UK Golf Holidays and Golf Resorts

Looking for UK golf holidays or breaks?

Being good eggs, we have done a few searches ourselves and have located some great looking golfing holiday destinations and have included them below.

Of course, we haven't tried them all out, but if you have experience of these destinations, please let us know what you thought by dropping us an email and we'll glady add your comments - positive or negative, to the entry concerned.

The Ashbury Golf Hotel in Ashbury, Devon and the Manor House Hotel offer golf breaks that allow you to play the Pines Golf Course, Beeches Golf Course, Oakwood Golf Course and the Willows Golf Course.

The Pines Golf Course: Originally part of the Ashbury 27 combination course, Pines was extended and opened as its own 18-hole course in September 2003.

At 5,628 yards and Par 69 from the yellow tee plates Pines is the longest of our courses.

The 10 new holes have been designed to keep the existing contours and natural features in place.

For example parts of the Devon hedges have been taken out, moved and replanted so that they run parallel to holes. Ditches have not been covered in but widened to make them a significant hazard on three holes, where club selection is as important as distance.

To enhance the natural features 1110 native trees have been added along with 5 new ponds - 3 on one hole!! 30 new bunkers have been built including on the 10th hole three links style pot bunkers behind and to the right of the green to catch shots running through.

The Beeches Golf Course at 5,351 yards and par 68 from the yellow tees, is arguably the most picturesque of our courses. Starting from the clubhouse the course includes 15 of the original holes built in 1991. Fantastic views can be seen from many parts of the course. From the 1st tee you can look South towards Dartmoor and from the 7th tee with Dartmoor still in view you can look North to the coast and Exmoor.

The 14th hole is the most talked about hole of them all. A 375 yard par 4 that doglegs to the left and drops 180 feet from tee to green. Club selection is all important, with many people taking an iron from the tee to find one of the 3 plateaux. This leaves an approach shot of approximately 150 yards to the pin. Only the brave take a driver, but just about everyone walks off the green wanting to go back and play the hole again. The 18th is an excellent 152 yard par 3 finishing hole. The tee shot is all carry to the stepped green, with 3 ponds waiting to swallow up any shots short of the target.

Oakwood Golf Course: At 5,374 yards long and par 68 off the yellow tees this is very much a 'thinking' golfer's course, due to the nature of its construction. Ten picturesque ponds have been built and fifty-two well-placed bunkers have been added to provide the option of 'going for it' or playing safe.

The first is a classic example of this, being a 253 yard par 4 with two well-positioned lakes either side of the fairway, waiting to catch any wayward tee shots. The many trees that have been planted are now maturing, producing golf holes with much character. The greens are large with many undulations, some of which are stepped.

The Willows Golf Course: This is much more than a pitch and putt course and offers a challenge to both beginners and experienced golfers. The course is 18 holes, 2,018 yards in length, with holes ranging from 67 to 147 yards.

The course has a scattering of ponds and 50 bunkers. These along with the natural hazards of mounds, banks and trees, mean there is plenty to think about. The greens are smaller than those on the long courses and provide a great test of accuracy.

Golfers with lower handicaps also enjoy this course, as it is ideal for sharpening up the short game.
Buggy paths have recently been added to upgrade the course.

Sunnymeade Country Hotel, Devon has ten golf courses within a 30 minute drive, including championship courses at Saunton, Ilfracombe, and the Royal North Devon at Westaward Ho!, the oldest links in England.

Stay at Sunnymeade for a golfing break and they will arrange discounts on most green fees for guests.

Special packages are available to include two rounds of golf at Ilfracombe, Willingcott or Portmore courses.

Saunton (5 miles from Sunnymeade)

2 x 18: East PAR 71, SSS 71, West PAR 71, SSS 70

Saunton offer two magnificent 18 hole championship standard link courses. The newer West Course was originally built in the mid thirties but was lost as a battle training ground during the Second World War. In 1973 the decision was made to rebuild the course. Frank Pennink was the architect and the work was complete in 1975.

The course has matured well and is equal in quality to the East but in many ways, although shorter, is a more exacting test of golf requiring a greater accuracy to avoid the many ditches. Visitors will be asked to produce a Handicap Certificate when registering to play.

Royal North Devon (15 miles from Sunnymeade)

18 Holes, PAR 72, SSS 72

The Royal North Devon Golf Club at Westward Ho! is the oldest links course in England and was laid out on Northam Burrows in 1864 by "Old" Tom Morris.

The course represents a true test of golf because although it looks too flat to be challenging, once on the course the sight of great sea rushes, a hugh timber fronted bunker, burn and ditches present a formidable challenge. The course has three par fives, eleven par fours and four par threes.

Ilfracombe (4 miles from Sunnymeade)

18 Holes, PAR 69, SSS 69

High above and overlooking the Bristol Channel, with spectacular views of the North Devon coastline and Lundy Island. Lush fairways, tempting but tantalising greens, and sometimes mischievous wind.

A members club founded in 1892 it is North Devon's second oldest and noted for its friendliness.

Willingcott Valley (1 mile from Sunnymeade)

18 Holes, 18 Tees, PAR 72, SSS 70

The course, built in two loops of nine, is an undulating parkland course of 6200 yards designed around 3 picturesque lakes with excellent full size greens. The far reaching views over the rolling landscape are breathtaking.

There are an additional five varied golf courses within a short distance making a total of at least ten great courses within 20 miles of Sunnymeade Country Hotel.