When I started on this tour of the courses we’ve played I did wonder if they all were going to be as we left them. Would any have been sold off for housing, that sort of thing? Well that’s not the case at Roserrow but it has had a serious re-brand.
The course we played on the Sunday of the 2003 tour is now part of The Point at Polzeath resort which calls itself "a central ‘point’ for food, fitness, sport and family activities in North Cornwall".
As for the golf course, this is described as "The links style golf course provides a wonderful landscape and environment for everything that happens at The Point at Polzeath, with some of the best views in North Cornwall from many of the holes."
I have little recollection of playing the course, the only picture I have in my head is of quite a flat course with plenty of scrubby rough. And it was cold and grey that day. Am I making it up or do you agree?
Scoring was clearly difficult that day as the best rounds were:
30 points - Matthew (off 21)
29 points - Kevin (off 14)
27 points - Brian (off 22)
26 points - Simon (of 14)
Comments have come 'pouring' in about this course.
Kevin said: "The fairways were like rough" while Ben W added: "Probably the worst course we've played".
Add your comments about the course below or email Paul.
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Lanhydrock – “one of the finest golf courses in Cornwall and the South West”
Lanhydrock was the Saturday morning course in 2003 but the round was hit by the worst weather to strike the tour. It was decided to have one round on the Saturday this year so we could get back to the Inn on the Green to watch the (dreary) FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Southampton.
My memory’s not the best but what I do remember is this being a very pretty course, a lot of flowers about. The hole that sticks in my mind is a par three, the sixth I think. Everyone loves an elevated tee, bit of water in front, two-tiered green - lovely! I also remember Mark taking a ridiculously short club for the hole.
I don’t remember too many more holes because a) I couldn’t see out of my rain-spattered glasses and b) I walked off after nine holes completely saturated. I wasn’t the only one, Brian, Matthew and Stuart joined me in the clubhouse before they completed 18.
The weather did improve late on for the hardy souls who stayed out meaning that the best Lanhydrock scores on the Tour are:
32 points - Ben W (off 10)
28 points - Simon (off 14)
26 points - Kevin (off 14)
26 points - Mark (off 12)
Your memories of Lanhydrock are welcome in the comments box below or by email to Paul
My memory’s not the best but what I do remember is this being a very pretty course, a lot of flowers about. The hole that sticks in my mind is a par three, the sixth I think. Everyone loves an elevated tee, bit of water in front, two-tiered green - lovely! I also remember Mark taking a ridiculously short club for the hole.
I don’t remember too many more holes because a) I couldn’t see out of my rain-spattered glasses and b) I walked off after nine holes completely saturated. I wasn’t the only one, Brian, Matthew and Stuart joined me in the clubhouse before they completed 18.
The weather did improve late on for the hardy souls who stayed out meaning that the best Lanhydrock scores on the Tour are:
32 points - Ben W (off 10)
28 points - Simon (off 14)
26 points - Kevin (off 14)
26 points - Mark (off 12)
Your memories of Lanhydrock are welcome in the comments box below or by email to Paul
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Downes Crediton - “The Jewel of Devon Golf“
Played in 2003 and 2012 the first trip to Downes Crediton was as a late replacement for another course.
The Tour was geared up to start at Castle Combe on the Friday in 2003 but poor weather forced them to find somewhere closer to where they would be based in Bude.
Downes Crediton "the jewel of Devon Golf", was the answer and has proved a tough course on both visits. The front nine is relatively uneventful. The third and fifth share a green (you don't get that often) and the short sixth doesn't have that a big of a target for your ball to stick on.
The fun starts on the back nine. The tenth has a steep hill to negotiate (up) while the signature hole, the 12th, doglegs left, downhill and then rises to the green. The three par threes are all challenges too.
The 13th has water down the left, the 15th in front and the longest par three, the 18th, has a pond to the left to trap wayward tee shots. No surprise then that no one has yet played to handicap here.
Best rounds:
35 points - Simon (off 16) in 2003
35 points - Ben F (off 19) in 2012
32 points - Kevin (off 8) in 2012
31 points - Mark (off 12) in 2003
31 points - Bruce (off 17) in 2012
Any other recollections of the course? Please add your comments below or email Paul
The Tour was geared up to start at Castle Combe on the Friday in 2003 but poor weather forced them to find somewhere closer to where they would be based in Bude.
Downes Crediton "the jewel of Devon Golf", was the answer and has proved a tough course on both visits. The front nine is relatively uneventful. The third and fifth share a green (you don't get that often) and the short sixth doesn't have that a big of a target for your ball to stick on.
The fun starts on the back nine. The tenth has a steep hill to negotiate (up) while the signature hole, the 12th, doglegs left, downhill and then rises to the green. The three par threes are all challenges too.
The 13th has water down the left, the 15th in front and the longest par three, the 18th, has a pond to the left to trap wayward tee shots. No surprise then that no one has yet played to handicap here.
Best rounds:
35 points - Simon (off 16) in 2003
35 points - Ben F (off 19) in 2012
32 points - Kevin (off 8) in 2012
31 points - Mark (off 12) in 2003
31 points - Bruce (off 17) in 2012
Any other recollections of the course? Please add your comments below or email Paul
Monday, 25 June 2012
Ben F
Kylie Tour Appearances: 9 (2010-2014, 2016-2019)
Best performances:
Winner 2010, 2012, 2017
Third: 2019
Best rounds:
43 points (off 19) at Weston-Super-Mare 2012 (TR)
39 points (off 19) at Worlebury 2010 (TR)
35 points (off 15) at Worcester GCC (2019) (TR)
35 points (off 17) at Tiverton 2017 (TR)
35 points (off 19) at Downes Crediton 2012 (JTR)
34 points (off 16) at Weymouth 2013
34 points (off 18) at Bransford 2011
33 points (off 17) at Minehead & West Somerset 2017
33 points (off 18) at Clevedon 2010
Best three round total:
108 points - 2012 (TR)
Other records
27 points (off 17) at Ilfracombe (Joint)
(TR = Tour Record, JTR= Joint Tour Record)
Best performances:
Winner 2010, 2012, 2017
Third: 2019
Best rounds:
43 points (off 19) at Weston-Super-Mare 2012 (TR)
39 points (off 19) at Worlebury 2010 (TR)
35 points (off 15) at Worcester GCC (2019) (TR)
35 points (off 17) at Tiverton 2017 (TR)
35 points (off 19) at Downes Crediton 2012 (JTR)
34 points (off 16) at Weymouth 2013
34 points (off 18) at Bransford 2011
33 points (off 17) at Minehead & West Somerset 2017
33 points (off 18) at Clevedon 2010
Best three round total:
108 points - 2012 (TR)
Other records
27 points (off 17) at Ilfracombe (Joint)
(TR = Tour Record, JTR= Joint Tour Record)
Okehampton - "One of Devon's friendliest courses"
Okehampton brought the curtain down on the 2002 tour so there are no scores from the round and I didn't play so can't say a lot about it.
The website tells me that it "nestles in the heart of Devon, sheltered by the highest tors of Dartmoor, on the northern edge of Devon's magnificent National Park" and surely that wouldn't lie!
Please use the comments box or email me with your memories of Okehampton. Was it a fair course, a nice day, how did you play? Kylies on Tour would like to know.
The website tells me that it "nestles in the heart of Devon, sheltered by the highest tors of Dartmoor, on the northern edge of Devon's magnificent National Park" and surely that wouldn't lie!
Please use the comments box or email me with your memories of Okehampton. Was it a fair course, a nice day, how did you play? Kylies on Tour would like to know.
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Holsworthy - "Probably the friendliest club in Devon and the South West"
I'm going to need someone who played at Holsworthy to tell me about this course as I didn't take part that year and no scores survive from the two rounds.
Holsworthy has the distinction of being the first 'double-header' course on the Tour. The days of two rounds on a Saturday now a thing of the past.
It does call itself "Probably the friendliest club in Devon and the South West", can one of us back that claim up from the 2002 experience?
Please add your comments or email Paul.
Holsworthy has the distinction of being the first 'double-header' course on the Tour. The days of two rounds on a Saturday now a thing of the past.
It does call itself "Probably the friendliest club in Devon and the South West", can one of us back that claim up from the 2002 experience?
Please add your comments or email Paul.
Bude and North Cornwall - "The pride of Cornwall!"
Bude and North Cornwall was the first course played by the Kylie Tour and is currently the only course to be played three times (in 2002, 2003 and 2012).
The challenging links course (par 71, 5,806 yards) is in the centre of Bude, walking distance from the Inn on The Green and the Camelot Hotel which have been the bases for the tourists.
The 2003 visit was certainly eventful as the tourists had already played Downes Crediton earlier in the day and screeched into the club car park less than ten minutes before their tee times. It was a 5pm start too so the rounds finished in near darkness.
There are a few blind shots on the course so hunting for a wayward ball can put you in range of the group behind. While links courses are known for their wide open spaces there is also some penal rough late on which, even if you find your ball, is hard to extract yourself from.
Tight lies and uneven stances make this course a tough challenge and that is reflected in the best points-scoring rounds* with only Brian managing to beat handicap.
38 points - Brian (off 19) in 2012
36 points - Kevin (off 15) in 2003
35 points - Brian (off 23) in 2003
33 points - Ben W (off 10) in 2003
32 points - Matthew (off 21) in 2003
32 points - James (off 33) in 2012
* no records for the 2002 points-scoring are available
Several of the holes are close to roads and Paul recalls a heart-stopping moment when pushing his tee-shot on the fourth out of bounds into close proximity of an oncoming car. Thankfully the ball did not connect with windscreen!
What are your recollections of this tough course with excellent food in the clubhouse? Please use the comments box below or email Paul.
The challenging links course (par 71, 5,806 yards) is in the centre of Bude, walking distance from the Inn on The Green and the Camelot Hotel which have been the bases for the tourists.
The 2003 visit was certainly eventful as the tourists had already played Downes Crediton earlier in the day and screeched into the club car park less than ten minutes before their tee times. It was a 5pm start too so the rounds finished in near darkness.
There are a few blind shots on the course so hunting for a wayward ball can put you in range of the group behind. While links courses are known for their wide open spaces there is also some penal rough late on which, even if you find your ball, is hard to extract yourself from.
Tight lies and uneven stances make this course a tough challenge and that is reflected in the best points-scoring rounds* with only Brian managing to beat handicap.
38 points - Brian (off 19) in 2012
36 points - Kevin (off 15) in 2003
35 points - Brian (off 23) in 2003
33 points - Ben W (off 10) in 2003
32 points - Matthew (off 21) in 2003
32 points - James (off 33) in 2012
* no records for the 2002 points-scoring are available
Several of the holes are close to roads and Paul recalls a heart-stopping moment when pushing his tee-shot on the fourth out of bounds into close proximity of an oncoming car. Thankfully the ball did not connect with windscreen!
What are your recollections of this tough course with excellent food in the clubhouse? Please use the comments box below or email Paul.
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Course record-holders
While I'm in stats mood, who's got the best score at each of the courses we've played over the Tour's history.
Courses are listed in chronological order of first played.
Bude and North Cornwall - 38 points - Brian (off 19) in 2012
Downes Crediton - 35 points - Simon (off 16) in 2003 & Ben F (off 18) in 2012
Lanhydrock - 32 points - Ben W (off 10) in 2003
Roserrow - 30 points Matthew (off 21) in 2003
Minchinhampton (Cherington) - 45 points - Stuart (off 31) in 2004
Rolls of Monmouth - 40 points - Mark (off 13) in 2004
Monmouth - 38 points - Brian (off 22) in 2004
Crane Valley - 34 points - Kevin (off 13) in 2005
Canford Magna (Parkland) - 42 points - Paul (off 36) in 2005
Canford Magna (Riverside) - 35 points - Simon (off 14) in 2005
Dudsbury - 30 points - Kevin (off 13) in 2005
Burford - 30 points - Kevin (off 9) in 2008
The Derby - 28 points - Kevin (off 9) in 2009
PGA National - 32 points - Simon (off 22) in 2009
Worlebury - 39 points - Ben F (off 19) in 2010
Weston-Super-Mare - 43 points - Ben F (off 19) in 2012
Clevedon - 35 points - Ben W (off 11) in 2010
Minchinhampton (Avening) - 36 points - Ben W (off 9), Kevin (off 8) and Bruce (off 17) in 2011
Bransford - 39 points - Simon (off 21) in 2011
Puckrup Hall - 43 points - James (off 35) in 2011
Came Down - 37 points - Kevin (off 9) in 2013
Weymouth - 37 points - James (off 36) in 2014
The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) - 38 points - Ben W (off 9) and Matthew (off 14) in 2013
The Warren - 37 points - Stuart (off 36)
Bridport - 42 points - James (off 36)
Sidmouth - 32 points - Matthew (off 15)
Tadmarton Heath - 34 points - Kevin (off 9)
Stoneleigh Deer Park - 35 points - Ben W (off 8) and Simon (off 18)
Kenilworth - 38 points - Brian (off 17)
Minehead and West Somerset - 35 points - Matthew (off 11) and Brian (off 15)
Ilfracombe - 27 points - Ben W off 8, Ben F (off 17) and Stuart (off 26)
Tiverton - 35 points - Ben F (off 17)
Hamptworth - 35 points - Ben W (off 8)
Wareham - 38 points - Bruce (off 18)
Rushmore - 32 points - Ben W (off 7) and Matthew (off 11)
Worcester GCC - 35 points - Ben F (off 15)
Handsworth - 37 points - Kevin (off 8)
Cleeve Hill - 34 points - Ben W (off 8)
The scores from Holsworthy and Okehampton (2002), Exeter, Dainton Park and Isle of Wedmore (2006) and Cottrell Park (Mackintosh), Glamorganshire and Cottrell Park (Button) (2007) have not been retained.
Courses are listed in chronological order of first played.
Bude and North Cornwall - 38 points - Brian (off 19) in 2012
Downes Crediton - 35 points - Simon (off 16) in 2003 & Ben F (off 18) in 2012
Lanhydrock - 32 points - Ben W (off 10) in 2003
Roserrow - 30 points Matthew (off 21) in 2003
Minchinhampton (Cherington) - 45 points - Stuart (off 31) in 2004
Rolls of Monmouth - 40 points - Mark (off 13) in 2004
Monmouth - 38 points - Brian (off 22) in 2004
Crane Valley - 34 points - Kevin (off 13) in 2005
Canford Magna (Parkland) - 42 points - Paul (off 36) in 2005
Canford Magna (Riverside) - 35 points - Simon (off 14) in 2005
Dudsbury - 30 points - Kevin (off 13) in 2005
Burford - 30 points - Kevin (off 9) in 2008
The Derby - 28 points - Kevin (off 9) in 2009
PGA National - 32 points - Simon (off 22) in 2009
Worlebury - 39 points - Ben F (off 19) in 2010
Weston-Super-Mare - 43 points - Ben F (off 19) in 2012
Clevedon - 35 points - Ben W (off 11) in 2010
Minchinhampton (Avening) - 36 points - Ben W (off 9), Kevin (off 8) and Bruce (off 17) in 2011
Bransford - 39 points - Simon (off 21) in 2011
Puckrup Hall - 43 points - James (off 35) in 2011
Came Down - 37 points - Kevin (off 9) in 2013
Weymouth - 37 points - James (off 36) in 2014
The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) - 38 points - Ben W (off 9) and Matthew (off 14) in 2013
The Warren - 37 points - Stuart (off 36)
Bridport - 42 points - James (off 36)
Sidmouth - 32 points - Matthew (off 15)
Tadmarton Heath - 34 points - Kevin (off 9)
Stoneleigh Deer Park - 35 points - Ben W (off 8) and Simon (off 18)
Kenilworth - 38 points - Brian (off 17)
Minehead and West Somerset - 35 points - Matthew (off 11) and Brian (off 15)
Ilfracombe - 27 points - Ben W off 8, Ben F (off 17) and Stuart (off 26)
Tiverton - 35 points - Ben F (off 17)
Hamptworth - 35 points - Ben W (off 8)
Wareham - 38 points - Bruce (off 18)
Rushmore - 32 points - Ben W (off 7) and Matthew (off 11)
Worcester GCC - 35 points - Ben F (off 15)
Handsworth - 37 points - Kevin (off 8)
Cleeve Hill - 34 points - Ben W (off 8)
The scores from Holsworthy and Okehampton (2002), Exeter, Dainton Park and Isle of Wedmore (2006) and Cottrell Park (Mackintosh), Glamorganshire and Cottrell Park (Button) (2007) have not been retained.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
The Tour's best points-scoring rounds
Well, the best rounds known about anyway as the scores from 2002, 2006 and 2007 have not been retained.
45 points - Stuart (off 31) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
43 points - James (off 35) at Puckrup Hall 2011
43 points - Ben F (off 19) at Weston-Super-Mare 2012
42 points - Paul (off 36) at Canford Magna (Parkland) 2005
42 points - James (off 36) at Bridport (2015)
40 points - Mark (off 13) at Rolls of Monmouth 2004
39 points - Ben W (off 11) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2008
39 points - Simon (off 15) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
39 points - Ben F (off 19) at Worlebury 2010
39 points - Simon (off 21) at Bransford 2011
38 points - Ben W (off 8) at Canford Magna (Parkland) 2005
38 points - Ben W (off 9) at The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) 2013
38 points - Matthew (off 14) at The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) 2013
38 points - Brian (off 17) at Kenilworth 2016
38 points - Bruce (off 18) at Wareham 2018
38 points - Brian (off 19) at Bude & North Cornwall 2012
38 points - Brian (off 22) at Monmouth 2004
37 points - Kevin (off 8) at Handsworth 2019
37 points - Ben W (off 8) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
37 points - Kevin (off 9) at Came Down 2013
37 points - Kevin (off 16) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
37 points - Brian (off 16) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2008
37 points - Bruce (off 21) at Weston-Super-Mare 2010
37 points - Stuart (off 36) at Puckrup Hall 2011
37 points - James (off 36) at Weymouth 2014
37 points - Stuart (off 36) at The Warren 2015
37 points - James (off 36) at Wareham 2018
36 points - Kevin (off 8) at Worlebury 2010
36 points - Kevin (off 8) at Minchinhampton (Avening) 2011
36 points - Kevin (off 9) at The Warren 2015
36 points - Ben W (off 9) at Minchinhampton (Avening) 2011
36 points - Ben W (off 10) at Came Down 2014
36 points - Kevin (off 10) at The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) 2014
36 points - Mark (off 13) at Monmouth 2004
36 points - Kevin (off 15) at Bude & North Cornwall 2003
36 points - Bruce (off 17) at Minchinhampton (Avening) 2011
36 points - Brian (off 18) at Weston-Super-Mare 2012
36 points - Simon (off 21) at Weymouth 2014
36 points - James (off 30) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
45 points - Stuart (off 31) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
43 points - James (off 35) at Puckrup Hall 2011
43 points - Ben F (off 19) at Weston-Super-Mare 2012
42 points - Paul (off 36) at Canford Magna (Parkland) 2005
42 points - James (off 36) at Bridport (2015)
40 points - Mark (off 13) at Rolls of Monmouth 2004
39 points - Ben W (off 11) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2008
39 points - Simon (off 15) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
39 points - Ben F (off 19) at Worlebury 2010
39 points - Simon (off 21) at Bransford 2011
38 points - Ben W (off 8) at Canford Magna (Parkland) 2005
38 points - Ben W (off 9) at The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) 2013
38 points - Matthew (off 14) at The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) 2013
38 points - Brian (off 17) at Kenilworth 2016
38 points - Bruce (off 18) at Wareham 2018
38 points - Brian (off 19) at Bude & North Cornwall 2012
38 points - Brian (off 22) at Monmouth 2004
37 points - Kevin (off 8) at Handsworth 2019
37 points - Ben W (off 8) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
37 points - Kevin (off 9) at Came Down 2013
37 points - Kevin (off 16) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
37 points - Brian (off 16) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2008
37 points - Bruce (off 21) at Weston-Super-Mare 2010
37 points - Stuart (off 36) at Puckrup Hall 2011
37 points - James (off 36) at Weymouth 2014
37 points - Stuart (off 36) at The Warren 2015
37 points - James (off 36) at Wareham 2018
36 points - Kevin (off 8) at Worlebury 2010
36 points - Kevin (off 8) at Minchinhampton (Avening) 2011
36 points - Kevin (off 9) at The Warren 2015
36 points - Ben W (off 9) at Minchinhampton (Avening) 2011
36 points - Ben W (off 10) at Came Down 2014
36 points - Kevin (off 10) at The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) 2014
36 points - Mark (off 13) at Monmouth 2004
36 points - Kevin (off 15) at Bude & North Cornwall 2003
36 points - Bruce (off 17) at Minchinhampton (Avening) 2011
36 points - Brian (off 18) at Weston-Super-Mare 2012
36 points - Simon (off 21) at Weymouth 2014
36 points - James (off 30) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
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