round 1 - bigbury
breathtaking views at bigbury
bigbury provides a warm welcome, a challenging yet forgiving course and stunning views of the scenic south devon coastline. the difficulty depends on how hard the wind blows. the coastal location means it is almost always playable and in fine condition. this is a hidden gem in the area, it is a wonderful spot with 360 degree views.
the match was interesting; similar to neil and phil, nic, post baby number one, started horribly with three stableford points in the first six holes. this coupled with some fabulous form from al meant neil & nic were soundly beaten.
match score: neil & nic 13-9½ phil & al
round 2 - thurlestone
another great golfing view
thurlestone is one of the most beautiful courses in the south west; reminiscent of pebble beach. the first twelve holes go out along the headland and are very linksy. the club was founded in 1897 with nine hole and later extended and modified by harry colt. it is a course to be enjoyed.
the match was closer than bigbury but only just. phil and al were never behind although the match wasn’t won until the 17th. It was always going to be tough for neil and nic when phil hit three pars in a row from the 10th.
match score: neil & nic 13-10½ phil & al
round 3 - st mellion kernow
kernow at dawn
on day three we ventured into cornwall to st mellion. before lunch we played the kernow, which opened in 1976 as the old course and was redesigned in 2010. the course is a true test with well placed bunkers and several water hazards. the fairways are generous and the greens are wide suiting big hitters.
the weather was harsh so the match became one of endurance. nic played really well but phil and al dovetailed perfectly. coming down the 18th, phil and al were one-up however neil won the hole to save a half.
match score: neil & nic 13½-11 phil & al
round 4 - st mellion nicklaus
the nicklaus has plenty of hazards
after warming up with lunch and a pint, we played the nicklaus course which was the first designed by jack in europe. the reputation it has gained for hosting professional tournaments is a real tribute to the high quality of this course, it’s a fantastic parkland course.
the weather didn’t improve which meant scoring was poor and pars were rare. phil scored 32 stableford points and al contributed with some great holes to seal a 2&1 victory which gave them victory for the holiday. st mellion is a cracking resort and is certainly somewhere i would recommend staying for future golf trips.
match score: neil & nic 13½-12 phil & al
round 5 - dartmouth
view of the KOP hole in good weather
dartmouth golf and country club is a friendly and relaxed resort, with stunning views over the estuary. it was designed by jeremy pern in 1992 and is set in 225 acres of rolling countryside. there are some truly stunning holes, in particular the 3rd, a par three with an elevated tee playing over water.
we had horrific weather conditions, the rain didn’t really cease for the whole round! On the back nine rivers were forming on the fairways! neil and nic regained some pride with a win although it was a hollow victory given the weather.
so onto the KOP… a tough 200 yard par 3 over water into the wind. al’s tee shots nearly ended up in the clubhouse twice. neil holed a three footer though a puddle for a good bogey to steal the cup back leaving phil and al 4-3 up.
match score: neil & nic 14½-12 phil & al