Cornish Festival bookings open

A flurry of applications are expected as the entry list for the 2016 PGA Cornish Festival opens today.

The flagship PGA in England and Wales (South West) annual event is based as usual at the prestigious Trevose Golf and Country Club, near Padstow, and again features the classic championship links course St Enodoc (below). Both courses have staged major national tournaments.

This year, the third venue for the 54-hole three-day festival will be the cliff-top Carlyon Bay Golf Club (above) at St Austell which is being included for the first time.

Competitors will have the advantage of preferential rates at both Trevose, with its wide variety of accommodations, and the upscale four-star Carlyon Bay Hotel which features a luxury spa and private beach access.

Teams of one professional and three amateurs play at each venue over the three days from April 19-21 while the reception and presentations take place at Trevose.

Regional secretary Kevin Hind said: “We have given priority to our South West and Welsh professionals who will be guaranteed entry by booking before February 1. We are also welcoming anyone who has played in previous years or from any PGA professionals who wish to sample one of the most popular pro-ams in the UK.

”As usual we advise early application for in recent seasons we have been sold out well before the event and were required to start a waiting list.”

Many of the 114 teams, not only from the West but also from all over Britain, automatically rebook each year.

Many notable players and personalities are regular visitors, among them Ryder Cup men Paul Broadhurst and Phillip Price, who finished first and second last year, previous winner Peter Baker and Steven Richardson as well as many European Tour players from both the regular and seniors’ tours.

Entry forms will be available from the website at www.pga.info and from the regional office  by calling 01395 232288. This year competitors are required to book their own accommodation direct with hotels of their choice.

Preferential rates for competitors are being offered at Trevose (01841 5202080) and Carlyon Bay Hotel (01726 812304).