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Bovey Castle, a five-star Devon hotel, has completed a £40,000 investment in its Championship golf course.
The hotel has unveiled a new all-weather heated four bay driving range to add to their 280-yard grass tee driving range which is situated next to the hotel’s 18-hole golf course.
It comes as the hotel continues to grow its golf memberships, which have increased from 140 to more than 270 since Teignmouth local Rob Selley became the hotel’s PGA golf manager last year alongside hosting major PGA events, including the South West PGA Open Series.
Selley, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the golf industry, said the investment marks the latest stage in the hotel’s efforts to make golf accessible to all ages and abilities.
He said: “Historically, golf has been a seasonal activity at Bovey, but now golfers of all abilities can practise all year round in beautiful surroundings. Now we have a high-quality sheltered practice area to complement one of the best parkland championship golf courses in the country, we are starting to explore different ways that we can nurture the next wave of golfers – such as tuition breaks, programmes for juniors and ‘get into golf’ sessions for new golfers after seeing a rise in interest in this area.
“Since the pandemic we’ve found that golf has risen in popularity – especially at Bovey – where people can get outdoors for a digital detox and exercise in picturesque surroundings, so the new sheltered driving ranges are a timely arrival.”
The hotel’s golf course was designed in 1926 by J F Abercromby, one of the finest British golf course designers of the last century, and it meanders through the hotel estate and is surrounded by landscape.
The all-weather driving ranges form part of a wider programme of investment in Bovey Castle’s golf facilities, with further works on the hotel’s golf shop and members’ area set to take place next year.
Dean Gunston, general manager at Bovey Castle, added: “We have now created an authentic club experience where golfers can indulge in the hotel’s facilities before or after stepping on to the golf course and driving range – whether that is dining in our 1 AA rosette Smith’s Brasserie or our 3 AA rosette Great Western Grill restaurant.
“This approach has played an important role in growing our golf offering, and backed up by ongoing investment in our golf facilities, we are teeing ourselves up for further success.”
