St Mellion Estate nestles in England’s Cornish countryside, a short drive over the border from Devon and readily accessible to the golfing tourist.
A former venue of the European Tour’s Benson and Hedges International Open, this golf resort has incredible pedigree with Olazabal, Langer and Ballesteros among the names to have won here.
If we are name-dropping then St Mellion can pull its trump card because its Signature course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 Major championships and arguably the greatest player in the history of the game.
Built in 1988, the Nicklaus Signature course was meant to answer criticism directed at St Mellion’s original layout. The club brought in Nicklaus design to build something special and in my opinion, they achieved that and more. In fairness, they had a good starting point and a superb natural landscape to work with.
Full of character and beauty
Cornwall is full of natural splendour and the site for the Nicklaus was true to form, set around the hilltop of the original course, it uses the steep valley sides and natural waterways to frame a course that is as full of character as it is beauty.
Jack has built in his signature undulations, presented smaller, quirky greens and the fairways offer you just enough width but no more, making this a course to be thought through, not beaten into submission with a driver.
For those who might succumb to the temptation to outmuscle this course, or just those failing to stay on the straight and narrow, there is a wealth of danger around the course ready to dent your scorecard.
Steep banks of thick grass, deep and winding streams, lakes, hedge rows and gorse to name a few. For the average golfer, this can only add to the charm though. The danger sets the challenge and sense of accomplishment when you do manage to tame a few holes.
Be ready to tip your cap and smile when from time to time you have to admit that “yep, you got me there Jack.” The reward for your hard work will be a round of golf to remember.
Jaw-dropping vistas
The number of signature holes on this course outnumbers the rest with the start to the back nine being a personal favourite of jaw-dropping vistas in the late afternoon sun.
Should the golf be particularly gruelling, those choosing to stay in the hotel or surrounding lodges (recently built in a bid to host the English Open) have the added luxury of being able to unwind in the resort’s pool, spa and sauna.
The resort also boasts a gym and tennis courts but if you’ve chosen to walk the hilly course, you will have earned the rest.
For any longer visits, there is also the Kernow course with its much shorter, more forgiving layout to take a breather and rebuild your confidence. I dare anyone visiting St Mellion to drive down the driveway without a tingle of excitement at the opportunity to play ‘the course that Jack built’.