St Mellion Golf Club, The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course

The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course

The first European course personally designed by the 18 times Major winner, Jack Nicklaus, was officially opened at St Mellion on the Devon Cornwall border in 1988. To celebrate the occasion a USA vs Great Britain match was held and screened live on the BBC, with Nicklaus himself partnering Tom Watson against Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo, with Britain coming out victorious. After the occasion Nicklaus was quoted “I knew it was going to be good, but not this good….it’s everything I hoped for and more…St Mellion is potentially the finest golf course in Europe”. Nicklaus’ belief proved to be well founded as the course went on to become a stalwart of the European Tour, hosting the Benson & Hedges International Open on 6 occasions, The Midas English Seniors Open on 2 occasions and confirmed as the host for the English Open for five years on its return to the tour in 2011. Even for Jack Nicklaus the course is unique, benefitting from the exceptional South West topography. It has its own Amen Corner not dissimilar to Augusta, including the signature hole 11, a daunting but stunning par 3. The course has been a regular fixture on the UK Top 100 and narrowly lost out as the host venue for the 1993 Ryder Cup. It is also regarded as second only to Carnoustie as the most difficult golf course in Great Britain. The Kernow Course Originally designed and set out by J Hamilton Stutt in 1976, it soon became recognised as one of the finest courses in the South West, playing host to the Benson & Hedges International Open in 1979, followed by the Tournament Players Championship and the Weetabix Ladies British Open. With the arrival of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in 1988, the Kernow course was somewhat overshadowed, until in 2008 it was completely redeveloped, incorporating 9 of the original holes, extended and modernised, along with nine exciting new holes. With wider fairways, larger greens and spectacular views the Kernow course is a wonderful complement to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. The new layout includes the 7th, a par three measuring over 200yds, followed by a stunning new 530yd par 5, while the outstanding 179 yd par three over the chasm has been incorporated as the new 14th hole and the 18th hole now brings your round to a close at the club house.