Golf from Kitley House - Guide to Local Courses by our partner Golf Tee Times Service

St Mellion Hotel & Golf Resort-Nicklaus Course

The first European course personally designed by the 18 times Major winner, Jack Nicklaus, was officially opened at St Mellion on the Devon Cornwall border in 1988. To celebrate the occasion a USA vs Great Britain match was held and screened live on the BBC, with Nicklaus himself partnering Tom Watson against Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo, with Britain coming out victorious. After the occasion Nicklaus was quoted “I knew it was going to be good, but not this good….it’s everything I hoped for and more…St Mellion is potentially the finest golf course in Europe”.

Nicklaus’ belief proved to be well founded as the course went on to become a stalwart of the European Tour, hosting the Benson & Hedges International Open on 6 occasions, The Midas English Seniors Open on 2 occasions and confirmed as the host for the English Open for five years on its return to the tour in 2011.

Even for Jack Nicklaus the course is unique, benefitting from the exceptional South West topography. It has its own Amen Corner not dissimilar to Augusta, including the signature hole 11, a daunting but stunning par 3.

The course has been a regular fixture on the UK Top 100 and narrowly lost out as the host venue for the 1993 Ryder Cup. It is also regarded as second only to Carnoustie as the most difficult golf course

Yelverton Golf Club

A delightful moorland course, designed by Herbert Fowler, who used the old mine workings as natural hazards to challenge golfers of all standards. It has outstanding views across Dartmoor and over Cornwall and is a very natural course, with Dartmoor ponies and cattle sharing the fairways.

When the club was founded in 1904 there was a nine hole course to the west of the clubhouse. This was upgraded to eighteen holes in 1912. The current layout came into play between the wars.

Today's course retains fifteen of the original holes, with 16, 17 and 18 as more recent additions. The course has played host to many top competitions, including The Men’s Senior Amateur Championships in 2006

Bigbury Golf Club

Bigbury has been providing a challenge for golfers of all abilities for 85 years. Today, its 18 holes total 6,061 yards for men, 5,568 for ladies. Par is 70 and 72 strokes respectively.

The fairways are wide and the greens fast, but club selection is complicated by sea winds and by awkwardly placed trees and bunkers.

Tavistock Golf Club

Most golf courses have some unique features but Tavistock Golf Club, lying on the western slopes of Dartmoor within the National Park has the added attraction of being in an area of outstanding beauty. A possible distraction for the most dedicated and committed golfer!

With its wide fairways and sweeping vistas the course looks deceptively simple but it offers a challenging test for the unwary golfer.

Nature has provided its own hazards at Tavistock, with thick gorse and bracken, plus the odd clump of scrubby trees. There are also cunningly hidden bunkers that can trap the most proficient golfer.

The thin soil not only provides tight lies, it also makes the greens lightning fast. Because of the thin soil the course and greens drain very quickly allowing year-long play.

Thurlestone Golf Club

Thurlestone is a great place to play golf. The course is located in the beautiful South Hams of Devon and runs along the coast of Bigbury Bay.  The course is a mix of links and cliff-top terrain with the latter providing fabulous views towards Bolt Tail in the East to beyond Plymouth to the West, with Burgh Island and the Avon estuary being the highlight for most people. 

The course measures 6230 yards from the White Tees, whilst the ladies are faced with 5538 yards. Spectacular views may be enjoyed from every hole on the course, which provides a challenge to all levels of golfer, especially when the wind blows.

China Fleet Golf & Country Club

The Championship course has stunning views over the river Tamar with a challenging and enjoyable par 72, 18-hole course.  Expertly designed by Martin Hawtree the course follows a classic design of ten par fours, four par fives and four par threes.

A real winner with our members and visitors alike China Fleet offers something for golfers of all levels.

For the best rates on local courses contact our Golf Partner:

Graham Ruth

Golf Tee Times Service

01822 618181

www.golfteetimeservice.co.uk

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