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England’s Atlantic Links Launches ‘Golf & Rosamunde Pilcher Heritage Tours’

Helen Heady — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 11:29:33 +0000

June 2015; England: England’s Atlantic Links has launched a ‘Golf & Rosamunde Pilcher Heritage Tours’ for 2015 following growing interest from the German market for holidays in the south west of the England.

The unique packages combine a few rounds of golf at five best links courses in the region with visits to some of the key locations in Cornwall and Devon that have featured in Pilcher’s romantic novels.

Thanks to national TV station, ZDF, Pilcher’s books are especially popular in Germany and over the last 20 years has produced more than 100 of her stories for TV. The programmes have become one of the channel’s most successful ever series and turned Pilcher into a household name in Germany where Sunday night is often referred to as ‘Rosamunde Pilcher Night’ with over six million Germans regularly tuning in to one of her dramas since 1993.

Born in Lelant, Cornwall, Pilcher has featured many of the county’s landmarks in her books including the bustling fishing port of Padstow, nearby Prideaux Palace, an Elizabethan Manor with extensive grounds, Pencarrow House near Wadebridge, the atmospheric Bodmin Moor, the picturesque St Michael’s Mount as well as the popular tourist towns of St Ives, Newquay, Mevagissey and Bude.

Each show typically contains long stretches of scenic footage, dramatic fly-overs of the cliffs at Bedruthan Steps and sun-drenched moorlands that satisfy the German fascination for grand landscapes and nostalgic longing for a more traditional world.

Coupling golf with visits to Pilcher landmarks is ideal for couples as well as families, given the appeal the series has for family viewing.

Together with Countrywide Golf Holidays, the Atlantic Links have created a number of packages that include golf at St Enodoc and Trevose as well as the Devon courses of Saunton and Royal North Devon and trips to Prideaux Place and Padstow.

On the way in or out of the south west, golfers also have the option of playing the Atlantic Links’ Somerset course, Burnham & Berrow.

“For many years now, we have enjoyed seeing a great deal of Germans flock down the south west thanks to Rosamunde Pilcher. With our new Heritage Tours we are hoping to now see golfers combining their love of championship links with romantic forays to some of the Pilcher set locations,” comments Tuck Clagett, manager at St Enodoc Golf Club.

The ‘Golf & Rosamunde Pilcher Heritage Tours’ will include:

Golf on the tour includes 18 holes at Trevose and St Enodoc Golf Clubs
A visit to Prideaux Place, one of the main locations for the TV series
A stay at Port Gaverne Hotel, Port Isaac, as featured as a location in the TV series
A stay at Mount Haven Hotel, opposite St Michael’s Mount, which features heavily in the series

England’s Atlantic Links Maintain Strong Presence in Latest Golf Monthly Course Rankings

Helen Heady — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 17:11:01 +0000

The six premier links courses in south west England, known as England’s Atlantic Links (www.atlantic-links.co.uk), have maintained their strong presence in the latest course rankings compiled by the UK magazine, Golf Monthly.

In the publication’s ‘UK & Ireland’s Top 100 Golf Courses 2015/16’ just released, Somerset’s Burnham & Berrow ranks most highly amongst the Atlantic Links championship courses at number 33, up four places from 37^th spot two years ago.

Burnham is closely followed by Saunton’s East Course at 35 (up from 39) and St Enodoc’s Church Course in Cornwall which has continued its rise up the rankings to 36^th from 41^st position.

The other three Atlantic Links courses also feature well inside the top 100 with Saunton West in at number 61, Royal North Devon – known also as Westward Ho! – placed in 72^nd position and Cornwall’s Trevose in 77^th spot.

Given the impressive positioning of the six Atlantic Links courses in the Golf Monthly rankings, it is hardly surprising that this terrific trail along the north Atlantic Coast is recognized as one of England’s premier golfing destinations.

“All the clubs in the Atlantic Links are of course delighted to feature so prominently in the new Golf Monthly rankings which are after all produced ‘by golfers, for golfers’. Indeed these rankings prove that the Atlantic Links is a genuine and credible alternative to the links golf available in both Scotland and Ireland,” commented Karen Drake, Secretary at Burnham & Berrow.

“Moreover the Atlantic Links compare very favorably in terms of value for money with similar golf tours in the UK that offer courses of the tremendous quality that we have to offer.”

Now in its sixth edition, Golf Monthly asked its ranking assessors to give various marks for Quality of Test & Design, Condition & Presentation, Visual Appeal, Facilities and Experience.

Whilst all the scores were taken into account, each report was also read carefully to look at supporting evidence and then a combination used to ensure that variations between assessors were ironed out. This moderation process, and regular contact with assessors, makes a subjective process as objective as it can be.

Adding to the appeal of the Atlantic Links tour are the numerous off-course activities that exist in the south west. These include some of the best beaches in the UK, stunning cliff walks, surfing, sailing, charming fishing villages and bustling market towns such as Barnstaple and Truro, as well as visitor attractions such as The Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the world famous Trebah Gardens.

Royal North Devon’s 150th Anniversary Highlights The History & Tradition of England’s Atlantic Links

Helen Heady — Thu, 29 May 2014 09:06:47 +0000

The Royal North Devon Golf Club, founded back in 1864, celebrates its 150^th anniversary this year, a landmark that will highlight the history and tradition of the Atlantic Links, a collection of some of the oldest and most revered links in England.

The six courses that form the Atlantic Links trail (www.atlantic-links.co.uk) along the dramatic backdrop of the north Atlantic coastline boast a combined age of almost 700 years with both Burnham & Berrow and St Enodoc founded in 1890, Saunton East in 1897 with the younger members, Trevose and Saunton East, having been established in 1925 and 1937 respectively.

Royal North Devon, or Westward Ho! as it is fondly known, is not only the senior citizen of the Atlantic Links, but is also England’s oldest golf course. Indeed this unique links course, set on common land on which livestock still graze today, has hardly changed in 150 years and to play it is like taking a step back in time and seeing how golf was played in Victorian England.

The club is steeped in history: it was on this course that JH Taylor, born in the village of Northam that overlooks the course, started his career as a caddie. He went on to win five Open Championships and formed one third of the great triumvirate, with Harry Vardon and James Braid, who dominated the game for some 30 years. The club honoured Taylor with club presidency in 1957 and his portrait and some of the clubs which he used to win his Open titles are still proudly displayed in the clubhouse. In fact thanks the club’s heritage, the clubhouse is a veritable treasure trove of golf memorabilia, second only to that owned by The R&A.

Royal North Devon will be marking its 150^th anniversary with a number of competitions during the year including the hosting of the West of England Amateur Championships (staged in April), the inaugural World Hickory Masters in August and the English County Finals in late September. A series of events and a gala evening will also take place in Anniversary Week from July 19^th to 26^th.

“Celebrating our 150^th anniversary makes 2014 an important year for Royal North Devon as a club but we are also hoping that the occasion will highlight just how established and historical the golf courses in the Atlantic Links are in terms of golf in England,” comments Mark Evans, General Manager of Royal North Devon.

“We have almost 700 years of links pedigree as a group and in terms of the quality and tradition of our courses, there really is no better links trail that offers better value than we do.”

Golfers can book to play Royal North Devon in its anniversary year alongside the other Atlantic Links courses where a variety of golf packages are available or can be tailored to suit individual needs. Click on Golf Breaks.

England’s Atlantic Links Offers Sizzling Summer Golf Packages

Helen Heady — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:44:26 +0000

England’s Atlantic Links, the six leading links courses in south west England, is offering some sizzling summer golf packages for 2014.

The north Devon links of Saunton, east and west courses, and Royal North Devon or the Cornish combination of Trevose and St Enodoc a little further down the coast, plus a visit to Burnham & Berrow in Somerset on the way down, make for the perfect two-night, three-round trip from only £318.

For those with more time on their hands, a leisurely tour along the north Atlantic Links to play all six courses, staying seven nights, costs from £772.

A wide variety of alternative packages can be found at www.atlantic-links.co.uk provided by Countrywide Golf Holidays, who are also able to tailor-make itineraries according to individuals’ budgetary requirements and accommodation preferences.

When comparing the south west breaks available with a number of golf clusters in Scotland, Wales and northern England that feature a similar standard of links golf courses, England’s Atlantic Links stands out as offering tremendous value.

“In our eyes, a golf trip to the Atlantic Links delivers premier links golf at ‘half the price, but twice the experience’,” comments Nick Gammon, manager at Trevose Golf & Country Club.

“In addition to great golf, the south west provides charming, yet reasonable hotel and self-catering accommodation alongside a wide range of restaurants and local pubs that offer fresh, local cuisine in addition to the region’s well-known seafood, cream teas and cheddar! If you are bringing your family, there are many off-course activities to entertain the kids such as surfing, fishing, walking, cycling and horse riding as well as local attractions that include Tintagel Castle, The Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Tate St Ives and the nearby Barbara Hepworth Museum.”

In terms of accessibility, the M4 &M5 motorways and A39 “Atlantic Highway”, and international airports at London, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter and Newquay, ensure the south west is easy to get to for all visitors.

For Atlantic Links packages, click on Golf Breaks

Atlantic Links’ St Enodoc Included in Golf Digest’s Inaugural ‘World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’

Helen Heady — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 15:54:40 +0000

One of the Atlantic Links courses, the Church Course at St Enodoc, has been included in Golf Digest’s inaugural ranking of the ‘World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’.

The inclusion of St Enodoc represents a major feather in the cap for one of England’s oldest golf links as Golf Digest, a top international golf magazine that has been ranking golf courses for almost half a century, is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative voices in golf with regard to course rankings.

The north Cornish links is in exalted company. The all-American trio of Pine Valley, Cypress Point and Augusta National top the rankings whilst Northern Ireland’s Royal County Down has secured fourth spot.

St Enodoc, one of just 11 courses in England that feature in the listing, has been awarded 99^th position and is described by Golf Digest as ‘A rollicking James Braid design on the southwest toe of England, lengthened in the past decade but still short and odd enough to be a cult favourite’.

Founded in 1890, St Enodoc is a championship links that is both beguiling and challenging. Famed for its characteristic fairway undulations and firm greens, this stunning links is set against the backdrop of some of the greatest sea and estuary views of any course in the world. From every hole, the views of either the north Atlantic Ocean or the Camel Estuary are breathtaking.

Further testament to the quality of the course, the Church Course has hosted numerous amateur golf events, including the English Ladies Amateur Championship in 1993 and 2002 and the English Counties Championship in 1989 and 2005. And this year St Enodoc has been bestowed the honour of hosting the 2014 English Women’s Amateur Championship from July 14 to 17.

All Six Atlantic Links Courses Named in National Club Golfer Magazine’s Top 100 Courses Under £100

Helen Heady — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 11:31:05 +0000

November 2013: The six courses that comprise England’s Atlantic Links have been named in National Club Golfer’s ranking of ‘Britain’s Top 100 Courses under £100’ that appears in its December issue.

Saunton’s championship East Course in Devon is placed in fourth position, and is closely followed by Cornwall’s St Enodoc in sixth slot. Somerset’s Burnham & Berrow, which acts as a gateway to the Atlantic Links trail that is set against the dramatic backdrop of the north Atlantic coast, is named at number 20.

Saunton West, ranked 37, Trevose in north Cornwall at 53 and Royal North Devon at 55 means that all the Atlantic Links courses come in the top 60 of the ranking.

Established in 2008, England’s Atlantic Links is now recognized as one of the leading golfing destinations in the UK. The offering is becoming less of the string of hidden gems that it once was and is now being seen as a credible alternative to the famous links of Scotland and Ireland.

Indeed all six courses appear are frequently called upon to host top amateur championships, further testament to the quality of these courses.

The Atlantic Links’ combined appeal of history, tradition and variety is complemented by an array of off-course attractions such as pretty coastal towns like Clovelly and Ilfracombe in Devon whilst historic towns like Weston-super-Mare and the spa town of Bath, near Burnham & Berrow, are ideal destinations to round off a golfing adventure. The region’s rich culture features the inimitable Barbara Hepworth Museum and Tate St Ives, displaying the very best in modern and local art, and its gastronomic delights like Rick Stein’s seafood restaurants are not to be missed either.

In terms of travel, the nearby M5 motorway and A39 “Atlantic Highway”, and international airports at London, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter and Newquay, ensure easy accessibility for all visitors.

England’s Atlantic Links Establishes Itself as Premier UK Golfing Destination

Sam — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:04:43 +0000

In just five years England’s Atlantic Links, a collection of six championship links courses in South West England, has established itself as a premier golfing destination in the United Kingdom.

The reputation of this relatively-unknown cluster of golfing gems has been further enhanced through the continued inclusion of the Atlantic Links courses in recognized course ratings compiled by top golf publications and through the hosting of a number of top amateur championships over the last few years.

The inclusion of all six Atlantic Links courses in the UK’s Golf World magazine’s 2012 rankings for the ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in England’ has reinforced the links collective as one of the highest quality golfing destinations in the country.

The championship links of Saunton East in Devon and St Enodoc’s Church Course in Cornwall were both ranked in the top 20, in 8th and 16th position respectively, whilst Burnham & Berrow in Somerset came in at number 33. The three other courses that complete the offering all made the top 70 with Cornwall’s Trevose in 53rd spot, Royal North Devon at 62 and Saunton West in 68th slot.

All six courses also featured in last year’s Golf Monthly’s ‘Top 100 Courses UK and Ireland 2012’. Burnham & Berrow ranked the most highly at number 37 and was closely followed by Saunton’s East Course at 39 and St Enodoc up four places to 41st position. The other three Atlantic Links courses also came well inside the top 100 with Saunton West in at number 57, Trevose in 70th spot and Royal North Devon placed in 75th position.

Burnham and Berrow

Over the years, these courses have been honoured with the hosting of many top amateur championships, further testament to the quality of the links. For example, in 2008 Trevose staged The Brabazon Trophy (English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship) whilst in 2011 it was the turn of Burnham & Berrow to host The Brabazon Trophy – for the fifth time – and the R&A Boys Championship and in doing so entered golfing history by becoming the first course to hold both championships in the same year. Next year Saunton’s East and West courses will play host to the English Amateur Championship, the blue riband men’s event on England Golf’s 2014 calendar.

“By packaging the five premier links clubs in South West England into England’s Atlantic Links, we have created a genuine alternative golf links tour to the high profile destinations of Scotland and Ireland,” comments Mark Evans, General Manager of Royal North Devon Golf Club.

“In the five years or so since we established the offering, we have attracted a great many visitors from Europe and the US who have been both surprised and delighted to discover this relatively-unknown group of glorious links courses that had been overshadowed by the Scottish and Irish links for far too long.

“Meanwhile each course in its own individual right continues to receive plaudits from the world of golf and to be awarded the honour of hosting top amateur championships which have further enhanced the growing reputation of the Atlantic Links as one of the UK’s most prestigious golfing destinations.”

South West England

In addition, England’s Atlantic Links’ courses boast the combined appeal of history, tradition and variety which is complemented by numerous off-course attractions along the Atlantic coastline.

England’s South West is bursting with attractions including pretty coastal towns like Clovelly and Ilfracombe in Devon whilst bustling market towns such as Wadebridge and Barnstaple and charming fishing villages like Port Isaac, Rock and Padstow can be found along the north Cornish coast. Further up the coast, historic towns like Weston-super-Mare and the spa town of Bath, near Burnham & Berrow, are ideal destinations to round off a golfing adventure.

The region’s rich culture features the inimitable Barbara Hepworth Museum and Tate St Ives, displaying the very best in modern and local art, the renown Eden Project and fascinating Lost Gardens of Heligan whilst outdoor activities such as surfing around Newquay and walking and horse riding in Exmoor National Park are as good as anywhere in the British Isles.

The gastronomic delights of the South West are not to be missed either, from the exceptional Padstow seafood restaurants of famous local chef Rick Stein and a variety of other Michelin-starred restaurants, to real English ale and authentic pub grub in an abundance of traditional country pubs.

The temperate micro climate allows year-round golf with the gentler winter conditions enabling the greenkeepers to maintain their courses in immaculate condition throughout the changing seasons.

Meanwhile the overall standard of accommodation in the South West has risen dramatically in recent years and there are now a host of comfortable, character hotels like Woodlands Country House Hotel, seaside hotels such as Saunton Sands, modern, boutique hotels like the St Moritz Hotel & Spa in Trebetherick, as well as delightful, friendly bed-and-breakfasts set in beautiful countryside. Trevose also boasts on-site accommodation and last year added seven eco-friendly Fairway Lodges located just by the 18th green.

In terms of travel, the nearby M5 motorway and A39 “Atlantic Highway”, and international airports at Bristol, Exeter and Newquay, ensure easy accessibility for all visitors.