South Devon golf trail launched

There’s nothing we like more than a good road trip with the wrenches. And now four top Devon courses have got their act together to create the South Devon golf trail. We’re ready!

The first course on the trail is Thurlestone, which we have played and loved. It’s a mix of links and cliff-top golf, and has a lovely front nine.  It’s a Harry Colt design with wide fairways and stunning views of the famous Thurlestone rock and Burgh Island - the place where Agatha Christie wrote many of her famous crime novels.

The second course is Teignmouth, which was designed by Alister MacKenzie, the maestro of Augusta. It is laid out over 800 feet above sea level, and the outward nine looks over the town of Teignmouth and the estuary of the River Teign, whilst the contrasting back nine looks east over the Exe estuary towards Portland Bill.

The course today remains remarkably similar to MacKenzie’s original 1924 design and retains his signature sloping greens, many of which are surrounded by humps on three sides and feature two tier greens like many of those found at Augusta.

The third course on the trip is East Devon Golf Club, which is perched on the cliff top 400 foot above Budleigh Salterton, and commands stunning panoramas over the western end of the Jurassic Coast and the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This heathland course has wide tracts of gorse and heather dividing each fairway and was designed by Herbert Fowler, with later input from both Harry Colt and James Braid.

Bovey Castle is the fourth and final course on the trail, and provides an interesting contrast to the coastal tracks thanks to its setting in amongst the mature woodlands of Dartmoor National Park.

The challenging course meanders through the estate whilst the luxurious accommodation and five star facilities of the castle mean the resort is regarded as one of England’s most idyllic destinations to play golf.

“You could not find a more spectacular group of golf courses so conveniently located together in one of England’s most popular and jaw-droppingly, glorious coastal locations,” comments Andrew Cooke, CEO & founder of Golf Tourism England.

“These courses are indeed the cream of the crop in south Devon and together they make an alluring offering when combined with the many natural attractions in the area such as the Jurassic Coast, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, Dartmoor National Park, its sandy beaches and numerous walking and cycle trails.”

We're ready, willing and able (ish).

For more on Thurlestone GC click here or on the image below.