menu.

Stradey Park Hotel & Spa, Llanelli, SA15 4HA | T: 01554 758171 E: reservations@stradeyparkhotel.com | W: www.stradeyparkhotel.com

THE

WEST COUNTRY 2017 GUIDE TO GOLF

WHERE TO STAY & PLAY DEVON CORNWALL SOMERSET DORSET WILTSHIRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE BRISTOL &

A

HEREFORDSHIRE

SUPPLEMENT TREVOSE G&CC, CORNWALL

WIN A LUXURY GOLF BREAK A FLYING VISIT TO ST ENODOC BEST IN THE WEST: OUR TOP 18 HOLES

HOME TO ONE OF THE

UK’S TOP LINKS COURSES...

AND SO MUCH MORE!

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF TREVOSE Located on the spectacular North Cornwall coast, Trevose ofers three stunning courses for all abilities.

Relax in our 4-5 star rated accommodation and explore the sandy beaches, breath-taking coastal walks and some of the country’s best loved attractions... all on our doorstep. We promise a holiday to remember, with or without your clubs.

3 GOLF COURSES · ACCOMMODATION · ‘CONSTANTINE’ RESTAURANT · PERFORMANCE CENTRE TENNIS COURTS · SWIMMING POOL · THERAPY ROOM · GOLF SHOP · CHILDREN’S AREA

Tel: (01841) 520208 www.trevose-gc.co.uk Constantine Bay, Padstow, North Cornwall, PL28 8JB

WEST COUNTRY | MARCH 2017

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[73]

Welcome

GOLF NEWS EDITOR NICK BAYLY EXPLAINS WHY HIS GOLFING AND SPIRITUAL HEART BELONGS IN THE WEST COUNTRY, WHERE HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GAME BEGAN BACK IN THE LONG HOT SUMMER OF ‘76

H

ARGH, BAYLY MINOR, I PRESUME. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN, AND YOUR EYES ON THE BALL. GOOD LUCK, SON

aving been born in Cornwall, schooled in Devon, and lived in Dorset for much of my early life, it’s fair to say that the South West of England is part of my DNA. My junior school in Tavistock – I’m almost ashamed to say – had its own nine-hole golf course, and it was here, on the fringes of Dartmoor, that my early, and somewhat tempestuous, love affair with the game first began.

With my dad’s cut-down putter and a Tommy Armour iron of some description in one hand, a rubber tee on a piece of string tied to my belt, and my pockets weighed down with half-cut balatas, many a long summer’s afternoon in the late 1970s was spent hacking around this makeshift course in the company of a few schoolmates. With no crusty members to tell us what to do, how to play, and what to wear, they were halcyon, care-free times.

It didn’t take me long to recognise that golf was my kind of game. Outdoors, yet leisurely; competitive, yet fun; constantly challenging, yet irritatingly addictive. It ticked a lot of boxes for an athleticallychallenged boy.

For my 13th birthday, a generous godfather bought me my first set of metalwoods – a Petron Impala driver, 3and 7-wood – and I was ready to tackle my first full-sized course. By now in possession of a basic knowledge of rules and etiquette,

and what felt like a passable swing – i.e. I no longer took air shots – I was ‘allowed’ to join my dad for a game at his club, Came Down in Dorset (pictured left).

On my visit to the club, I remember nervously being introduced to the venerable head professional, Bob Preston, who leaned over the pro shop counter and gave me the sort of disdainful look usually reserved for a High Court judge peering down at a guilty defendant. “Argh, Bayly minor, I presume. Keep your head down, and your eyes on the ball. Good luck, son.”

So, with that succinct introduction, my ‘proper’ golfing life had begun.

Fast forward 35 years, and I’ve had the great pleasure of playing Came Down with my dad more times than I care to remember, although he has, due to a dodgy hip, recently joined the ranks of the homeless golfer – well, he has a home, but not a golfing one.

Thankfully, my job often allows me to travel with a plus-one, and together we have played many of the West Country’s top tracks, and lots of the less well-known ‘hidden gems’ as well, from magnificent cliff layouts at Bridport & West Dorset, some of whose holes are sadly slipping into the English Channel, to the modern masterpiece that is Remedy Oak, near Bournemouth. There have been memorable rounds at Moretonhampstead Golf Club in Devon, now known as Bovey Castle, where

we used to tee off at first light and be back in time for breakfast, while our rounds at the Isle of Purbeck have always been memorable, if not for the quality of the golf.

It’s fair to say that the West Country offers the complete smorgasbord of golfing experiences. Blessed with a handful of truly world-class links, from Saunton and Burnham & Berrow, to St Enodoc and Royal North Devon, it also boasts cliff-top delights like Axe Cliff, Cape Cornwall and Carylon Bay; moorland links such as Tavistock and Yelvterton; while heathland gems such as East Dorset’s Broadstone and Parkstone, should be on every serious golfer's bucket list. Throw in some upmarket resorts, such as St Mellion, Bowood, the Manor House at Castle Combe, and the aforementioned Bovey Castle, and you have a cornucopia of venues with which to create a lifetime of golfing memories.

And while the weather isn’t always as kind as it might be in this corner of the British Isles, there can be fewer finer experiences in life than a balmy day spent at some burnished links, watching the sun sinking into the sea with a pint in hand, as you recount the inevitable tales of missed birdie putts and gutsy up-and-downs.

So pack up your golf bags – and your bucket and spade – and head out West for your next golfing break. You never know, it might be the beginning of a beautiful, if often frustrating, relationship.

[74] MARCH 2017 | WEST COUNTRY

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

RELAXING ON THE

RIVIERA CHARLES BRISCOE-KNIGHT PAYS A VISIT TO DEVON’S SOUTH COAST, WHERE HE PLAYS A TRIO OF DELIGHTFUL COURSES IN AND AROUND TORQUAY – AND STAYS AT A STUNNING FAMILY-RUN HOTEL, WHERE THE WAITER WASN’T SPANISH AND THE OWNER DIDN’T REPEATEDLY BASH HIS HEAD ON THE RECEPTION DESK

W

hile those of a certain age might have been put off from staying in a privately-run hotel in Torquay following the broadcasting of Fawlty Towers back in the mid-1970s – and the endless re-runs – thankfully things have moved on considerably in the hospitality trade in the south Devonshire resort over the intervening 40 years, so those expecting to find rats in the biscuit tins, and a lanky landlord thrashing his car with a tree branch when they stay in the town, will come away somewhat disappointed.

Despite the advancements in health and safety, and customer service, the English Riviera – the stretch of coastline between Torquay and Brixham – is still delightfully out of step with the rest of the world, with its stunning beaches, swaying palms, and fairground attractions harking back to a time when holidays were a much simpler affair.

While the region’s charms as a holiday destination are all too obvious, its attraction as a venue for a golf break is less well touted, with the courses in the area somewhat living in the shadows of the more famous links to be found to the north of the county.

In a bid to rectify this situation, my trip to this unheralded region began at the four-star Orestone Manor, a familyrun Georgian country house hotel set in the pretty South Devon coastal village of Maidencombe. With spectacular sea views over Lyme Bay and beyond, the hotel offers 14 spacious en suite rooms, all of which have been lovingly refurbished using the finest fabrics and fittings.

The manor also boasts its own awardwinning restaurant, with menus built around locally-sourced meat, freshly-caught Brixham fish, and a selection of vegetables, many of which have been grown in the

■ TORQUAY GOLF CLUB

hotel’s own gardens.

Orestone Manor is also ideally placed to strike out to bright lights of Torbay and Paignton, or to the quieter shores around Brixham, where stunning walks and a fine selection of restaurants await around the pretty harbour.

My golfing itinerary took in three courses which offered a unique combination of tests – taking in parkland, heathland and links layouts.

Aficionados of parkland courses will delight in the beautiful layout at Torquay Golf Club, set among the residential area of Babbacombe. Although parkland by design, its topography is far from flat, and the walks up the 6th and 7th fairways are quite a hike – although weary golfers are rewarded with great views once they reach the top.

The 8th is a tad quirky, with an easy drive followed by a blind second to a green hidden way below the fairway, while the 9th is a short par four, whose green demands to be reached with a well-struck driver.

Although short by modern standards – 6,138 yards off the whites – the shortage of par fives – there is only one – ensures that the par of 69 is hard to match.

All in all, it makes for an entertaining holiday round, especially when you throw in lunch at the clubhouse that overlooks the opening and closing holes.

Moving on to Dawlish Warren Golf Club, first-time visitors will be somewhat surprised to find themselves in the firing line as they enter through the club’s gates, as the 18th green is directly to the left of the road alongside the railway station, while the fairway doglegs along the front of the clubhouse. It’s an intimidating sight.

On the other 17 holes, linksland on the ‘inner warren’ behind the beach and alongside the estuary to the River Exe, embraces a design pretty well unaltered for

■ TEIGNMOUTH GOLF CLUB'S SIGNATURE 8TH HOLE

■ DAWLISH WARREN BOASTS WONDERFUL VIEWS OF THE RIVER EXE'S ESTUARY

STAY ORESTONE MANOR HOTEL, MAIDENCOMBE WWW.ORESTONEMANOR.COM TEL: 01803 897 511 DOUBLE ROOMS FROM £130PN.

PLAY TORQUAY GOLF CLUB WWW.TORQUAYGOLFCLUB.CO.UK TEL: 01803 314591 GREEN FEE: £35/£40 (WDAY, W/E) THE WARREN GOLF CLUB WWW.DWGC.CO.UK TEL: 01626 862255 GREEN FEE: £20 (AFTER 2PM) TEIGNMOUTH GOLF CLUB TEIGNMOUTHGOLFCLUB.CO.UK TEL: 01626 777070 GREEN FEE: £40/£50

over a century. A traditional out-and-back links, around the turn at the far ‘spit’ end are some testing, undulating holes, including the 9th, which is 460-yard par 4, while if your golf is going sideways there are lovely views to had off many of the holes around the estuary – which is a bird and plane spotter's paradise, thanks to the nearby airfield. At £20, it’s a good value green fee, and the very epitome of what seaside holiday golf is all about.

Although Saunton and Royal North Devon might be among the top-rated courses in the county, Teignmouth Golf Club, 800 feet above the town, can make a strong case to rank alongside them. The historic heathland layout has some holes that would not be out of place at Sunningdale or Walton Heath. Indeed, the ceremonial stone greeting arriving golfers announces the design was crafted by no less a genius than Dr Alistair McKenzie of Augusta and Cypress Point fame.

Dr MacKenzie's signature of sloping, multi-tiered greens is much in evidence at Teignmouth; in fact, little has changed since the 1920s, including the course’s length, which is still only 6,082 yards from the back tees. The yardage may be modest, but par is a lowly 69 from the whites and this is a windy, exposed plateau, so do not expect a card full of birdies.

Negotiating the six par threes is key to a good score, but none of these one-shotters yield an easy par. The 16th is shortest on the card, measuring a mere 125 yards, but this hole is not called ‘Hell's Mouth’ for nothing.

The innocuous-looking par three is all about finding the green on the low side of the flag.

Do not leave yourself a downhill putt, or you'll probably end up with a bogey or worse. If forced to choose, my favourite holes were the eighth and the 17th. The former is a beautifully-crafted par four, which sets up off the tee with bunkers all about, and a tree in the middle of a sloping fairway, culminating in a green high above your second shot. The 17th is a short, downhill par, 4 sloping right to left. Drive down the right, and you maybe lucky to find the green 329 yards away.

All in all, Teignmouth is a great test, and was presented in superb condition. And, like the other courses on this trip, represents great value when compared to the more championed layouts in other parts of the region.

COMPETITION | MARCH 2017

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[75]

TR ACKS OF MY

YEARS… FORMER BATH & ENGLAND RUGBY CAPTAIN PHIL DE GLANVILLE PICKS HIS FIVE FAVOURITE WEST COUNTRY COURSES THE MANOR HOUSE, CASTLE COMBE, WILTSHIRE The Manor is my local track, and it’s where all the Bath Rugby team used to play on our days off from training. It’s been the scene of many a titanic battle over the years, especially at the short, but lovely, par-3 17th, and up the final hole at the 18th, where we’re all desperately trying to avoid the water.

DARTMOUTH GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, DEVON Dartmouth is a regular haunt with an old rugby friend of mine, Jon Callard, who always goes out of bounds on the 10th, fading it into the nasty ravine. It’s got some tough holes, with not much room to manoeuvre, but there are some lovely views to be had if your game’s not going well.

SAUNTON GOLF CLUB, DEVON

TREVOSE GOLF CLUB, CORNWALL I had the pleasure of playing here towards the end of my playing career with Peter Green, who was the head professional at the Manor House, and fellow Bath centre Mike Catt. It’s a beautiful course, although its location on the coast leaves it quite exposed to the elements.

You need to be able to drive it long and straight to have any chance of scoring well here, which isn’t always my forte. It’s a great place to come for a short break - the whole atmosphere of the club gets you in the holiday mood.

BURNHAM AND BERROW GOLF CLUB, SOMERSET

I play at Saunton every year in a charity golf day organised by Peter Brend from the Saunton Sands Hotel, which is right on the doorstep. There are two superb championship links courses to choose from, the East and the West, with the former considered to be the senior, although they each have their own strengths and are both a joy to play. They offer an honest test, but when the wind gets up, they can be brutal.

Another great links course – there is a common thread here – which is a delight to play when the winds are calm. There are some long par fours to contend with, but it’s always in great condition at any time of the year, and, thanks to its free-draining soil, is especially playable when other courses in the area are a big soggy.

The Herefordshire Golf Club James Braid’s Rural Delight “Play the Gleneagles of The Midlands”

Salisbury & South Wilts Golf Club

Join the New Era and Play the Course in February and March 2017 from

£15 per head

The ultimate reason for a golfing day out in 2017 and only an hour away from Birmingham City centre

27 holes of challenging and free draining downland golf, set in the glorious Wiltshire countryside with lovely views of the Cathedral City of Salisbury

Golf Societies Welcome Societies Welcome - 7 days a week Discover Braid’s unspoilt charm and book your society in April from

£20 per head

Contact New Director of Golf, Stuart Rank on 01432 830219 www.herefordshiregolfclub.co.uk

email: pro@herefordshiregolfclub.co.uk

The Herefordshire Golf Club, Raven’s Causeway, Wormsley, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 8LY.

18 holes from only £23 Winter and £28 Summer Let us build a package especially for you We also host Meetings, Parties and Weddings Memberships available – no joining fee for 2017 Visit www.salisburygolf.co.uk Call 01722 742645 option 5 Salisbury & South Wilts Golf Club, Netherhampton, Salisbury, SP2 8PR

[76] MARCH 2017 | WEST COUNTRY

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

1st - BOVEY CASTLE, DEVON PAR 4, 309 YARDS

This delightful Devon course, laid out below and around a wonderfully grand hotel, plays around and over the River Bovey on its gorgeous front nine. While a 309-yard downhill opener may seem a heaven-sent opportunity to open the shoulders from the off, prudence may be the better part of valour here, as the river crosses the hole at around driving distance, or even shorter if you happen to tug your opening effort. Played sensibly, it should yield a straightforward par.

THE BEST OF THE

WEST The south-west of England is not only home to some of our most beautiful counties and dramatic coastlines, but also some of our most enjoyable, and at times testing, golf courses. Here, we put together a composite 18-hole layout that we’re sure would make for a cracking round.

Our only rules are that there must be a good spread of counties; that the hole numbers must be as they are at the various clubs; and that no course may feature more than once. So join us for a round on our par-72, 6,380-yard south west beauty…

WORDS BY JEREMY ELLWOOD

2nd LONG ASHTON, SOMERSET

PAR 3, 126 YXARDS Ryder Cup player Chris Wood’s home course on the outskirts of Bristol is a pleasant parkland layout with great variety to its holes, especially over much of the front nine, and again later on. After a tempting short par-4 opener, which may be in range some days, the downhill par-3 2nd is a visual treat. It may be a mere wedge or 9-iron for most, but with an exposed rockface hugging the left side of the green, anything pulled could lead to a highly unpredictable ricochet.

Launceston Golf Club Spectacular views over the Devon and Cornwall border

Torquay Golf Club Premier Golf on the English Riviera!

Golf packages available all year round Society Packages starting from

£27 per person

Book now for 20 players or more and the organiser plays for FREE Full memberships available for less than £100 per month

Please Enquire: T: 01803 314591 E: secretary@torquaygolfclub.co.uk W: www.torquaygolfclub.co.uk Torquay Golf Club, Petitor Road, Torquay, Devon TQ1 4QF

A James Braid designed course and home of Sir Nick Faldo’s first professional win

GREAT DEALS FOR GREEN FEES AND SOCIETIES Call us on 01566 773442 or e-mail secretary@launcestongolfclub.co.uk

www.launcestongolfclub.co.uk

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WEST COUNTRY | MARCH 2017

the left, and between you and the probably still distant green lies a deep gully boasting rough, heather and a snaking cross-bunker. The green is perhaps a little smaller than you’d like from long range, but you can celebrate with a bacon bap in the excellent halfway hut that follows should you successfully get down in four blows.

■ TREVOSE CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE, 4TH HOLE

8th – ILFRACOMBE, DEVON

3rd - SAUNTON, WEST COURSE, DEVON

PAR 5, 493 YARDS

PAR 5, 465 YARDS

If Saunton’s East course is the sterner test, the West, closer to the highest Braunton Burrows dunes, perhaps boasts great character. This seemingly conquerable short par 5 kinks this way and that through the dunes all the way to its shallow but wide green. Left is the better option off the tee if you want to attack the hole, as long as you avoid the ditch. Right is the safer route if you’re planning a three-shot strategy.

4th - TREVOSE, CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE, CORNWALL PAR 5, 465 YARDS

Different county, same yardage, on this muchphotographed par 5 at Cornwall’s highly respected Harry Colt links near Padstow. The 4th is the star of a front nine that plays right down to the beach, and many a photo has been taken of huge Atlantic waves crashing in just beyond the green. It provides a real chance to score early on, especially downwind, if you don't allow yourself to be too distracted by the drama of the backdrop.

You’ll enjoy sea views from every tee at this highly enjoyable course perched above the North Devon coast, with vistas out to Lundy Island and across to The Gower in Wales. This short par 5 bears gently round to the right, while the land slopes towards the coast away to your left, so those who slice or fade can drive with confidence, letting the ball cut back into views stakes, especially on this glorious but testing hole looking back towards Poole Harbour, which plays down and round to the right, over and through sometimes dense gorse. An added difficulty is that the green is narrow and set at an angle to the fairway, making it fairly elusive. Par is always good here.

6th - BRIDPORT & WEST DORSET, DORSET PAR 3, 133 YARDS

This clifftop beauty on England’s Jurassic Coast presents you with glorious views across Lyme Bay and along the famous Chesil Beach to Portland. The 6th is the star of the show visually, a short par 3 that drops dramatically down to a green set 100ft below you at a point where the cliffs halve in height, with the coastline away to the left. Should the wind be blowing off the sea, a ring of bunkers on the right awaits anything misjudged or caught on the breeze from this most exposed of tees.

7th - BROADSTONE, DORSET 5th - ISLE OF PURBECK, PURBECK COURSE, DORSET PAR 4, 404 YARDS

This lovely course close to Swanage and Studland was once owned by Enid Blyton, and is within easy reach of Poole and Bournemouth thanks to the Sandbanks Ferry. It scores highly in the

This fine heathland course on the outskirts of Poole plays over more undulating terrain than its Ferndown and Parkstone neighbours.

The 7th hole is as good a par 4 as you’ll find. The fairway slopes away towards rough and heather on TEE TIMES

the slope. The green is then built up on the left where many balls will end up. Getting up and down from below the level of the green here can be testing if the pin is also on the left.

9th - BURNHAM & BERROW, CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE, SOMERSET PAR 3, 169 YARDS

PAR 4, 422 YARDS

DECEMBER 2016

We could have picked any hole on this magnificent Somerset links, which still slips under the radar of many golfers relative to its undoubted quality. Towards the end of the front nine, you play a trio of holes flanked by reeds, rushes and marshland more than dunes, and then you arrive at this classic mid-length links par 3. The green is actually generously sized, but

19

SOCIETY PACK AGES AVAILABLE

“A little corner of Heaven”

SOCIETY GOLF PACKAGES Coffee & Bacon Roll 18 Holes of Golf From £27.50pp

Coffee & Bacon Roll 18 Holes of Golf Hot Snack Meal From £35pp

[77]

Coffee & Bacon Roll 18 Holes of Golf 2 Course Meal From £42pp

Our 18-hole 5,959 yards course off the back tees consists of two loops of nine holes which both come back to the club house. The course design was influenced by ‘5 times British Open Champion - James Braid’ and provides easy walking, narrow tree lined fairways but contains subtly contoured greens that present a fair but challenging test of golf for all enthusiasts.

Bovey Road, Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 6QQ Call us TODAY on 01725 516391 to book in your group Rushmore Golf Club, Tollard Royal, SP5 5QB www.rushmoregolfclub.co.uk

T: 01626 352460 E: secretary@stovergolfclub.co.uk www.stovergolfclub.co.uk

➽

[78] MARCH 2017 | UK TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

➽ with five pot bunkers guarding the front – the centre one particularly deep - and another cheeky one back left, missing it can cause problems. Despite its size, the green’s shelves and slopes mean two-putting is far from guaranteed.

12th - KINGSDOWN, WILTSHIRE PAR 4, 367 YARDS

OUT – PAR 36, 2,986 YARDS

10th - ST ENODOC, CHURCH COURSE, CORNWALL PAR 4, 457 YARDS

Our course hits hard as we turn for home via the testing signature hole at James Braid’s fabulous Cornish links, where holes like the 6th, with its cavernous Himalaya bunker, will live long in the memory. The 10th is a different proposition. In many ways it has a slightly less linksy feel, thanks to the woodland and water hazard on the left, with the latter cutting in close to the tucked-away green. As if 457 yards weren’t challenge enough, the steep bank coming in from the right where the fairway narrows may well prevent you hitting enough club to get home should you stray too close to it.

the Gloucestershire/ Worcestershire border.

On a clear day you can see for miles out over several counties in both England and Wales.

This excellent par three comes at the end of a trio of holes in a separate corner, and is the hardest of the three on account of its testing three-tier green, and its proximity to the quarry that lies out of bounds just beyond the picturesque drystone wall on the left. It also plays slightly uphill. Par is a good score here any day.

Wiltshire’s second oldest club is a downland affair playing over high ground a few miles north-east of Bath, with views to savour from many holes. Our 12th hole is just a few yards longer than our 11th, playing gently round to the right, with the fairway also sloping from left to right. Staying left off the tee will make for an easier approach though into a long, narrow green with steep runoffs left and rear. The views from here are majestic, so take a moment to gaze out over the gently rolling countryside away to your left once you’ve safely holed out.

11th THURLESTONE, DEVON PAR 4, 361 YARDS

Again, we could have picked any of a number of holes at this clifftop stunner near Salcombe on the South Devon coast, once likened to Pebble Beach by Peter Alliss. But we’ve plumped for this modest-length par 4 that hugs the clifftop, with the fairway gently sloping towards the sea on your left. The views are immense, and as you get closer to the green, there’s a simply splendid backdrop looking across towards Bigbury and Burgh Island.

Play well here and you’ll love it; play badly and you’ll… well, love it!

CAME DOWN GOLF CLUB

14th - OGBOURNE DOWNS, WILTSHIRE PAR 5, 558 YARDS

13th - BROADWAY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE PAR, 180 YARDS

Broadway is a splendid ridge-top course on

Travel south from Swindon to Marlborough and you may notice some eyecatching fairways up on the Downs to your left near the pretty village of Ogbourne St George. They belong to Ogbourne Downs Golf Club, and a round here is a real

WEST CORNWALL GOLF CLUB

THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE RYDER CUP Est 1896

Green Fees from £25

10% discount with this advert, quote GN001 when booking

LISTED IN GOLF WORLD & GOLF MONTHLY AS ONE OF BRITAIN’S TOP 100 HIDDEN GEMS

Memberships available for all ages and abilities.

Societies and visitors always welcome.

Please call or e-mail for further information

Higher Came, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8NR 01305 813494 www.camedowngolfclub.co.uk manager@camedowngolfclub.co.uk

WEST CORNWALL is an outstanding links course overlooking St Ives Bay and Hayle Estuary to give some of the most fantastic views in Cornwall or indeed across the country.

The oldest club in Cornwall, the length of the course is deceptive with all the clubs in the bag coming into play. In traditional links style, there are dunes bordering a number of holes while others offer wide, undulating fairways.

Visitors are welcome throughout the year and the course remains playable all year round without the need for any temporary tees or greens. Society packages are available and can be tailored to individual groups and reflect excellent value for money.

The clubhouse offers a welcoming bar and renowned

catering facilities as well as having some memorabilia of its most famous export, Jim Barnes the inaugural winner of the US PGA in 1916. Philip Rowe, who represented GB & I in the Walker Cup of 1999, winning all of his matches, including beating Matt Kuchar in the singles, is also represented.

An experience not to be missed, your trip to West Cornwall will be one to remember.

Nearby St Ives offers various attractions alongside its stunning beaches. A base for artists, the Tate Gallery and Barbara Hepworth Museum are situated in St Ives.

There is also a wide range of local shops, restaurants, pubs and bars. With accommodation to suit all needs this is a great place to stay and enjoy the golf and other attractions on offer.

t: 01736 753 401 (option 2) Pro shop: 01736 753 177 e: secretary@wcgolf.co.uk w: www.wcgolf.co.uk West Cornwall Golf Club, Church Lane, Lelant, St Ives TR26 3DZ

m £85

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

UK TRAVEL | MARCH 2017

5 – 621 yards off the tips – which has shades of The Belfry’s 18th about it as it doglegs round to the left, with water to contend with most of the way. From the perfect drive, you could just attack in two, but it’s more likely a threeshotter, where the final approach must negotiate a cluster of seven bunkers, rather than the water you have to go over at The Belfry.

roller coaster ride. Having reached the course’s most northerly point on 13, you turn back to take on this memorable par 5, which sweeps down and round to the left, with many a ball magnetically drawn to the left-hand scrub despite there being no future in such a line and adequate room further right. An upturned-saucer green completes the test!

[79]

16th – FERNDOWN, OLD COURSE, DORSET PAR 4, 305 YARDS

Ferndown is part of a highly regarded Dorset heathland trio in the Bournemouth/ Poole area along with Parkstone and Broadstone. There’s nothing like a bit of risk-reward down the stretch, and although it’s far from easy to take this hole on and win, some will be tempted. The hole doglegs sharply to the right late on, with the direct route protected by trees, heather and sand. Whether you take it on or play safe, you’ll still have to contend with the trickiest green on the course, with its different levels and steep slopes. It’s a risk-reward hole, where par is perfectly satisfactory.

17th - MANOR HOUSE, WILTSHIRE PAR 3, 154 YARDS

The par-3 penultimate hole on this very pretty Peter Alliss/Clive Clarke layout in the chocolate-box Cotswolds village of Castle Combe is both memorable and unique. In many ways a reprise of the course’s 2nd hole, the 17th is perhaps even more dramatic, as it drops precipitously some 120ft to a choice of two greens. Even though it’s probably only wedge distance on account of the drop, the right-hand green, almost encircled by the pretty River Bybrook, is still particularly intimidating.

18th - ST MELLION, NICKLAUS COURSE, CORNWALL PAR 4, 454 YARDS

A great course deserves a suitably stout finale, and few finishing holes in the south west can rival St Mellion’s. There’s something vaguely Augusta-esque about the tee shot, as you drive out through a relatively narrow funnel of trees, seeking to make it to the corner, and ideally favouring the right. The kidney-shaped green by the hotel is protected by a pond on the left, with a narrow entrance on the right. Only the purest of strikes will find the dance floor. Remember the naughty back-left, final-day hole location in the old Benson & Hedges days? A sucker pin if ever!

15th - PLAYERS CLUB, CODRINGTON COURSE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE PAR 5, 621 YARDS

The Codrington course at this modern club not far from Chipping Sodbury can stretch to over 7,100 yards, so is more than capable of testing the best. Nowhere is this more true than on this monster par

IN – PAR 36, 3,457 YARDS TOTAL – PAR 72, 6,443 YARDS

2017 Golf Breaks from £85

2-Club Golf Membership JOIN 2 GOLF CLUBS FOR THE PRICE OF 1!

FROM ONLY

£40 PER MONTH

NO HIDDEN EXTRAS

TRETHORNE GOLF CLUB Kennards House, Launceston, PL15 8QE E: reservations@trethornegolfclub.com www.trethonegolfclub.com www.twi er.com/trethorne

CALL TRETHORNE ON 01566 86903 & BORINGDON ON 01752 339113 FOR FURTHER DETAILS BORINGDON PARK GOLF CLUB 55 Plymbridge Rd, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 4QG E: info@boringdonpark.com www.boringdonpark.com www.twi er.com/BoringdonParkGC

CORNWALL GOLF BREAKS Summer 2017

1 Night Golf Break including B&Bplus 2 Rounds of Golf starts from just £85pp!!

Book NOW for 2017 and secure with only a 10% deposit For further information, please call Club Reception on 01566 86903 or email: reservations@trethornegolfclub.com

Trethorne Golf Club Kennards House Launceston Cornwall PL15 8QE

01566

86903 www.trethronegolfclub.com

[80] MARCH 2017 | WEST COUNTRY

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WIN A LUXURY CORNISH GOLF BREAK! Golf News has teamed up with Atlantic Links to offer one lucky reader a two-night break at Trevose Golf & Country Club in north Cornwall. The winner and a partner will enjoy two nights' bed & breakfast accommodation in a luxury apartment, and then challenge themselves on the championship links at Trevose and the stunning Church Course at nearby St Enodoc Golf Club.

With free-draining fairways guaranteed, and two of the UK’s top links tracks to tackle, it’s the ultimate golfing break to renew your love of seaside golf.

PLAY

STAY Trevose Golf & Country Club sits proudly above the magnificent links course, set against the dramatic backdrop of Constantine Bay and Trevose Head.

The country club has a variety of accommodation options, ranging from lodges to apartments, rated four- and five-star

by English Tourism, and catering for two to six people, which makes Trevose ideal for couples, families and groups.

All the accommodation has been recently upgraded to provide the perect place for a comfortable and relaxing break.

Residents at Trevose also have access to the 9-hole Headland Course, a charming par-3 layout, tennis courts, beauty room, and, in the summer, an outdoor swimming pool, while the clubhouse offers a bar, two terraces and the Constantine Restaurant, serving delicious local cuisine, all with panoramic views over the golf courses.

You will enjoy golf over Cornwall’s two premier championship links – Trevose and St Enodoc.

The former was originally designed by Harry Colt in 1925, but has recently been renovated by world-renowned architects Mackenzie & Ebert, and offers a true test of links golf.

Trevose boasts a classic Colt configuration, with two loops of nine, both of which are characterised by fast greens. The front nine hugs the sand dunes, offering stunning sea views and great bunkering, while the back nine features a meandering stream and some more truly classic holes, before heading towards the tricky 18th. The wind plays a big part in how the course plays,

serving up a different course almost every day, and requiring creative shot making and the use of most of the clubs in your bag.

Just 30 minutes away in Rock, the Church Course at St Enodoc is another sensational links. Founded in 1890 and created by James Braid, St Enodoc is set on dunes overlooking the Camel Estuary and Atlantic Ocean, giving spectacular panoramas from every hole. Featuring tight, undulating fairways and tricky greens, the course is also noted for its famous Himalaya bunker on the 6th, reputedly the tallest in Europe, and the signature hole at 10, which winds down to the Norman Church after which the course is named.

FOLLOW THE ATLANTIC LINKS TRAIL Trevose and St Enodoc are part of a tantalising trail of championship links along the north Atlantic Ocean in south west England known as the Atlantic Links. Royal North Devon, the West and East Courses at Saunton in Devon, and Somerset’s Burnham & Berrow complete the tour, considered one of England’s finest golfing trails.

TO ENTER To enter, please answer the question below, and email it to: info@golfnews.co.uk with ‘Atlantic Links competition’ in the subject line. The closing date for entries is April 15, 2017.

The prize must be taken before December 31, 2017. Dates are subject to availability.

QUESTION: WHO DESIGNED THE CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE AT TREVOSE? A) ALISTAIR MACKENIE B) HARRY COLT C) JH TAYLOR

For more details, visit www.atlantic-links.co.uk or, to book a golf package, call 01637 879991 or email info@atlantic-lnks.co.uk

TheManor House

& Ashbury Hotels

- The Only Sport, Craft & Spa Hotels in the UK THE UK’S LARGEST GOLF RESORT SET IN THE FOOTHILLS OF DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK

THE ASHBURY HOTEL IS THE IDEAL VENUE FOR YOUR GOLF BREAK. ➽ 7 x 18 hole course options all on one site 99 holes of exceptional golf ➽ 27 holes of golf per night of stay - free of charge ➽ Over 400 buggies - the largest fleet in Europe ➽ Great value buggy rates - just £16 per round ➽ Golf is available all year thanks to our exceptional drainage system ➽

Free sports & lesiure facilities including 91mx54 sports pitch, 12 tennis courts, 28 snooker tables, 10 lanes of ten pin bowling, target ranges for archery, air rifles & air pistols.

➽ 4 state of the art multi sports simulators ➽ Unique craft centres with 18 tutored crafts including woodwork, glass engraving and pottery. ➽ Hydro spas and beauty treatments for £36 or less ➽ Live entertainment every night of the year ➽ All breaks full board ➽ Generous group discounts

SUMMER SIZZLERS (17th July - 30th August 2017)

Free Unlimited Golf & Half Price Buggies

AUTUMN TO SPRING SPECIALS (5th October 2017 - 25th April 2018) -

Free Golf, Half Price Buggies, 10% OFF Spa Treatments

CALL: 0800 389 9892 WEB: ASHBURYGOLFHOTEL.COM THE MANOR HOUSE HOTEL, FOWLEY CROSS, OKEHAMPTON, DEVON, EX20 4NA

[82] MARCH 2017 | WEST COUNTRY

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

ST ENODOC

ROCKS NICK BAYLY HOPS ON THE LONDON-TO-NEWQUAY SHUTTLE FROM GATWICK, AND DISCOVERS THAT A 45-MINUTE FLIGHT AND THE TWIN DELIGHTS OF ST ENODOC GOLF CLUB AND THE ST ENODOC HOTEL MAKE FOR A PERFECT WEEKEND MINI BREAK

H

aving been brough up in the West Country, I know only too well about the countless hours that can be spent toiling on the static caravan parks that are the M4, M5, A303 and A30, in the vain hope of reaching your destination before it’s time to come home again.

The endless traffic jams, which reach fever pitch around holidays and halfterms, have frankly put me off visiting the West Country more often, which is a bit of a nuisance given the nature of my job, and the stunning variety of golf courses to be enjoyed in this delightful neck of England’s woods.

So when a invitation popped into my inbox politely suggesting an overnight stay at a boutique hotel and a tee time on one of my yet-to-be-ticked-off bucket list courses – flying by jet-propelled plane, rather than via the dubious pleasures of the Queen’s highway – it only required a simple ‘Yes, please!’ and the wheels were in motion.

After leaving the house at 8am on a Friday, driving to Gatwick, flying to Newquay, and transferring by taxi to Rock, I found myself checking into the St Enodoc Hotel just before 11am, and still in time for a spot of late breakfast. A road trip would have had me stuck in tailbacks on the A303 at Stonehenge at about that time.

Making the most of all that extra golfing time gained, I grabbed my clubs and took the five-minute walk up the path that leads from the back of the hotel directly to the first tee at St Enodoc Golf Club, about which I had heard so much, but played not at all.

As a lone golfer exploring unchartered territories, I was grateful to be paired up with one of St Enodoc’s longest-serving members, Simon Pain, who proved a much more interesting and useful guide to the perils and pitfalls of the course than my GPS watch, while also proving an expert ball spotter and entertainingly competitive companion. He was also steeped in the history of the club, which was first founded in 1907, and boasts a membership among whose esteemed ranks was one of England’s finest post-war poets, the late Sir John Betjemen.

Sir John’s heart – spiritually and physically – belonged to St Enodoc, as it was here that the former Poet Laureate would escape when the pressures of the modern world that he so often railed against in his writings became too much. After spending numerous childhood summers splashing about on the beaches of Daymer Bay, near the family's holiday cottage in Trebetherick, Betjeman developed his love for the links of St Enodoc, a wild and refreshingly

■ ST ENODOC COMMANDS WONDERFUL VIEWS OVER THE CAMEL ESTUARY TOWARDS PADSTOW

ANY HINT OF A FADE OFF THE TEE AT THE 6TH LEAVES A BLIND SHOT OVER A BUNKER SO COLOSSAL IT GOES

BY THE NAME OF 'HIMALAYA'

unpredictable course whose resistance to change the great poet would look upon favourably if he were alive today.

Not since 1935 in fact, when James Braid was invited back for a second time to modify his original design, has the Church Course undergone any major changes. Even then, the alterations were minor and made necessary by the relocation of the clubhouse. While one or two holes have been subsequently lengthened in recent years to help bolster the course's challenge, the holes you play today are essentially the same as those that Braid left on the landscape over 100 years ago.

At just 6,299 yards from the white tees – and 6,557 from blues – many would argue there isn't sufficient length for it to be a proper test. But, like any links course worth its salt, the weather that batters St Enodoc at times can take any number and double it at the drop of a hat. A par of 69 also ensures that red figures aren’t a common feature on too many scorecards, while a course record four-under-par 65 says all you need to know about its difficulty.

Whatever the conditions though, a couple of woods down the rumpled fairway on the opening par five, followed by a daunting long-iron approach to the raised green on the 448-yard par 4 second, will put a stop to any careless talk about the course being too easy.

After the opening salvos, the drama unfolds gently over the next four holes, with three consecutive par 4s and the deceptively difficult par-3 fifth, which requires a carry over a sea of gorse to a green protected by three bunkers and a stiffening cross wind.

According to my guide, the sixth hole, a 378-yard par 4, is a ‘disaster-in-waiting’.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

WEST COUNTRY | MARCH 2017 [83]

■ ST ENODOC HOTEL IS A FIVE-MINUTE WALK FROM THE COURSE

■ THE SIGNATURE PAR-4 10TH HOLE

■ THE FEARED HIMALAYA BUNKER AWAITS YOUR TEE SHOT ON THE 6TH HOLE

And standing on the tee, staring into the abyss of one of the game’s most fearsome fairway bunkers, it was hard to argue with the description.

Any hint of a fade off the tee leaves a blind shot over a bunker so colossal it goes by the name of 'Himalaya'. This is a bunker that laughs in the face of its namesake that guards the fairway on the fourth at Royal St George’s in Kent.

After hitting my second shot straight into its towering, sandy face, I took my experienced guide’s sage advice and hit it back in the direction from whence I’d come. A chip and two putts later, and a double bogey seemed like a light sentence for having broken such a cardinal rule.

The ninth is a straightaway downhill par 4 that plays to a large raised green sheltered by a circle of tall trees. A birdie here served to soften me up ahead of the challenge that lay in store at the notoriously brutal 10th. At 458 yards, it looked like a tough dogleg par 4 when viewed on the card, but when seen in

the cold light of day, it appeared almost impossible. Only a pinpoint drive down the left side of the ribbon-like fairway will leave you the faintest sniff of reaching the green in two with a fairway wood or crisply-struck long iron, while anything right will either be lodged in the cabbage on a 45-degree slope, or completely blocked out by the huge sand dune that cuts the hole virtually in two.

Occasionally, I’m told, the golfing gods will let your ball bounce back into the fairway, but more often than not you will, like me, be chipping out sideways and, several hefty blows later, chalking up a treble-bogey seven.

After the high drama of the 10th, the par-3 11th and par-4 12th are somewhat pedestrian by comparison, while the 13th, an uphill par 4, proved such a test that it inspired Betjeman to pen one of his most famous poems, Seaside Golf, after he managed a rare birdie here. I chalked up a slightly less memorable blob, after losing my second shot in the bushes that

dominate the right-hand side of the fairway. Still, it was poetry of a sort.

The par-3 15th is a cracking mid-length short hole that requires a lusty blow over a pond to a green set in a hillside, and from here on in to your pint in the clubhouse the fun never really lets up, as the closing trio of holes return you to the dunes and the sparkling, if somewhat chilly, waters of the Camel Estuary.

The 16th is a tough par-5, whose raised back tee offers stunning views over Padstow, while the 206-yard 17th defies the description of a short hole, requiring a full-blooded driver for me just to get up somewhere near the green.

The finishing hole is a demanding 450yard two-shotter, played up a narrow rollercoaster of a fairway to a raised green with a false front.

As we filled out our scorecards on the final green, the rain began to fall, and my partner and I quickly returned to the comfort of the clubhouse, feeling that I’d earned my dinner, while my partner had enjoyed a gentle warm up ahead of the following day’s monthly medal, where stiffer competition awaited.

St Enodoc also offers the shorter Holywell Course, a delightful par63, 4,080-yard layout that features a combination of eight par 3s and 10 par 4s that will test all elements of your iron-play, as well as providing a gentler introduction to the bigger-version game for younger players.

Dinner back at the St Enodoc Hotel was very much welcomed, especially as James

WHILE ONE OR TWO HOLES HAVE BEEN LENGTHENED IN RECENT YEARS TO HELP BOLSTER ITS CHALLENGE, THE HOLES YOU PLAY TODAY ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THOSE THAT BRAID LEFT ON THE LANDSCAPE OVER 100 YEARS AGO. Nathan, winner of the BBC’s Masterchef title in 2008, cooked it. Nathan has stepped into the illustrious shoes vacated

by Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw, who left to set up a new restaurant in nearby Port Isaac in 2015 – but judging by his efforts, which offers a more meaty menu than its fish-focused predecessor, the hotel looks to be in safe, if equally adventurous, culinary hands.

The hotel, which has a very relaxed, seaside vibe, boasts 16 double rooms and four suites, the best of which offer stunning views out over the Camel Estuary, while there’s a spa available for those that like that sort of thing, and guests have free use of the nearby gym at The Point in Polzeath. There’s a games room for kids big and small when the weather’s misbehaving, but with the stunning coastline of North Cornwall on the doorstep, the great outdoors beckons.

And once you’ve seen all there is to see in Rock, you can wander down to the beach and take a 10-minute ferry ride over to Padstow, where you are free to spend your money in any number of Rick Stein-owned eateries and shops, or simply watch the world go by with a

FLY FLYBE OPERATES A REGULAR SERVICE TO NEWQUAY FROM GATWICK, MANCHESTER AND LEEDS, WITH PRICES FOR RETURN FLIGHTS STARTING FROM AROUND £78.

FOR TIMETABLES AND BOOKINGS, VISIT WWW.FLYBE.COM

STAY A ONE-NIGHT STAY FOR TWO AT THE ST ENODOC HOTEL IN A DOUBLE ROOM WITH ESTUARY VIEWS, INCLUDING A THREE-COURSE DINNER, AND A FULL CORNISH BREAKFAST, COSTS FROM £230. FOR RESERVATIONS, VISIT WWW.ENODOC-HOTEL.CO.UK OR CALL 01208 863394

PLAY GREEN FEES AT ST ENODOC GOLF CLUB ARE £45 FOR 18 HOLES ON THE CHURCH COURSE BETWEEN NOV 1-MARCH 31, AND £75 DURING THE SUMMER. FOR BOOKINGS, VISIT WWW.ST-ENDOC.CO.UK OR CALL 01208 863216

[84] MARCH 2017 | WEST COUNTRY

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ FILTON

BANK ON

BRISTOL

FOR A MEMORABLE BREAK FOR GOLFERS WHO LIKE TO MIX A BIT OF CULTURE AND HERITAGE WITH THEIR FUN ON THE FAIRWAYS, THE BUSTLING HARBOUR CITY OF BRISTOL, WITH ITS BANKSY-INSPIRED ART SCENE AND HIPSTER FOOD CULTURE, HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER

L

■ BURNHAM AND BERROW GOLF CLUB

ocated in one of the most picturesque parts of the country, the thriving city of Bristol has long been a popular destination for weekend breaks, with its vibrant restaurant and bar culture, active music scene, independent food markets, Banksyinspired street art, and student-led nightlife, all interwoven with its beguiling mercantile and industrial heritage.

Less genteel than near neighbour Bath, but also boasting a successful rugby club, Bristol is small enough to explore on foot, yet large enough to get lost in the melée.

And with a choice of excellent hotels, both

chain and boutique, and the countryside right on the doorstep, it’s also a great place to base yourself for a tour of the region’s top golf clubs.

Golfers are spoilt for choice in this beautiful neck of the woods, with a superb variety of courses on offer, from the stunning links layouts at Burnham & Berrow and Weston-Super-Mare, to the pleasant inland tracks offered at venues such as Cumberwell, Enmore and The Kendleshire, all played out against the backdrop of the rolling Mendip Hills, the Quantocks and the Cotswolds.

For those who like to give the driver a

■ CHIPPING NORTON GOLF CLUB

The Kendleshire :: Celebrating 20 years of great golf in Bristol ::

£39

m fro

pp

VISIT THE GOLFING HUB OF THE WEST COUNTRY FOR A DAY OR A SHORT BREAK AND ENJOY STUNNING GOLF, GREAT FOOD AND GENUINE HOSPITALITY.

Coffee on arrival 9 Holes on the Water Garden Course Or free range balls 18 Holes on the Codrington Course 1 Course Lunch or Dinner Based on 4 or more players

OUR PACKAGES START FROM £39 AND INCLUDE A WELCOME DRINK, 18 HOLES AND A ONE COURSE MEAL.

www.theplayersgolfclub.com

£83

m fro

MAKE JUST ONE PHONE CALL AND WE CAN ARRANGE A TWO-DAY, ONE NIGHT PACKAGE FROM £126

pp Summer Midweek Stay Overs One night & Two rounds of Golf Stay @ Canons Court mews 1 round on The Codrington course 1 round on The Stranahan course includes coffee and breakfast includes range balls both days £83 each based on 12 or more £99 each based for a 4 ball

enquiries@theplayersgolfclub.com

WE ARE TWO HOURS FROM CENTRAL LONDON AND OFFER 27 HOLES OF FANTASTIC GOLF.

£149

pp

2 nights & 3 Rounds Stay @ Canons Court Mews Play @ The Players Club Cumberwell Park The Kendleshire

AFTER YOUR ROUND YOU CAN ENJOY THE BEST CLUBHOUSE PATIO IN THE WEST COUNTRY! EMAIL info@kendleshire.com FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Kendleshire.com

Based on 2 sharing.

Full details on The Players Club website.

0117 956 7007

@theKendleshire

WEST COUNTRY | MARCH 2017 [85]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

mighty thrash, the Codrington Course at The Players Club seems like a solid place to start your Bristol golf break. Stretching to over 7,600 yards from the back tees, with a front nine of over 4,000 yards, it’s one of the longest tracks in the UK, with the 621-yard closing hole providing a suitably monster finish. But shorter hitters fear not, with no fewer than six sets of tees making this course manageable for all handicaps, so power is not the only way to tackle this excellent course.

If you’re looking for something slightly less intimidating, then look in on The Kendleshire, which boasts 27 holes of top quality golf. Designed by Adrian Stiff, the club’s original 18 holes opened for play in 1997 to widespread acclaim.

Then, in 2002, Peter McEvoy added a further nine, offering golfers increased variety. Whichever combination you play, all three nines provide an excellent challenge, with water a prominent feature throughout. The longest combination of nines gives a 6,507-yard, par-70 layout. Renowned for its high quality putting surfaces, the standout hole for many will be the par-3 11th, which features an island green, to test

■ HENBURY GOLF CLUB

IF YOU'RE AFTER WORLD CLASS LINKS ACTION, THEN LOOK NO FURTHER THAN BURNHAM & BERROW, ONE OF THE MOST UNDERATED OF ENGLAND'S FABLED SEASIDE DESIGNS

■ THE KENDLESHIRE

your nerve and your club selection.

If you’re looking for world-class links action – and frankly, who isn’t – then look no further than B&B – Burnham & Berrow. One of the most underrated of all of England’s fabled seaside designs, it occupies a stunning stretch of rolling sandhills overlooking the Bristol Channel. With tumbling fairways, deep pot bunkers, thick rough and small greens, it’s a supreme test of stroke play, with almost ever-present breezes sure to test your ability to shape the ball. With slick putting surfaces, and numerous swales and hollows to draw your ball away from its intended target, so you need to bring your ‘A’ game here to score well. There are too many good holes to mention – but the opening six combine to offer one of the best opening stretches you’ll ever fi nd, while the four parthrees are all uniquely excellent, getting progressively longer, with the ninth being

➽

BURNHAM & BERROW GOLF CLUB

Dormy House Stay and Play packages from £130 per person Conveniently situated on the grounds of the Golf Club it’s the perfect place to stay when playing at Burnham and Berrow

• Golf and reserved tee times for your party included in the price • Catering available throughout the day • Forget the car, it’s all on the doorstep • SKY TV available in the Clubhouse

Includes Bed, Breakfast and Golf on The Championship Course

To book, call 01278 785760 option 1 For more information visit

www.burnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk

[86] MARCH 2017 | WEST COUNTRY

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ ENMORE GOLF CLUB

■ MINCHINHAMPTON GOLF CLUB

■ KINGSDOWN GOLF CLUB

➽

■ THE PLAYERS CLUB

a highlight.

If you’ve got enough ammo left, the slightly less challenging, but no less interesting inland Cumberwell Park Golf Club in Bradford on Avon, is well worth the trip south from Bristol. Boasting 45 holes, divided into four 9-hole loops and a 9-hole par-3 course, Cumberwell occupies 400 acres, with woods, lakes and rolling countryside giving it a very relaxed feel.

The original 18 holes, comprising the Red and Yellow, opened in 1994, with the Blue and Orange following in 1999 and 2007 respectively, while the most recent addition is a superb par-three course.

The Red has a parkland feel, wide fairways and large greens, while the Yellow loop plays through and around

BOASTING 45 HOLES, DIVIDED INTO FOUR 9-HOLE LOOPS AND A 9-HOLE PAR-3 COURSE, CUMBERWELL OCCUPIES 400 ACRES, WITH WOODS, LAKES AND ROLLING COUNTRYSIDE GIVING IT A VERY RELAXED FEEL

Weston-super-Mare

ancient woodland. The Blue boasts numerous holes that bring Cumberwell’s famous lake into play, while the Orange has more of a linksy feel.

Whichever combination you choose to play, the course conditions are superb, and the after-round experience in the impressive clubhouse will be sure to round off a great day’s golf in style.

Specialist tour operator Bristol Golf Breaks has put together a great selection of two-, three- and fourround breaks that take in some of the region’s top tracks, including those mentioned, along with others, such

as Henbury, Filton, Kingsdown and Minchinhampton, all of which offer superb tests for the holiday golfer.

And golfers can choose to stay in city centre hotels in Bristol, such as the Marriott at Cabot Circus, or base themselves further outside, in more peaceful locations, such as The Ormond in Tetbury, or the Royal Hotel at Weston.

With one-night, two-round breaks starting from just £90pp, and three-night, four-round breaks offered from around £250, and there is a wide choice of breaks to suit every budget on a golfing trip to Bristol.

TO FIND THE LATEST OFFERS AND BOOKINGS FOR GOLF HOLIDAYS IN THE BRISTOL AREA, PLEASE VISIT WWW.BRISTOLGOLFBREAKS.COM, OR CALL 01822 618181 FOR FRIENDLY ADVICE ON WHERE TO PLAY AND STAY.

Henbury Golf Club Swing into Golf this Spring /Summer

Golf Club

• Mackenzie course of distinction • Only 2 hours from London, 1½ from Birmingham and 3 from Manchester • An all year course never closed even in the worst weather • Ideal Society course • Catering available 7 days a week • Plenty of local hotels • ½ hour to Bristol airport

Tel: 01934 626968 www.westonsupermaregolfclub.com Weston-super-Mare Golf Club, Uphill Road North, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. BS23 4NQ

Society Packages start from £43 per person. (minimum of 12 players + 4 ball voucher to use as a prize)

SPECIAL OFFERS

Weekdays

Weekends

Visitor

£25.00

N/A SATURDAY

Visitors’ 4-ball (round)

£102.00

Visitors’ 4-ball (day)

£130.00

(Monday, Tuesday,Thursday and Sunday ONLY after 2pm)

£132.00

(£120 on a Sunday after 11.30am)

£180.00

Tel: 01179 500044 www.henburygolfclub.co.uk

WEST COUNTRY | MARCH 2017

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

[87]

HIGH LIVING AT

BOVEY CASTLE NICK BAYLY DISCOVERS THE PERFECT ALTERNATIVE TO HOTEL-BASED HOLIDAYS AT BOVEY CASTLE’S LUXURIOUS LODGES OVERLOOKING THE DARTMOOR COUNTRYSIDE

F

inding accommodation suitable for young children is a perennial problem whenever you go away for a short break or holiday. Hotel rooms just don’t suit the way family holidays are organised these days, where privacy is dispensed in favour of communal living. Which is why self-catering, be it in form of an apartment or villa, is the way most big families tend to take their holidays these days.

Not only does it take you out of the public eye – children should still be neither seen or heard by most hotel guests – but it allows you the freedom to eat, sleep and drink whenever you choose, and generally make lots of noise and mess without fear of upsetting other hotel residents. A good number of resorts have cottoned on to this trend in recent years and, anxious to grab a share of the family holiday spend, have set about offering a greater variety of accommodation. In addition to the dreaded ‘family room’, many places now offer completely separate accommodation in the form of chalets, lodges and private villas.

Bovey Castle, located in the heart of Dartmoor, has taken this concept to its heart with its 22 lodges, but in line with how they do things at this five-star luxury resort in Devon, has ramped up the offering by a peg or two. The word ‘lodge’ doesn’t really do justice to these magnificent three-storey granite buildings, which are impressive structures both inside and out.

Designed for people who demand the finer things in life, they are kitted out with every modern convenience, from tumbler driers (essential on Dartmoor, where it has been known to rain) and dishwashers, to plasma TVs and Bang & Olufsen sound systems in just about every room. All three bedrooms are on different floors, each with its en-suite bathroom, the triple-height sitting room has a floor-to-ceiling granite fire place, while the open plan kitchen is show home material, with guests arriving to well-stocked fridges and all the cooking implements you’d ever need and some you’d never use.

Tucked away around the castle’s gardens, the lodges resemble a Swiss mountain village, and although they are quite tightly packed, you don’t get the sense that you are being overlooked in any way. The front rank of properties has a view over Bovey’s main attraction: the 18-hole John Abercromby-designed golf course. The 6,303-yard, par-70 layout is far from your traditional resort course, offering a beautifully landscaped design that sweeps between woodland, rolling hills and the Bovey and Bowden rivers. Renowned golf architects Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie were brought in to restore the course, while offering a few modern touches, and the pair has improved upon an already hugely entertaining layout. There are thrills and spills aplenty, with water hazards and plunging chasms to cross, occasional blind tee shots and a fine collection of par threes. The par-four 7th is Sir Henry Cotton’s favourite par four, with an island fairway and rivers right and left framing this snaking two-shotter, while

■ THE LUXURY LODGES OVERLOOK THE GOLF COURSE

the 18th remains one of the toughest par fours around, with anything overhit to the green in danger of clattering into the blacked out Range Rovers in the car park.

Away from the fairways, there is an embarrassment of off-course activities, from archery, horse-riding and fishing – the Castle owns 11 miles of the River Bovey – to tennis, mountain biking or a quiet game of croquet on the front lawn. Each day there’s a full itinerary of organised events such as the unmissable falconry display on the terrace, where hawks and owls swoop around the battlements like a scene from a Happy Potter film. And with the Dartmoor National Park on your doorstep, all kinds of outdoor adventures can be arranged – 4x4 driving, quad biking, rock climbing, canoeing and boat trips on the River Dart.

A more relaxing time can be had in the spa and leisure centre, which is housed in the basement and offers one of the most spectacular pools, with swimmer provided with views of countryside as they do their lengths. Upstairs is

the state-of-the-art spa, where you can chill out and be pampered.

If you get fed up with all that cooking and self-catering, the hotel is well placed to take over the apron strings, whether it be afternoon tea on the terrace or a four-course dinner in the 20s-style Palm Court restaurant.

Kids are supremely well looked after, with the supervised Bovey Rangers Club providing numerous activities from woodland adventures, camping, pony trekking or golf lessons. An indoor games room has a model train set, table tennis and a DVD library with a private cinema.

All in all, you could leave the kids at breakfast and not see them again until bedtime. Having said that, there’s also a babysitting service, although I’m not sure that stretches to baths and bedtime stories. Let me check.

For details of golf break packages, visit www.boveycastle. com or call 01647 445000.

Isle of Purbeck Golf Club Come and Experience one of the Most Picturesque Courses on the South Coast

Visitors and Societies Welcome Including Weekends “I’ve always felt the club is certainly one of the most spectacular in the whole of the UK and the general ambience of the club and course is absolutely delightful.”

Peter Alliss

Membership Packages Available Proud to host the Trilby Tour Championship of Dorset 2017. Spots still available through our Open Qualifying.

Please visit www.purbeckgolf.co.uk for further information.

Tel: 01929 450354 Email: proshop@purbeckgolf.co.uk

WE ARE WESTONBIRT BEAUTIFUL 9-HOLE GOLF COURSE IN THE GROUNDS OF WESTONBIRT SCHOOL Open to the public - £10 to play 18-holes Please check website for opening times www.westonbirtleisure.com/golf-course

e: sportscentre@westonbirtleisure.com t: 01666 881404 w: www.westonbirtleisure.com Westonbirt Schools, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QG

FOR ALL YOUR SOUTH WEST GOLF BREAKS… PLAY SAUNTON AS PART OF OUR ATLANTIC LINKS TOUR... THREE ROUNDS, TWO NIGHTS... FROM £279PP

The South West of England offers an amazing choice of golf courses to visit, if you wish to play any of the courses featured in this supplement call the Golf Desk on 01822 618181 Whether a large group or small, Exclusive Golf Breaks have over 20 years experience in arranging and organising Golf Tours and Breaks for our clients.

Exclusive Golf Breaks can cater for your requirements and provide a first class efficient service, we take pridein our attention to detail and our aim is to ensure our clients get the very best value and experience.

Tel: 01822 618181 Email: info@exclusivegolfbreaks.com Web: exclusivegolfbreaks.com

ADVERTISNG FEATURE | MARCH 2017 [89]

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

JUST TEE TIMES PROVES JUST THE TICKET FOR COST-CONSCIOUS GOLFERS If you’re looking for guaranteed great value golf at many of Europe’s hottest golf destinations, then it’s time you let JustTeeTimes.com take the strain

T

he ease of access to the high-quality courses of Spain and Portugal, courtesy of the many UK flight routes, is one of the reasons the Iberian Peninsula remains a hugely popular destination for British golfers.

And that simplicity is now matched by the ease with which one can book tee-times in the region, thanks to Just Tee Times.com, which provides the best prices and the simplest booking engine for Europe’s golfing heartland.

The company was born out of 15 years’ experience in booking tee times and began fulfilling the needs of European golfers as Just Tee Times. com in 2010. It now covers more than 200 golf courses on the Iberian Peninsula – and associated island groups – with a dedicated team available 24 hours a day.

From the Costa Brava in the northeast of Spain, down to the Costa del Sol and on to the Canary Islands; or from Minho, in the north of Portugal, down to the coast of the ever-popular Algarve, and beyond to the Azores, Just Tee Times.com has negotiated a wealth of preferential rates for its

customers at leading golf courses.

And that includes some of the biggest names in sunshine golf’s foremost destinations: Monte Rei; Quinta do Lago; Onyria Palmares; San Lorenzo; Vale do Lobo; Oitavos Dunes; Penha Longa; Praia D’el Rey; Vidago Palace; PGA Catalunya; Platja de Pals; Finca Cortesin; La Reserva; San Roque; Alcanada; La Manga Club; and many more.

The company’s new-look website offers tee times – and golf packages – at the best possible prices, all with no booking fees and no credit card charges. It also has comprehensive course information, making it easy to select the best course for your game.

The website is configured for mobile and tablet use, and there is also a Just Tee Times app, available to download from the Apple store and Google Play.

Carlos Ramos, the chief executive

■ THE FALDO COURSE AT AMENDOEIRA

BOOKING GOLF SHOULD NOT BE A CHORE; IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST STAGE OF A GREAT EXPERIENCE

■ BAG YOURSELF A TEE TIME AT THE JACK NICKLAUS DESIGNED MONTE REI

and founder of Just Tee Times.com, says: “At Just Tee Times.com we offer the independent golfer, who wishes to only book golf, a quick and easy solution to access golf tee times at competitive rates, saving them both time and money.”

He adds: “We specialise in booking golf, because we understand a golfer’s desire to check and book their tee times simply, efficiently, and at a time that suits them, all in a no-nonsense manner with all the latest prices and course information laid out clearly.

Booking golf should not be a chore; it should be the first stage of a great experience.”

To aid navigation and simplify the booking process, Just Tee Times.com lists available courses and green fees by country, region or by individual golf course, and its experienced team is on hand to offer excellent advice should you be undecided on where you want to play. It is also expert in arranging group visits and is capable of negotiating extra preferential group rates at the golf courses.

“When it comes to group bookings, eight is our magic number,” Ramos says. “With our specialist knowledge we can advise you at which courses you can receive further discounts when your group comprises eight or more golfers, and we are in a great position to negotiate group discounts on your behalf.”

He adds: “We can also alleviate

some of the hassle to make the trip organiser’s experience stress free. Simply let us know your requirements, and we will reply with a golf itinerary proposal, which you can share with the group and amend to your requirements. And, when you’re happy, we will book preferential teetimes and send you the confirmation.

It’s as simple as that. And to round off our ‘love eight’ relationship, there is no requirement to pay off the balance of your trip until eight weeks before your first tee-time.”

Available tee times in Portugal currently start from just €25 at Balaia Golf Village, on the Algarve, while further west in Estoril, at the renowned Penha Longa, a round on the Atlantic North course can be had for just €40.

In Almeria, Spain, a round at Aguilon Golf, set against the backdrop of the hillsides of the Sierra Aguilón, will cost just €36. In Murcia, easily accessed by San Javier or Alicante airports, a round at the Dave Thomas-designed Hacienda Del Alamo will set you back a mere €33.

And, at Isla Canela, on the Costa de la Luz, the price for a round of golf drops to just €31.

If you fancy travelling a little further afield, to Tenerife – and who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity for some sun on the beautiful volcanic island – golf in March starts from just €79 per round.

The Just Tee Times.com head office is based in the marina in the heart of Vilamoura – where it can offer tee times at preferential rates on the renowned Faldo, Laguna, O’Connor, Old, Pinhal and Victoria courses. It is open seven days a week, and inside you’ll find a dedicated golf booking team.

So contact Just Tee Times.com now for the quickest, safest and most efficient booking service in the business.

[90] MARCH 2017 | COLUMN

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

PUT YOUR STAMP ON TAMPA Sarah Stirk points her golfing spotlight on the unheralded Floridian city of Tampa, which boasts a bevy of highly-touted Tour venues, as well as some impressive layouts from some of the game’s foremost architects

■ THE SOUTH COURSE AT INNSBROOK RESORT

FLORIDA, IN THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR, IS ALWAYS A WIN-WIN holiday destination. Not too hot, not too cold – just the perfect temperature for golf.

I always love heading out there for the Florida swing, and the focus for this month’s column is a city which I believe doesn’t get the credit it deserves for its plethora of top layouts – Tampa.

Situated on the Florida’s west coast, looking out over the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa offers some great golfing options and real variety, but it’s often the forgotten golfing destination in the Sunshine State.

One of its premier destinations is Innisbrook, which plays host to the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship every March, which I’ve covered for Sky Sports for the past two years. It’s a superb course, but probably doesn’t garner as much attention as the other venues on the Florida Swing. Orlando has Bay Hill and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, while West Palm Beach has the PGA National and the famous Bear Trap.

But Tampa more than holds its own, and I’m going to outline why. I’ve sung the praises of Streamsong before, but that sits 55 miles south east of the city, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. There’s also the 36-hole World Woods Golf Club, which is 60 miles north of Tampa in remote Brooksville. If you come to Florida you must check out both, but there are several excellent layouts much closer to the city limits.

Let’s start with the Innisbrook Resort, and its signature Copperhead Course. One of its designers – Larry Packard – had a trademark feature of a signature ‘double dogleg’ and it's seen here at Copperhead's par-5 14th hole. I think it’s a brilliant

TAMPA OFFERS SOME GREAT GOLFING OPTIONS AND REAL VARIETY, BUT IT’S OFTEN THE FORGOTTEN GOLFING DESTINATION IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

layout and that’s mainly due to the terrain. There’s more than 80 feet of elevation change, stunning pine tree-lined fairways, and there’s not an over abundance of water, like so many typical, resort-style Florida courses. Due to this, the pros often say it has a Carolina feel, and it’s without doubt the jewel in the crown of Copperhead’s 72-hole property.

Perhaps known as the second course at Innisbrook, the Island Course is a par 72 that plays 7,310 yards from the back tees and is the site of the ISPS Legends Tour Open Championship, where Hall of Famers such as Nancy Lopez and Beth Daniel do battle every November. Picturesque and demanding, it features a little bit of everything, from tight fairways and plenty of bunkers, to intimidating water hazards and elevation changes.

For many years, the Champions Tour played an event at TPC Tampa Bay, a 6,898-yard gem designed

by Bobby Weed with Chi-Chi Rodriguez as the player consultant. Its charm is its link to nature, with the course navigating around natural wetlands.

Meanwhile in Dunedin, a quaint, Scottish-inspired town 20 miles northwest of Tampa, Dunedin Golf Club has played host to 18 Senior Tour Championships dating back to 1945. Golfing legends, including the likes of Hogan, Snead, Hagan and Crenshaw, all walked the picturesque fairways.

It opened in 1926, but the Donald Ross design underwent a major restoration in 2007, and it’s a must-play course in the region.

One of the city’s great stay-and-play options is Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club, which qualifies as a real hidden gem and is just a 30-minute drive north of downtown. It’s a superb high-end gated community, set in rolling hills and featuring ancient oak trees, and is home to two courses. The South Course, a hilly layout designed by PGA Tour pro Tom Lehman and Kurt Sandness, features a 94foot elevation change from tee to green on the par-5 11th. The elevation aspect is my favourite part of golf in Tampa – it creates such an interesting dynamic. The North Course is more forgiving than the South, especially off the tee.

Another convenient resort-style option is the palm-studded Saddlebrook Resort, about a 30-minute drive north of Tampa International Airport, and featuring two Arnold Palmer-designed signature courses. The Palmer Course at Saddlebrook has undulating rolling fairways, while the Saddlebrook Course is much tighter, requiring precision with your irons. Both Lake Jovita and Saddlebrook feature sumptuous accommodation and plenty of other sporting amenities right on your doorstep.

So in summary, Tampa is a fantastic golfing option, which arguably deserves more praise. And let’s not forget just how easy it is in terms of logistics, with daily British Airways flights from Gatwick. The city itself has a great vibe, and you are also only a short drive away from Clearwater Beach, annually rated as one of the best in the US. What’s not to like?

■ FAR LEFT: CLEARWATER BEACH IN TAMPA ■ LEFT: THE COPPERHEAD COURSE AT INNISBROOK ■ ABOVE: THE PALMER COURSE AT SADDLEBROOK

www.orizontegolf.com

Discover scorching world-class golf at best prices.

A choice of 7 courses.

Sesimbra

Lisbon

4 Nights

3 Nights

Sana Sesimbra Hotel

Sana Malhoa Hotel

3 Green Fees

2 Green Fees

1x Quinta do Peru

1x Quinta do Peru

2x Aroeira

1x Aroeira

from 271€

from 286€

Aroeira apartments 1 Night Aroeira apartments Unlimited golf 7 Orizonte Courses from 56€

Sesimbra and Lisbon packages: Prices per person sharing a standard twin room on B&B basis | Aroeira apartments package: Price per person sharing a T2 apartment with 4 pax (golf included) Other packages options at www.orizontegolf.com | booking@orizontegolf.com

[92] MARCH 2017 | UK TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

CORTESIN TEES UP COURSE RENOVATIONS

L

uxury Spanish golf resort Finca Cortesin, a three-time host of the Volvo World Match Play Championship, is undergoing a significant investment programme designed to enhance its five-star facilities.

Among the many improvements taking place include an ambitious green renovation project will see the introduction of a new, environmentally-friendly, UltraDwarf Bermuda grass – the first golf course in Spain with this variety.

In addition, work will be carried out to improve the quality of the bunkers on the par-72 layout, while the renovation programme will also include an upgrade of Finca Cortesin’s driving range and Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy, and the purchase of a new fleet of Club Car golf buggies, complete with the latest GPS technology.

The resort, which first opened in 2009, has recently announced the appointment of Miguel Girbés as its new director of golf.

Formerly the director of golf at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona, Girbés brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He said: “To be given the chance to oversee the development of one of the biggest names in European golf is a great honour, and I’m very excited about the challenge that lies ahead. Finca Cortesin already has a deserved reputation for delivering outstanding facilities and service, and I believe that the improvements that will take place over the coming months will help elevate the customer experience to an even higher level.”

Other facilities on the 532-acre estate include a 67-suite hotel, a 6,000sqm beach club, and an award-winning spa featuring

CHATEAUX DE VIGIERS

TEES UP VINTAGE EVENT FOR WINE LOVERS!

G

olfers looking to combine their twin passions for golf and the grape are being invited to take part in the 5th Saint-Emilion Crus Classés Trophy, which is being held at Château des Vigiers in Bergerac from June 2-4.

The two-day Pro-Am tournament, which is being staged on Château des Vigiers’ 27-hole Donald Steeldesigned course, is a unique opportunity for amateur

golfers to not only play alongside expert golfers, but to sample some of the finest wine and gastronomy from this world famous region.

The highlight of the event, which draws players from all over Europe, will be the prizegiving ceremony and cocktail dinner, which will be held in the beautiful courtyard at Château des Vigiers, and where the Association of Saint-Emilion Grands Crus Classés will award the overall

■ FINCA CORTESIN, A THREE-TIME HOST OF THE VOLVO WORLD MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Spain’s only snow cave. The hotel offers a choice of four restaurants, including El Jardin de Lutz, serving authentic Spanish cuisine, and the Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Kabuki Raw. The development also features

winner with a custom-made leather case that will hold 18 bottles of their famous wines.

All players, including nonplaying partners, have free

an exclusive collection of villas, which are available to buy or rent.

For the very latest golf packages, visit www.fincacortesin.com.

access to all the facilities at the resort, including tennis courts, swimming pool and the gym. The package also includes a companions’

excursion to the historic town of Saint-Emilion, including a picnic, wine tasting and guided tour.

The trip includes accommodation for three nights, breakfast and evening meals, welcome wine gift on arrival, polo shirts and gift towel, tournament green fees, prizes, trolleys, golf lessons for companions who want to learn more and, of course, various wines from the region throughout the stay. The cost per person is €895, with nongolfers paying €695.

To enter visit www.vigiers. com or email Cedric Plessis at cedric@vigiers.com.

■ PLAYERS IN 2016

Specialist Golf Travel Insurance from Holidaysafe.co.uk Cover for lost or damaged equipment up to £3,000 European and Worldwide policies available Cover for delayed equipment up to £1,000 Cover for pre-paid green fees up to £500 Single and Multi Trip policies available Cover starts from as little as £4.96 Visi t Ho lida ysa fe.c ‘GN o.uk/Go to s lf & ave 1617 ent 20% ’ er * on line

Holidaysafe is a trading name of Infinity Insurance Solutions Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the FCA: FRN 528912 © Reg Office: 1 Tower View, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4UY. Company Reg: 4319592. *Please note, our online prices automatically include a 15% online discount. Entering code ‘GN1617’ gives you an extra 5% discount, making a total saving of 20% against our Customer Service Centre prices.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

UK TRAVEL | MARCH 2017 [93]

GASTRO GOLF ADDS SOUTH AFRICA TO MENU OF HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS ■ FANCOURT

■ LUMINE HILLS

FIND LOVE ON THE LINKS ON THE

G

olf travel company Gastro Golf offers golfers with a passion for stunning courses and exceptional food the opportunity to book their most memorable evergolfing holiday.

The Cheshire-based independent tour operator provides golf holidays with a ‘gastronomic twist’ – combining the opportunity to play on some of the world's finest golf courses, stay in luxury accommodation, and enjoy memorable culinary and cultural experiences.

Gastro Golf began by offering tailor-made golf holidays to popular golfing destinations in Europe, such as the Costa Brava and Andalucía in Spain; the Algarve and Lisbon Golf Coast in Portugal, as well as other golf and gastronomically rich regions, including Bordeaux in France, and Tuscany and Emilia Romagna in Italy, but it has now expanded its global horizons with the announcement of new addition to its portfolio – South Africa.

Blessed with superb

weather, magnificent scenery and beaches, over 500 golf courses, first class accommodation, stunning wildlife, game drives & safaris and not least some of the finest wine estates in the world, South Africa is a golfing and epicurean paradise.

The regions around Cape Town and the Western Cape boast some of the world’s most renowned layouts, from the beautiful Durban Golf & Country Club, which overlooks the Indian Ocean, and the stunning Arabella Country Club, to courses located within the wine growing areas of Stellenbosch and Paarl; while the breathtaking Links at Fancourt, and the unforgettable Gary Player designed courses at Sun City, host to the Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge, can all be built into a bespoke itinerary.

In 2017, IAGTO named Western Cape as its Africa, Indian Ocean and Gulf States destination of the year at its annual awards ceremony. Gastro Golf is delighted to be promoting this prestigious region and entire country to its clients.

A typical itinerary can be any combination of an extended golf experience, including luxury rail safari, whilst at the same time providing offthe-shelf packages and the opportunity to participate in Open amateur and pro-am events, each situated in truly stunning locations.

Gastro Golf’s founder John Sullivan said: "Gastro Golf combines all the right ingredients for a truly memorable golf break, including personal service, both here in the UK and in the destination.

Great locations, first class accommodation, and the chance to relax and enjoy great golf, food, wine and traditional culture is what we are all about; simply golf tourism at its very best. Working closely with experienced, professional in-destination suppliers for all services we ensure that we create the very best efficiently managed golf and gastronomic experience possible, for both private and corporate clients” For more information, visit www.gastrogolf.co.uk or call 0161 612 3319.

COSTA DAURADA S

ingle golfers looking for a partner on and off the golf course should waste no time in signing up for the European Singles Trophy on Spain's Costa Daurada, which takes place from May 10-16.

The fun, laid-back golf tournament is aimed at 'single golfers who want to meet like-minded people while enjoying a mix of golf, culture, food and relaxation'.

The tournament includes four days of golf, with a free day in between the two practice rounds and the two tournament rounds. To allow players a taste of the variety on offer, the golf will take place on four different courses. These venues include Costa Dorada, the oldest course in the region, and Golf & Country Club Bonmont, a Robert Trent Jones Jr design set between the sea and the hills, with terrific views of both. Also on the agenda are the Hills and Lakes courses at Lumine Golf Club, which forms part of a spectacular beach and Leisure resort in Salou.

The Costa Daurada region is just one hour south of Barcelona, and is enjoying growing status as a golf paradise. It is a popular tourist destination, with plenty of lovely seaside towns, 80km of beaches, plus one of the best theme parks in Spain at PortAventura.

The package starts from €745 and includes six nights at the four-star Hotel Monica in Cambrils, staying in single room (€150 discount for sharing twin); daily breakfast buffet, and dinners with wine; transfers from Reus or Barcelona airports; all golf and free range balls. Flights are not included. For more details and bookings, visit www.costadauradagolf.com.

Luxury Golf Travel & Event Specialists

Rivers Golf Tours See a slice of

Stay & Play Packages

The Ultimate Bucket List Golf Tour

web: riversgolftours.com.au We provide pa icipants with a friendly relaxed atmosphere where good golf, great food and beautiful scenery will ensure a memorable holiday in beautiful pa s of Australia.

For more golf information contact: riversgol ours@gmail.com

Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Course,

Front 9 Bermuda South Africa Mauritius Mexico St Kitts & Nevis USA Oman Dominican Republic Dubai

available on request. +44(0)1494 875 165 www.agolfingexperience.co.uk

[94] MARCH 2017 | UK TRAVEL

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

■ 2018 RYDER CUP VENUE PARIS NATIONAL

ENJOY PARIS IN THE SPRING WITH A

BRITTANY GOLF BREAK T

■ ALCANADA

ZIP OVER TO ZAFIRO TO SAMPLE THE BEST OF

MALLORCAN GOLF T

he newest five-star hotel on the holiday island of Mallorca is offering autumn stay-and-play golf packages with its near neighbour, Club de Golf Alcanada.

The new Viva Zafiro Alcudia & Spa, which opened last summer, sits in an unrivalled location just 300 metres from the sea at Alcudia Bay, and a few minutes from Alcanada's golf course.

The Zafiro has 369 suites, five restaurants, three bars, 10 swimming pools, gym, spa and wellness centre, solarium, and myriad sports facilities. And, close by, are the pleasant streets of Puerto de Alcudia, one of the oldest towns in Mallorca, where there is a wide selection of

restaurants, bars and shops.

The resort is offering three, four and seven-night breaks from €147pp/pn. The three-night ‘Wedge' break, with B&B accommodation in a junior suite, free access to the Balneum Spa, and two green fees at Alcanada, costs €442 per person, based on two sharing.

The four-night ‘Eagle' package offers three green fees at Alcanada and costs €621, while the seven-night ‘Albatross' includes five rounds for €1,038. The prices are valid from October 3 to November 14.

Alcanada's 7,108-yard, Trent Jones Jr-designed course has won a steady stream of awards since opening 12 years ago. Enjoying

a breathtaking location overlooking the Bay of Alcudia, the course blends naturally into the typical Mallorcan terrain and takes its name from an island with a lighthouse, situated just offshore, which can be seen from most of the holes.

In addition, the club boasts a centuries-old Mallorca clubhouse that offers guests the opportunity to sample regional specialties in its first-class dining facilities.

A golf academy, including a short-game area and covered driving range, is also available.

For reservations call 0034 971 897 008, email infogolf@hotelsviva.com or visit www.hotelsviva.com.

CLUBSTOHIRE LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE

G

olf club rental firm ClubstoHire.com has launched a brand new website designed to cater for around 300,000 visits per year from travelling golfers looking to secure quality clubs at many of the world’s most popular golfing destinations.

The launch of the colourful, interactive site is the result of six months of IT product development and an investment of €150,000 in back end infrastructure to speed up bookings and improve the customer experience.

The new site features a welcome from the company’s new brand ambassador European

Tour player David Howell, and portrays key locations such as Faro, Cape Town and Orlando.

The Dublin-based rental firm offers the latest clubs on the market from between €35 and €60 per week at 23 locations around the world, including the United States, Thailand, South Africa and five different countries across the Mediterranean. They supply current sets of clubs from brands like TaylorMade, Callaway, Mizuno and Wilson Staff.

For more information, visit www.ClubstoHire.com.

he 2017 Brittany Ferries golf brochure, offering breaks to golf courses and resorts all over Northern and Western France and Northern Spain, is now out.

Packed with great value courses in some of France and Spain’s most popular destinations, the brochure has all the details you need to plan a golfing holiday to remember. And with Brittany Ferries, getting there is very much part of the holiday, and with no luggage limitations to worry about, golfers can make the most of their precious time by crossing the channel overnight. With a fleet of luxury cruise-ferries, offering en-suite cabins, fine French restaurants and stylish bars, they provide a uniquely relaxing way of travelling.

Getting to the continent couldn’t be easier, with five routes from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth

to western France, as well as two to northern Spain, including services to Bilbao and Santander.

Among the exclusive offers in 2017 includes a special Ryder Cup package in June, which involves three rounds of golf at Le Golf National, host venue of the 2018 Ryder Cup, and two nights in a local hotel. Other sample packages includes the Dinan to Dinard, which includes one night on board in a cabin; two nights’ B&B at the Hotel Mercure Dinan Port; and three rounds of golf (Dinard, Val André and St Cast), from only £308 per person. Sailings are form Portsmouth to St Malo, with return trips from Caen or Cherbourg to Portsmouth or Poole.

For more information, visit www.brittanyferries. com/golf, call 0330 159 5418 or email golfdesk@ brittanyferries.com.

■ OUBAAI GOLF RESORT

LET CHAKA SHOW YOU THE BEST OF

SOUTH AFRICA G

olf travellers looking to benefit from the very best local knowledge on their next golfing break should consider booking up a guide golf tour with one of the most experienced operators in the business.

Established in 1995, Chaka Travel is widely recognised as one of the UK and Ireland's leading luxury golf tour operators, providing bespoke golf holidays to far flung destinations such as Mauritius, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, USA, Morocco and Dubai, as well as golfing nations closer to home, such as Spain, Italy and Turkey.

The company has expanded its portfolio of holidays by offering escorted tours, lead by a team of expert golf professionals, to help guide guests on the course. Exploring new destinations, while sharing experiences with like-minded travelers, escorted tours offer the luxury of being accompanied by a golf professional who will be on hand to not only offer golf tuition, but also share first-hand knowledge of the local sights to enhance the overall holiday experience.

Chaka Travel’s next escorted tour to South Africa is being held from November 3-15, when South African professional Jacques Gous will be hosting a 12-night golf trip around Cape Town and George.

The holiday will include six nights at the Oubaai Golf & Spa Resort, and four nights at the Commodore Hotel, with rounds of golf at Erinvale, Oubaai, Pezula, Simola, Montagu at Fancourt and George.

Prices start from £3,295pp, including return flights on Virgin Airlines from London, chauffeur-driven transport, five evening meals, and excursions to visit Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, Ostrich Farms, and take part in a game drive on a private reserve.

For more details, included news on escorted tours to Mauritius and Bulgaria, visit www.chakatravel.com or call 028 9023 2112.

GOLFNEWS.CO.UK

UK TRAVEL | MARCH 2017 [95]

ME&MYTRAVELS

Former England rugby international and Sky Sports commentator Will Greenwood on his love of Norfolk’s links courses and why nothing beats going to the Masters

the greens, and you’d get the occasional electric shock as you stepped onto the green!

My earliest holiday memory… is spending summer holidays in my granddad's caravan.

It was cramped and smelly and we'd always go to Grange-overSands in Cumbria, where we'd go for walks on the beach, play cards and simply spend time together. It was a big family affair and somehow we managed to squeeze 12 of us into the tiny caravan.

My favourite holiday was… I'm from Blackburn; all holidays are good. I'm very easily pleased, and there's nowhere I wouldn't go back to. One of my first trips abroad was interrailing around Spain for three weeks when I was 17 years old. It was a huge adventure.

My favourite UK destination is… Norfolk.

My wife, Caroline, and I tied the knot in a village called Thornham, but I love the whole of Norfolk. There are great beaches, seals to admire, and wonderful golf courses, great pubs and not a lot of phone reception. What more could you want? My favourite golf course in the UK is the Old Course at Sunningdale – it’s sensational. I also love Hunstanton in Norfolk because of the friends I play with down there.

My most memorable round was at…

Stonyhurst Park Golf Club in Clitheroe, where I picked up a club for the first time. There were sheep on the course, electric wires around

My favourite golf course abroad is…

Augusta. I went there to watch the Masters in 2014 and 2015, and it was truly epic. I would love to play it one day.

Bring on April 6th! I also had a superb trip to Old Head in Ireland a few years ago. The first day it was blowing a gale and you had to be a pro to break 200, but the following day it was calm and glorious sunshine, and you could score 38 points.

My ideal holiday fourball would include…

Seve, Jack Nicklaus and my dad.

The best hotel I’ve

■ LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL, BATH

ever stayed at is…the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, for fun and sporting activities. It is perfect for the whole family and a great place to spend the summer.

My favourite hotel in the UK… is Lucknam Park, just outside Bath.

A friend of mine used to run it, so my wife and I have visited a number of times. It's very peaceful, partly because there tend to be no children, so it's nice for a weekend away with someone special. Caroline and I don't go anywhere near

■ FORTE VILLAGE RESORT, SARDINIA

Bath, though, because the hotel is just so lovely and the spa is fantastic.

My favourite city is…

Rome. I spent the first six years of my life there, and still return regularly.

It's a great city to wander around aimlessly. I love venturing into the quiet backstreets and eating in all the old restaurants, some of which I've been going to for years.

My most recent holiday was… a family safari to Kenya. We visited five different places, including Suyian Ranch, north of Nairobi. We stumbled across a leopard one day and tracked it for some time, but my favourite memory was meeting the Maasai, who showed us their tradition of jumping up and down.

My favourite holiday meals… have all been in the UK. I'm not much of a foodie, but I love the calamari at The Arts Club on Dover Street in London and Maliks

Tandoori in Cookham, Berkshire. I also love The Hinds Head, Heston Blumenthal's pub in Bray. It serves the best scotch eggs on the planet.

I would love to visit…

South America. It's a continent I've yet to visit and high up on my list of ‘must-see’ destinations. It's a big place, with so much to see and do, but I'm especially keen on Argentina. I want to learn how to salsa in Buenos Aires and then travel south to the mountains and glaciers of Patagonia.

■ HUNSTANTON GOLF CLUB IN NORFOLK

Will Greenwood is the co-founder of Legend Holidays & Events (ourlegend.com), which offers trips hosted by professional sports people.