GOLF ESCAPES

GB&I: England
THE COURSE THAT JACK BUILT
St Mellion
This Cornish complex has a Top 100-ranked Jack Nicklaus design as well as a chic four-star hotel.
St Mellion is a unique blend of
contemporary style, exceptional
facilities, golfi ng heritage and
wonderful Cornish hospitality.
The resort boasts a stunning AA four-star
80-bedroom hotel and a Health Club &
Spa as well as a variety of dining
experiences – from the simple to the elegant
– in an award-winning restaurant.
St Mellion is renowned as one of
England’s fi nest golf venues, being a regular
in GB&I Top 100 Course rankings and
having hosted 12 European Tour events.
The Nicklaus Signature Course
celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2013 and
was the fi rst European course personally
designed by Jack Nicklaus. “I knew it was
going to be good, but not this good... it’s
everything I hoped for and more,” said the
legendary American of the fi nished course.
At 6,300 yards it is not long, but using
the amazing Cornish landscape and
inspired by Augusta, Nicklaus created a
UK version of Amen Corner with holes 10
through to 13 being quite brilliant both to
play and look at. But before you get to that
now-celebrated back nine, you are also
served a treat on the front half with one
classic golf hole after another; the 5th is
regarded as the best par 4 on the course and
when the sun shines is one of the most
beautiful holes in the country.
The Signature hole is the remarkable
11th, a par 3 inspired by the 12th and 16th
short holes at Augusta. It combines the
narrow green of the 12th with the sweeping
lake that protects the green from the underclubbed
shot. It is regarded as one of the
classic short holes in British golf.
If you could have a second signature hole,
the 12th would be it. It is another visually
stunning test that is cut through a forest of
conifer trees, a true par 5 that requires three
accurate shots to reach the green. Running
parallel to the fairway is a stream that then
cuts across in front of the green. This hole
completes the loop of three holes that is
compared to Augusta’s infamous ‘Amen
Corner’ – high praise indeed!
St Mellion also has a ‘gem’, the Kernow
Course. It opened in 2010 and was
instantly commended as the perfect
complement to the Nicklaus. It offers wide
fairways, big greens and great variety.
Yet another reason a trip to St Mellion
should be on every golfers’ bucket list. ■
Contact: st-mellion.co.uk, 01579 352001
or stmellion-golfdays@crown-golf.co.uk
Below: The hotel is the
perfect base for a
Cornwall golf break.