Bovey Castle

Bovey Castle is one of the best resort courses in the south of England, with the layout winding its way around the castle itself. 

JF Abercromby designed the original 18-hole layout, with Donald Steel coming in several decades later to make changes to the course. 

There are plenty of different challenges to the course at Bovey Castle, with long par 3s, short par 4s and water hazards galore to avoid. Add in the tree-lined fairways and lots of sand, and you’ve got a cracking resort course.  

Check out our full piece on the Bovey Castle Resort here.

Visit the Bovey Castle website here.

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The history of Bovey Castle dates back to the late 19th Century, when William Henry Smith purchased 5,000 acres of land, his son Frederick going on to build a manor house for the family. 

After becoming a military hospital through the First World War, the Manor House then became a hotel in the early 1930s, around the same time that the golf course was designed. JF Abercromby was the man behind the design of the layout. 

Donald Steel took to the course just after the turn of the millennium, making it into the layout it is today. The venue became known as Bovey Castle in 2004.  

There is a need for precision from the tee at Bovey, with water hazards, shallow bunkers, and plenty of trees to find yourself in or behind. It is not the longest course, which is why those hazards are all the more intimidating. Despite being less than 6,300 yards from the back tees, this Par 70 championship course still puts up a stern test. The mixture of Abercromby’s original design and Steel’s changes have made it a fascinating track. 

The start is really tough, especially once you have been tricked by the opening hole. It’s barely long enough to be a par 4 and it’s played severely downhill. However, with the River Bovey in front of the green, you’re happy to hit a couple of wedges and be able to use the same ball on the 2nd. Unfortunately, this par 4 also goes over water, and so does the 3rd, an incredibly demanding long par 3 off the white tees, where the green is virtually an island. The 4th is then the longest hole on the course, and one of only two par 5s you will find at Bovey. At more than 570 yards, it is a brute, and its winds its way through the trees to a green that is surrounded by three large bunkers.  

The 5th is a quirky hole, one in which a road crosses over the fairway twice. Once again, as is almost customary over the opening half of the course, there is a water hazard in front of the green. 6 plays back over the same water hazard to a large green with bunkers and trees guarding it. It is a short par 3, but not an easy one to navigate. A pair of par 4s follow, both of which get narrower as they get towards the green, before the front nine ends with yet another par 3. The 9th is around 150 yards, with two bunkers in front of the putting surface, along with two more to the left of the green. 

The back nine begins with the last par 5 at Bovey Castle, and it is the shorter of the two – measuring just over 500 yards. With a wide fairway, and space to the left, it is one where you can free your arms, making it possible to reach in two. 11 also has a wide fairway, and it is one that must be found, with the green sitting on the other side of trouble – yet another water hazard in front of the green. The 12th is the last of the par 3s, played to a pear-shaped green some 200 yards away. Three bunkers in front of the green means the approach must carry to the surface. 

From there, the run for home features six consecutive par 4s. 13 and 14 are both gentle, with the latter only being 280 yards. Those thinking about driving the green may well think twice, due to the big trees in front of the surface. The 14th shares a fairway with the 15th, which turns to the left sharply, away from the 14th tee. The course then gets wider as you come to the final three holes, with both 16 and 17 offering generous fairways to attack. The closing hole at Bovey Castle is the longest of the last six, and also the hardest hole on the property. More than 430 yards, and playing towards a funnel of trees for the last part of it, there is plenty of danger in your final challenge. 

Where is Bovey Castle located?  

Bovey Castle is in the county of Devon, between the villages of Morehamptonsted and North Bovey – in the Dartmoor National Park. The venue is around 20 miles to the southwest of Exeter – the nearest major city to Bovey Castle – while the A382 runs almost alongside the course. The M5, the best route for driving to and from the southwest of England, starts in Exeter. 

Exeter St. Thomas is the nearest train station to Bovey Castle, with St. Thomas being in the city centre of Exeter. Newton Abbot is around the same distance away, with a taxi or bus required to reach the venue from either train station. Exeter is also the home to the nearest airport to Bovey Castle. There are flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin, while TUI Airways provide flights to several European destinations. Bristol Airport – around a two-hour drive from Bovey Castle – is a hub for easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI Airways, servicing several European countries and even some destinations further afield.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  

There are plenty of Devon venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list, with a couple just a short drive from Bovey Castle. Yelverton is on the other side of the Dartmoor National Park, while East Devon is the opposite side of Exeter. Bude & North Cornwall, Royal North Devon and Saunton – with its East and West Courses – are all within a 90-minute drive to the north.

What golf facilities does Bovey Castle offer?  

Bovey Castle has plenty to offer alongside the 18-hole championship golf course. There is also a driving range and a short game area for golfers to practice their skills before taking to the course. The putting green sits next to the 1st tee for that last minute stretch with the flat stick.

What are the green fees at Bovey Castle?  

The price of a green fee at Bovey Castle changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

For more information on current green fees at Bovey Castle, visit their website here.