South West Wonders
Cameron Ritchie, Product Manager UK & Ireland
The South West of England is already renowned as a favourite holiday destination but have you considered it for a golf break?
Stunning scenery, fantastic golf courses, a wide range of hotels and great value… these are just some of the ways to describe the South West. I may be biased, but having just returned from an exceptional holiday in Cornwall, I’m now wondering why I’ve always felt the need to jump on a plane when there are all these magnificent gems on our doorstep at incredible prices – minus the pricey club carriage charges.
Below are my favourites which in my view, are a must for any golfer. They all have great availability over summer so are perfect for those of us who've still got a weekend space in the diary that needs filling before another wedding invite gets priority!
1) St Mellion Golf & Country Club 4*:
Having recently completed a £20 million refurbishment this top resort is already tipped to become an English Classic, a prediction has just been given weight with the news that it is to host the English Open from 2011. Both the onsite courses have undergone major reconstruction with fantastic results. The Nicklaus is now a regular fixture in the Top 100 UK courses, and The Kernow follows closely behind with its new layout - including a 530 yard Par 5 and 179 yard par-3 over a chasm. The interior of the hotel is both modern and welcoming, with all the up-to-date features you’d expect from a new 4* hotel. Prices have never been so competitive, so make sure you don’t miss out on this incredible July offer –
prices from £88.
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2) Carlyon Bay Hotel 4*:
This hotel is rapidly becoming a popular choice with our clients and it’s easy to see why. Every hole on the championship course has spectacular views over the sandy beaches of St Austell Bay and there’s a 10 acre practice range as well as a picturesque 9-hole approach course for the new starters to the game. The hotel is very well equipped with a state of the art spa for ultimate relaxation. It’s so good one of our team has decided to spend her big day there! Treat yourself -
prices from £115.
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3) Lostwithiel Hotel, Golf and Country Club 3*:
Set in 350 acres of rolling hills just south of Bodmin, this 3* hotel offers a beautiful and great value golf break. The onsite golf course has built up great reputation amongst the local golfers who understandably are keen to keep it a secret. It’s a great test of golf for all levels - the front nine provides great views across the surrounding countryside and the back nine weaves down to the silver waters of the River Fowey. If golf is not always on top of the agenda, then The Eden Project, which is only minutes away, comes very highly recommend -
prices from £145.
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4) Trevose Golf and Country Club 3*:
Despite having hosted the Brabazon Trophy in 2008, this breathtaking Championship course seems relatively undiscovered. Ranked 97th in the UK & Ireland Top 100, it’s a must play for fans of English links. On-site accommodation consists of a selection of high quality self catering accommodations – perfect for a BBQ on the terrace after a day of golf. There’s also an excellent restaurant that serves traditional English cuisine in the evening and hot breakfasts in the morning. I highly recommend a couple of nights at Trevose, followed by a final round at St Mellion on the way home! -
prices from £169.
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5) Bovey Castle Hotel 5*:
For something a little bit special, why not try Bovey Castle 5*. Previously owned by the WH Smith family, this luxury resort is a real treat and definitely one to try and play over the summer. The fact that it was voted England’s Finest Golf Resort at the World Travel Awards in 2008 speaks volumes -
prices from £155.
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So why not take a break from trawling the airlines for the cheapest deals, throw the clubs in the back of the car and head for some of our South West Wonders!
Fast Facts about The Open
- The Open is the only major championship in professional golf held outside the USA
- It was first played at Prestwick Golf Club, Scotland on 17th October 1860. The prize was the Challenge Belt, which the winner kept for a year. If you won 3 years in a row you could keep it.
- Winners now receive The Claret Jug (or Golf Champion Trophy)
- 14 different golf courses have hosted the open since 1860; with St Andrews hosting The Open more times than any other.
- One of the most celebrated contests in golf history was the “Duel in the Sun” at Turnberry in 1977, when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by a single shot.
- In 1977 Mark Hayes shot a second round seven-under-par 63 – an Open record that still stands today – equalled by Greg Norman when he won at Turnberry in 1986.
- The 2009 Open Championship will be held at Turnberry, Scotland between 16th and 19th July. This will be the 4th time that the Ayrshire venue has staged The Open.
- 16 year old Italian Matteo Manassero will be the second youngest player to take up his place at The Open Championship this July.
- Turnberry’s Ailsa course has undergone a number of adjustments in preparation for the 2009 event. The most significant changes have been to the 10th, 16th and 17th holes (the 10th now has a 200 yard carry over the rocks from a tee perched on an outcrop by the lighthouse)
- The Ailsa course has been lengthened to 7,204 yards (from 6,957 in 1994)
Summer Sale - fantastic savings on summer golf breaks
Grab one of these breaks from our summer sale and enjoy some classic English golf –
with savings of up to £55 per golfer.
We’ve selected our Top 5 one night breaks for July and 2 night breaks in August. All you need to do now is simply pick your favourite, leave the rest to us and look forward to a fantastic summer of golf.
P.S. Don’t forget to visit our website and see all our summer offers.
Click here to see more
Top 5 July 2009 Golf Breaks - Summer Sale
Top 5 August 2009 Golf Breaks - Summer Sale
At Golfbreaks.com our teams are always working hard ensuring we get the best deals for our customers at the best golfing destinations not only across the UK & Ireland, but also Europe and the Rest of the World. Whilst we’re on the road we make sure we take the opportunity to get a first-hand impression on how the hotels and courses are faring, so we can provide our customers with the most up-to-date information as possible.
In the last 2 weeks we’ve had members of the Golfbreaks.com teams on the road at:
Bournemouth, UK
“A popular Tour destination within the UK, I can see why more and more of you keep returning to the sunny coastal town….”
Click here to read full review
Costa Brava, Spain
“I have just recently come back from a trip to Costa Brava and I must say I was overwhelmed. The standard of accommodation and golf on offer makes this destination, in my opinion, the best value for money golf holiday in Spain...”
Click here to read full review
Miami & Florida, USA
“This golfing break gave me the opportunity to play some fantastic golf courses, designed by some of the great players in world golf and experience first hand how the Americans do golf.”
Click here to read full review