Looking back at the elevated 1st
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Bovey Castle (pronounced 'Bovvy') is no ordinary golf complex. Once you enter this lavish Devonian retreat you’ll immediately realise why it was voted one of Britain’s most desirable places to stay.
Find yourself in a world of time honoured English tradition where art deco and oak-panelled drawing rooms meet large medieaval-styled open fireplaces; ornate stairways meander seamlessly into corridors covered in hand-painted silk wallpaper and where every corner is packed with curiosity like most of its course's golf holes!
The rooms are so well appointed you’d be forgiven for spending your weekend enjoying the jazzy 1920s touches in the décor and ritzy black-and-white bathroom – but venture outside from your haven of opulence because a sparkling course awaits.
From its elevated first tee the course is impeccably presented and with fairways and greens swathed in early morning sun this was an 8am tee-time, the anticipation of which had kept me awake for hours.
At 6,303 yards Bovey Castle isn’t a long course, but what it lacks in length it more than makes up
Much photographed par-3, 3rd
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for in sheer accuracy required. The first hole stretches over 309 sweeping yards and can be birdied utilizing both brain and brawn.
Take a long iron to the right side of the sloping fairway or tee it up for a nerve-jangling carry over the River Bovey – either way, a classic risk/reward hole. But be warned - leave your hook firmly in you bag, anything left will leave you staring down the barrel of an unsightly double bogey.
The much photographed par-3 208 yards third is where you’ll be aiming at an almost island green. Sandwiched between river and lake, it offers only a straight shot. Walk away with a par, as I was thankful to do and you’ll be greeted with your first opportunities to swing in anger.
The 4th presents a birdieable par-5 and hole five, a short but nevertheless testing par-4 will examine even the most accurate of players. Only a precise fade will leave you a decent line in to a river protected green. Lay up like I did and the green is accommodating to a high pitch.
Although the 6th lets the front nine down slightly, the 7th more than makes up for it. It’s easy to see why Sir Henry Cotton proclaimed this as ‘possibly the best par four in British inland golf’. The River Bovey twice
The 5th green
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traverses like a slalom skier creating two distinct fairways. Whether you lay up or take on the 220-yard carry, a par here will feel like a birdie. I took seven!
Hole eight provided me with my first birdie with a neat chip in after two clean strikes and the 157-yard 9th is a straightforward 7-iron to a contoured putting surface.
After the demanding par-four 11th, we were treated to a few short holes, including the back-to-back par-4s at 13 and 14 running either side of the entrance road and despite the guarding trees you can hope to score well.
The 15th is the only dog-leg you’ll find at Bovey and while the 16th appears trouble-free it has the bunkering to tarnish a round.
And what Devonian course would be complete without a blind drive? Wait for the bell to toll and line-up over the top of the highest tree. The downhill, cross-hill stance makes for a difficult second so aim well left and let the lie of the land do the rest.
Finally, the extended 18th takes you back to the castle. Drives hugging the left will leave a shorter second, where giant granite rocks set in the fairway provide the interest.
Wearily, my best shot of the day was my penultimate of the round, a 160 yards iron to within eight inches on the most receptive hole on the course.
The perfect finish to a course you’d be hard pressed to tire of.
All back to the castle for cream teas and refreshments I say!...
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Rating: |
9/10 |
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Overall: | Strike the ball crisply all day and you are by no means guaranteed to post a score under 100, given the hazards that interject this picturesque valley walk. It's a fantastic experience set in delightful surroundings but, if my round is anything to go by, take plenty of balls.
An Englishman’s home is his castle, and Bovey will feel like home to all who visit. |
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Rooms at Bovey Castle start at £175 per night. For more details ring 01647 445016.
Day Visitor 18 holes £125 and lunch in the Clubhouse(£75 Nov-March) Residential Visitor 18 holes £75 (£55 Nov-March)
By train: First Great Western run hourly services out of London Paddington to Exeter St Davids (40 km from Bovey Castle). Transfers to Bovey Castle can be arranged by the hotel.
By air: Transfers to Bovey Castle from Plymouth (38 km), Exeter (51 km) and Bristol (150 km) airports can be arranged by the hotel.
Website: Bovey Castle .
