Tavistock - Devon - England

Didn't choose the best of days to play Tavistock (June 2022); started in the rain, lightning interruption and although the sun came out the 30-40mph wind made the course play really tough. Hole Nr2 into the wind was one of the toughest I have played and likewise rising from the 6th to the 11th to the top of the hill was a real slog.

A very open natural moorland course, and as a result of it's exposed nature greens would I guess never be kept very quick. Course condition really was very good, with the green surrounds being protected by low ropes and as a result bunkers well kept. Bit of a long walk around some of the ropes and some more directional signs to the next tee would have been helpful.

Thought the course started brightly with hole nr 3 an excellent par 4 and the double green at nr 6 quite a feature. After that it seemed to be an incessant rise up to the 11th green (the furthest point from the clubhouse), you then drop down for a few holes. Thee last four holes seemed a bit mundane, and I think the best of the course is actually holes 1-6.

While walking to the third tee at Tavistock early one sunny April morning, I was lucky enough to snap a photo of a pony basking in a gorse-sheltered hollow with her newborn foal just behind the tee. Golf has delivered many magical moments down the years, but never before have I witnessed anything quite so moving.

She didn’t bat an eyelid as I drove off the third… the mare was clearly less impressed with my drive than I was with the encounter.

Tavistock is not a course that commands much attention, which is a shame as it’s a decent example of a fast-running, lie-of-the-land, moorland course that provides golfing interest with gentle orienteering.

In truth you don’t need a compass as the routing is intuitive, but there are a few ups and downs to negotiate which present awkward stances along with scattered stones that can also cause problems. There’s not a lot of topsoil on the fairways, so the firm turf generates more than enough roll shortening many of the holes. If the wind is down a good score is there for the taking.

An exception is the 205-yard uphill par three 14th, which shares a double green with the par four 6th. I found myself short-sided to the left of the green on this tough one shotter and left myself with an impossible up and down.

Overall I enjoyed Tavistock and firmly believe it’s worth a look if you’re in the vicinity.