Bovey Castle, the five-star Devonshire hotel and golf club, has completed a five-figure investment in its golf facilities so that members and guests can work on their game in all weathers.
The Dartmoor-based venue has unveiled a new £40,000 all-weather, four-bay, heated driving range to add to the existing 280-yard grass tee driving range which is situated next to the hotel’s 18-hole championship course.
It comes as the hotel continues to grow its golf memberships, which have increased from 140 to more than 270 since Teignmouth local Rob Selley became the hotel’s PGA Golf Manager last year.
Selley, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the golf industry, said the investment marks the latest stage in the hotel’s efforts to make golf accessible to all ages and abilities.
He said: “Now we have a high-quality sheltered practice area to complement one of the best parkland championship golf courses in the country, we are starting to explore different ways that we can nurture the next wave of golfers – such as tuition breaks, programmes for juniors and ‘get into golf’ sessions for new golfers after seeing a rise in interest in this area.
“Since the pandemic we’ve found that golf has risen in popularity – especially at Bovey – where people can get outdoors for a digital detox and exercise in picturesque surroundings, so the new sheltered driving ranges are a timely arrival.”
The all-weather driving range forms part of a wider programme of investment in Bovey Castle’s golf facilities, with further works on the venue’s golf shop and members’ area set to take place next year.
Dean Gunston, General Manager at Bovey Castle, added: “We have now created an authentic club experience where golfers can indulge in the hotel’s facilities before or after stepping on to the golf course and driving range – whether that is dining in our 1 AA rosette Smith’s Brasserie or our 3 AA rosette Great Western Grill restaurant. This approach has played an important role in growing our golf offering, and backed up by ongoing investment in our golf facilities, we are teeing ourselves up for further success.”
Set within 275 acres in Dartmoor National Park, Bovey Castle is a 5 Red Star hotel owned by luxury hotel group The Eden Hotel Collection, offering 60 bedrooms and 22 self-catering country lodges.