Surf and turf feature on tasty tournament menu

18/01/2023

A cocktail of the new and familiar with the Order of Merit and Cornish Festival sponsored by Carlsberg Marstons adds up to a heady brew in respect of the PGA South West region’s tournament schedule for 2023.

As well as being familiar, the season’s curtain-raiser, the Carlsberg Marstons Cornish Festival, is one of the most popular events, not only in the region but way beyond Cornwall’s boundaries.

So much so that, contested by teams featuring the likes of two-time winner and 1993 Ryder Cup player Peter Baker and Southampton Football Club legend Matt le Tissier, it is invariably over-subscribed.

This year, however, regular participants face a new challenge in the form of Newquay Golf Club (pictured).

Overlooking the world-famous surfing hotspot, Fistral Beach, competitors will be keen to avoid a wipe-out of the golfing variety on the Harry Colt-designed course. As they will at the other two venues, Trevose and the Point at Polzeath.

Moving seamlessly from surf to turf, Cleeve Hill Golf Club (pictured) in Gloucestershire is another venue that overlooks a famous sporting arena, namely Cheltenham Racecourse.

Perched high in the Cotswold Hills, the course was threatened with closure in 2021 after Tewkesbury Borough Council decided to end its licence for financial reasons.

Happily, businessmen Nick Hovey and Sam Foyle rode to the rescue and two years on the region’s golfing thoroughbreds will contest the PGA Cleeve Hill Masters, one of five Order of Merit tournaments on the schedule.

It will be preceded earlier in May at Mendip Spring, Somerset, by the Open Series (West) South West Open and the quintet, which carries a combined prize fund of more than £80,000, is completed by two events in August and one in September.

The PGA West Region Championship at Woodbury Park, Exeter, and the PGA South Wales Open at St Mellons Golf Club, Cardiff, take place in August, while the PGA Wiltshire Open at Kingsdown Golf Club, Corsham, follows in September.

The packed programme also includes more than 20 pro-ams, the PGA South West Region Fourball Better Ball Championship at Worlebury, Weston-Super-Mare, in September, and the increasingly popular North Devon Links Festival which concludes the season in the first week of October.

Commenting on the schedule Robert Moss, the regional manager, said: “We’ve put together a programme of events designed to appeal to our pros of all ages.

“It wouldn’t have been possible, however, without the support of the venues and backing of Carlsberg Marstons as headline sponsors of the Cornish Festival, West Region Championship, and our Order of Merit.

“Their backing is invaluable, and we’re indebted to their loyal sponsorship.”

CLICK HERE for the full programme.