Top times at classy Cornwall venue

No wonder members at the £20m Saltash-based St Mellion International Resort are raring to go this season – they now have their own exclusive tee times, a huge new fleet of golf buggies to ride on, more competition tee times, and not one but two European Tour courses to play this season.

The St Mellion International Resort (www.st-mellion.co.uk), which hit the headlines recently by securing the rights to The English Open golf tournament from 2011 onwards, will celebrate the relaunch of its second golf course, The Kernow, with a special event in June 2010.

Alongside the recent £2.45m investment in refurbishing its golf courses, the popular Cornwall golf and leisure resort has announced an improved package of benefits for golfers who become Members there.

Among these are new Member-only tee times at weekends, new tee times for club competitions, and an exciting new “grandstand finish” to The Kernow Course.

Over the winter the resort also boosted its fleet of golf buggies to sixty. Members can use these free of charge as they play through the famously undulating valleys which saw St Mellion’s Nicklaus Signature Course recently named as one of GB & Ireland’s Top 100 Golf Courses.

“We really have pushed the boat out this year for our Members,” said Resort Director Stephen Towers. “They enjoy an amazing range of benefits already, but in 2010 we have added more depth than ever before to what was already one of the UK’s best membership deals.

“Throughout winter many of our Members have had complimentary golf lessons from our pros, and have worked out in our luxury leisure facilities to get fit for the coming golf season – so we hope that they will be especially sharp when representing the club in local league matches.

“But the final piece of the jigsaw will be the grand reopening of our Members golf course, The Kernow Course, in June of this year. This course has been completely refurbished, with nine brand new holes.

“With only the 17th hole to complete and with the 18th now finishing right by our spectacular new hotel and clubhouse, every Member at St Mellion International has a right to feel especially privileged this year!”

In a move which is a sign of current times, St Mellion International also allows golfers to temporarily suspend their membership if they are made redundant. Memberships can also be transferred to a friend if a golfer’s personal circumstances change.

“This is the best ever year to join St Mellion International,” said Regan Bailey, Membership & Operations Manager at the resort.

“These days people are looking for an extraordinary deal and as well as all of the other benefits, St Mellion members also have reciprocal playing rights at 50 other Crown Golf courses throughout the UK, preferential rates at dozens of golf courses in France and Spain, and discounts on tickets to see European Tour golf events.”