13 - Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Bovey Castle

Stay and Play Bovey Castle. Golf Monthly takes a look at the Top 50 places to Stay and Play in the UK and Ireland

Bovey Castle

13 - Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Bovey Castle

A fine country house on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, Bovey Castle was built by the son and heir of the stationer W.H. Smith. The resort's Old Course is a superb, traditional parkland course designed by eminent English architect J.F. Abercromby and opened for play in 1926. In 2004 alterations and refurbishments overseen by Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie were completed. The hotel is decorated in a traditional and individual style with great attention to detail, along with a wonderful choice of dining options, from afternoon tea on the South Terrace to a private dinner in the secluded Summerhouse. There's a superb spa, while off-course activities include falconry and fishing - or for something a little different the hotel even offers classes in cider and sloe gin making.

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Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x