St Mellion (Nicklaus)

St Mellion is one of the leading Cornish resorts when it comes to golf, in part thanks to the stunning Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.

The second layout to be laid down at the venue after the Kernow Course, it was the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course to be designed in Europe.

The layout has played host to the European Tour on several occasions, and today, it plays long and tough, but with plenty of fun involved as well.

Read our full piece on the St Mellion Resort here. 

Visit St Mellion’s website here. 

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.

Golf first came to the St Mellion Resort in the mid-1970s, with J Hamilton-Stutt being the man to design what is now known as the Kernow Course.

It was 1988 when the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course – the first in Europe - opened at St Mellion. The course was opened with a match that saw Nicklaus and Tom Watson take on Sandy Lyle and Sir Nick Faldo.

Just two years after opening, the course played host to the Benson & Hedges International Open on the European Tour. Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer and Seve Ballesteros were among the winners over the six-year stint at St Mellion.

St Mellion's star attraction is undoubtedly the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. It was always noted as one of the year’s toughest tests for even elite players and that remains the case today. Water hazards, large bunkers and thick rough punish waywardness – not least on the stellar closing hole or on St Mellion’s ‘Amen Corner’ from the 10th to the 12th. From the tips, the Nicklaus Course can push back to more than 7,000 yards, but that can be brought down to 6,600 off the Whites and 6,300 yards off the Yellows to make it fun for all handicappers.

“To this day, I don’t think there is another course like it in the UK. I am pleased St. Mellion continues to offer a first-class golf experience for its members and guests.” - Jack Nicklaus

The opening hole on the Nicklaus Course at St Mellion is a tough, long par 4. Playing as a dog-leg right, the aiming point is to the left side of the fairway to give yourself the best view of the green. The first of the par 5s comes at the 2nd. At 540 yards off the Whites, and another dog-leg right, this is a three-shotter for all bar the longest of hitters – especially considering the green is tightly guarded by three large bunkers. The tee shot on 3 is played over thick gorse to a narrow fairway, with accuracy at a premium. It is only 340 yards, so distance is not necessarily the bell and end all off the 3rd tee. Get it in play and you will have a shot at the green.

The first of the short holes on the Nicklaus comes at the 4th. It is 165 yards and played to a long green. Four bunkers are on the right side, with a bank on the left that (if you’re lucky) might knock your ball down towards the flag. The first sign of water comes at 5. It is only 330 yards, but the tee shot requires a long carry over a lake to find the fairway. From there, you will have a view of the long and narrow putting surface on this dog-leg left. The 6th is a long and straight par 4 that is very narrow throughout. A par is a good score here, especially considering the thick trees down the right and the bank and mounds on the left. Off the Whites, the 7th is definitely reachable in two for most. A 470-yard par 5 playing between the trees, the approach might require a slight draw for right-handers, as it sits behind the row of trees on its left side.

The 8th is the shortest hole on the course. It is only 125 yards to the middle, but the long green might make that anywhere between 115 and 140. Three traps right, one left and trees at the back, there is still plenty of danger despite the lack of length. The 9th is a dog-leg right, but trees aren’t your problem here. The large bunker on the inside corner of the turn must be avoided, while there is another trap to the right of the putting surface.

The Nicklaus Course has its own ‘Amen Corner’ through holes 10, 11 and 12 and there are plenty of similarities to the original. 10 is a long par 4 that winds round to the left. There is no water to the left of the green like there is at Augusta, but the danger is there in the form of trees and bushes. The par 3 11th hole is the signature offering on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. Measuring in at 200 yards from the back tees, golfers will have to hit their tee shots over water to a green that faces diagonally from the tee. Club selection is crucial, with a longer carry to the left side of the green. The 12th is a long and narrow par 5. Unlike Augusta, it does not bend round to the left, but there is a stream that runs in front of the green which will make it a three-shotter for most.

The 13th is a birdie chance at just 350 yards. It is arrow straight and has a wide fairway, despite the long, raking bunker down the left side. Three more traps guard the green, before you get to another brilliant par 3. The last of the short holes is the 14th, and at 170 yards off the Whites, playing over water and sand, it is a tricky prospect. The 15th is the Stroke Index 1 on the Nicklaus Course at St Mellion, playing as a strong dog-leg right. The tee shot has to be down the left side to give yourself the best view of the green, but there is an undulating fairway so it is very rare that you will get a flat lie on the 15th. 16 is a great par 5 that slowly winds round to the left. A total of nine bunkers, including three down the right of the landing zone, are in play. Those laying up should do so in front of the trap that is in the centre of the fairway, giving you an 80–100-yard wedge shot on to the green.

The Nicklaus finishes with two strong par 4s. The penultimate hole has no sand on it whatsoever, but there is a large tree at the start of the fairway that has to be avoided. The fairway slopes from left to right to bring your ball down to the right side. The green is diagonally angled away from the fairway, with a longer carry to the right side than the left. The 18th is a great finishing hole, and a brute as well! 470 yards from the tips, it is the longest par 4 on the property. It is a dog-leg right with a water hazard front left of the green on your approach. The hotel and clubhouse are also right there, no doubt with people watching on as you try not to make any mistakes!

Where is St Mellion located?

St Mellion is one of the southwestern most golfing venues in England. It is situated in the county of Cornwall, near the villages of St Mellion and Polborder. Saltash is seven miles away from the venue, with the city of Plymouth just over ten miles away. St Mellion sits within 15 miles of the south coast of the country. The resort sits off the A338, which runs between Bideford in Devon, down to Saltash.

The town of Saltash is also the home of the nearest railway station to St Mellion. Services that run between Plymouth and Penzance stop at Saltash, with services visiting on a regular basis. For international visitors, Exeter Airport is an hour to the east. Bristol Airport, which is two hours away to the northeast, has a wider range of flights and destinations, while London Heathrow Airport – the busiest international airport in the United Kingdom – is a four-hour drive east.

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

Thanks to its location in the southwest of England, there are a number of venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list that are within a 90-minute drive. Yelverton is the closest, just 20 miles away, while the likes of Bude & North Cornwall, St Enodoc, Trevose, Perranporth and Royal North Devon are within 50 miles of St Mellion.

What golf facilities does St Mellion offer?

There is a lot more to offer at St Mellion than just two championship golf courses. There is a grass driving range for practice, with the range also having 16 matted bays and six undercover bays for when the weather turns. There is also a designated short game area with an undulating green, plenty of space to chip from and two practice bunkers, one on either side of the green. St Mellion’s short game facilities also include putting greens alongside the first tee of both the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course and the Kernow Resort Course.

What are the green fees at St Mellion?

The price of a green fee at St Mellion 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 St Mellion, visit their website here.