North Devon Links Festival open to all

Royal North Devon Golf Club

West secretary Robert Moss believes the North Devon Links Festival is the perfect end-of-season event to attract professionals and their amateur partners not only from the West but also other regions.

He highlighted the continuing success of the season-opening Cornish Riviera Festival as an event that is well supported by teams from all other English regions.

Visiting golfers have dominated in Cornwall for the past six years. Ryder Cup stars Peter Baker and Paul Broadhurst won twice and other winners include Matt Cort (Beedles Lake), Chris Gane (Left handed golf at Silvermere), Simon Lilly (Wellingborough). The last West champion was Chris Gill (Newquay) during his days at Exeter in 2011.

That prompted the new regional secretary to explore the possibility of repeating this success in the autumn. The inaugural North Devon Links Festival will be staged at Royal North Devon and the East and West courses at Saunton on October 9-11.

He said: “The Cornish Festival which opens the season is always a huge success. We hope to emulate that spirit and friendship over the three outstanding championship links courses in Devon and make this an annual event.”

He also points out that coming to Devon in October offers the possibility of the best weather in the country thanks to the temperate micro-climate of the South West. The courses remain open all year round.

Both clubs have hosted major events and the PGA Play-Offs were held at Saunton last year.  They are also both included in Golf World 's "Top 100 Courses in the World" that a golfer “must play”.

Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! can rightly claim to be the cradle of English Golf. Founded in 1864, the oldest golf course in the country has a place of huge historical importance. The golf museum, honours boards and the club’s top competition trophies are worth the visit alone and help to tell the story of a remarkable club’s unique place in the development of the game.

Royal North Devon is pure, raw, unique and far removed from the manicured and manufactured championship courses that prevail today.

The closing date for final entries is nearing. Full details are available from the regional headquarters - The PGA in England & Wales (South West) Office, The Lodge House, Woodbury Park Golf Club, Woodbury, Exeter EX5 1JJ or email: pgainenglandandwalessouthwest@pga.org.uk