The Rugged Beaches of Britain
Though often overlooked by overseas travellers, perhaps due to the lack of Open rota courses, the golf cognoscenti know there’s a great golf trip in the South West Peninsula. Famous for its great beaches, the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Somerset are well endowed with terrific hotels, and two coastlines leading to some stunning links courses. This is exactly the type of destination that North Americans should seek.
What We Love About Southest England
After arriving at Heathrow airport, we start the journey westward towards the peninsula dangling off the south west of Great Britain.
Most will be anxious to hit the links, but the curious traveller might want a quick stop at the mysterious ancient wonder of the world, Stonehenge. Or, those who prefer more recent history, might stop at the Roman town of Bath for lunch.
If it is only about the golf, head straight to Burnham & Berrow, a traditional out-and-back links with a church in the middle of the course founded in 1890. At the end of the round, you’re a stone’s throw from beautiful beaches and the two fantastic courses (East & West) of Saunton Golf Club at the Saunton Sands Hotel.
Continuing south, Royal North Devon is a must-play on your way towards the tip of the peninsula. From there, you move even further south to Cornwall, where our two favourite courses are unquestionably Trevose (Championship Course) and St. Enodoc (Church Course).
For your last stay on the peninsula, we recommend a memorable night at the stately Bovey Castle, a private home until Peter de Savary turned it into a luxury hotel.
Some like to be close to the airport before flying home the next day, if that is the case, it should involve spending the night at Coworth Park Hotel, which offers an excellent location and fine rooms (plus polo lessons and horseback riding, if you have some extra time!) alongside one more round at Sunningdale, Swinley Forest, or St. George’s Hill, all World Top-100 courses.
Favourite Courses
Burnham & Berrow: An Open Championship qualification course that’s a Harry Colt-designed traditional out-and-back links with some great quirk, including a church in the middle of the course.
St. Enodoc: Ultra-natural undulating fairways, humbling dunes and highly variable holes make this James Braid links a coastal gem. As a past client once put it, “On a sunny day, there are not many golf courses with as beautiful a view as the Church Course at St. Enodoc.” Check out this great video.
Trevose: A windswept links with dramatic views across rugged coastline and golden shores.
Saunton Golf Club: Two courses - East & West - which combine to be amongst the finest 36 holes of coastal links in England, set on an unspoiled coast, just north of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Braunton Burrows.
Royal North Devon: The oldest course in England still playing along its original fairways and the oldest links course outside Scotland, this is an absolute “must play”.
Bovey Castle: If you’re going to stay there, you’ll want to play there, too. A fine tight parkland course nestled in the rolling valleys of Dartmoor National Park in Devon.
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