St. Mellion International Resort – Top 101 Weekend Breaks in Today’s Golfer

Last day in Spain at the International Golf Travel Market

The last day of the International Golf Travel Market in Spain has been another great experience- we’ve met up with a number of international tour operators and there’s a tremendous amount of interest in what St Mellion has to offer.

It’s been a tiring few days but well worth it and now we are looking forward to getting back to Cornwall!

St Mellion is in Spain

St Mellion is getting a fantastic showing on the world stage at the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM 2009) in Malaga, Spain. We are delighted with the interest that has been shown and it’s great to be part of this event. We are delighted that St Mellion is known and recognised the world over and we have met lots of lovely people. Let’s hope we see lots of international travellers in Cornwall next year!

Great finish for Scott Drummond in Hong Kong

St Mellion sponsored Scott Drummond had an excellent final outing on this year’s European tour, tieing for 11^th place in the Hong Kong Open. He had rounds of 69, 67, 68 and 66, to leave him ten under par at the finish. He was the highest-ranked Scottish player at the finish.

Scott Drummond in Hong Kong- update

Fingers crossed for Scott Drummond in the UBS Hong Kong Open, the final event in this year’s European Tour. He had a very creditable, 1 under par first round of 69 which puts him into tied 65th place alongside Colin Montgomerie.

Scott just missed the cut in the Barclay’s Singapore Open this month but in October he had some really good results in the Madrid Masters and the Portugal Masters and the Castello Masters.

St Mellion representing Cornwall at world’s largest golf travel event

St Mellion International Resort will be featured on the international stage next week. The Jack Nicklaus signature course and newly-refurbished Kernow championship golf courses, brand new 4-star hotel and resort’s first-class facilities will be on display in Spain at the world’s largest golf travel event.

St Mellion will represent the best of golf in south west England alongside Bovey Castle and Atlantic Links at the 2009 International Golf Travel Market on 16-19 November.

International Golf Travel Market has been running for 11 years and has grown in size to become the largest meeting of buyers and suppliers of golf-related products in the golfing calendar. The 2009 event is being held in Malaga, Spain.

Over 450 tour representatives will be attending the event and Regan Bailey, golf business development manager at St Mellion says she is looking forward to representing the resort’s world-class courses and facilities. “Following the completion of our £20 million re-development earlier this year we can now offer the international golf travel market a world-class facility as a must-visit resort for clients. The Nicklaus Signature course, having been recently been acknowledged as the toughest golf course in England by Today’s Golfer magazine gives me an unrivalled product to present to the market .

“There are around 50 million golfers in the world and an event like IGTM is our opportunity to put the new St Mellion International Resort on the map as a top-class golf venue in Britain.”

Top tips on how to play the new holes on the Kernow Course

Great News!

Another two new holes open on the Kernow Course and we have already had terrific feedback about them. We hope you enjoy them.

Below are a few tips from the professional staff on how best to play them & the 3 new holes opened in October.

1st Hole

A really strong opening hole, at 445 yards from the competition tees, it is now the longest par 4 on the course.  Two big hits will be required to reach in regulation, but for many it may be best to play as a par 5. A driver off the tee aimed at the large bunker will leave you in good position to place your second in the bottleneck fairway short of the green. The green is large and will play 3 clubs different front to back so club selection is important.

9th Hole

Be aware of players teeing off the 18th Nicklaus as you walk to the tee.

One of the most attractive holes on the course. The fairway is narrow, so accuracy is important from the tee. The long hitters will be able to cut the corner hitting over the small fir tree on the right, but the sensible play will be a 3 wood aimed at the large fir tree in the distance. This will open up the angle for the approach shot. It plays 150 yards from the corner, but for a good birdie opportunity you will need to find the correct level on the two tiered green, so club selection is vital. The bunker front right is waiting to collect any errant shots, and the swale on the right side of the green will carry balls away down the slope. The green is small so find the centre and you will never be far from the pin.

The 10th

This attractive short downhill par 4 is within easy driving distance for the long hitter, although going for the green in 1 doesn’t come without risk. The green is well guarded with water protecting the front of the green and long grass waiting to gather over struck shots at the back of the narrow two tiered green, be aware of the steep tier in the green and aim to leave your approach on the correct level.

The 11th

A tricky par 4. At just 332 yards off the white tees it can lead you into a false sense of security, but there is trouble awaiting ahead. From the tee a mid-long iron/baffler left of the bunker will leave a level stance at the top of the hill, giving a better opportunity of holding the small shallow green below.
The approach requires precision as the green is small and well guarded. Behind the green a steep drop to red stakes await any over hit shots whilst in front a well positioned bunker will gather any balls running towards the right half of the green. There will be a few tricky pin placements on this green so the centre of the green will be the sensible play.

The 12th

A good opportunity for a birdie play the percentage shots on this hole and it will definitely reward you. From the tee a long iron/baffler favouring the right hand side will allow the natural contours of the fairway to guide your ball down the hill. Be careful not to over hit from the tee as you will run through the fairway leaving a tricky pitch from a downhill lie in the rough. For the approach shot the centre of the green is a good target, this green is fairly generous with the gentle slopes, so any shot finding the green will leave a good chance for that birdie putt.

Green Party – Article on St Mellion International from Daily Post

Another rave review of St Mellion Internation written by Trevor Peake of the Daily Post. Click here to read the full article

St Mellion’s Nicklaus course is the ‘toughest in England’

St Mellion’s famous Nicklaus signature course has been ranked by a leading golf magazine as ‘the most difficult course in England’.

The course has recently been improved and extended to more than 7000 yards, and Today’s Golfer, one of the UK’s top golfing publications, has bestowed the “toughest course” accolade. The magazine’s course editor, Kevin Brown, says: “The Nicklaus Signature Course at St Mellion International Resort is regarded as the most difficult golf course in England.”

The course hosted the Benson and Hedges International Open on six occasions, the Midas Senior English Open twice, and will host the English Open for five years from 2011.

The magazine says about the course: “To say it presents a stern test of golf is a gross understatement and you certainly have to be on the ball from the word go; the front nine is particularly demanding and you need to keep it on the fairway – or else!”

David Moon, St Mellion’s director of golf, said they are delighted to have been acknowledged as the best test of golf in England. “The Nicklaus course is certainly a challenge, but it is a challenge which both our members and visitors delight in taking up.”

The Nicklaus challenge is likely to get even tougher for some golfers soon. St Mellion is to offer a new golfing package which will allow players to follow in the footsteps of golfing’s greatest professionals and tee it up on the blue championship tees.

Mr Moon added: “This will be a real test of golfing ability on England’s toughest course, and we look forward to seeing how many people will want to take it on.”

New Nicklaus Course Photography

We’re delighted to showcase our new course photography taken by Bob Atkins, renowned golf course photographer. See the full gallery www.st-mellion.co.uk ; here’s a couple to wet your appetite.