Search is on to find new venue for Marstons Cornish Festival

06/02/2021

PGA West manager Robert Moss is searching for a third venue to stage the Marstons Cornish Festival following St Enodoc Golf Club’s decision to withdraw from hosting one of the region’s most popular events.

The annual festival is contested over three days by more than 100 teams comprising a PGA Professional and three amateurs and staged at a trio of Cornish golf clubs.

Trevose, the Point at Polzeath (above) and St Enodoc were due to host this year’s festival in April but the latter has pulled out as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic and the detrimental effect lockdowns have had on its members.

The decision leaves Moss looking for an alternative venue to join Trevose and the Point at Polzeath in hosting the Marstons Brewery-sponsored festival that was won by former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker when it was last held.

He said: “I’ve begun trying to find a new venue and have spoken to one already. I am expecting a reply early next week and if the answer is ‘no’ then the search will continue.

“The Marstons Cornish Festival is a popular and keenly contested event that attracts top class professionals and amateurs from all over the country. I’m confident we will find a club willing to step in.”

St Enodoc, which is located in Rock and overlooks the Camel estuary, has also decided not to stage the Cornwall Golf Union (CGU) County Week over seven days in May, and the Atlantic Pairs competition in March.

A club statement explained: “The Management Committee (has) decided that closing the Church Course to Members for CGU County Week for seven days when the pandemic has already closed the courses for long periods was not in the Members’ best interests.

“As a consequence, the 2021 CGU County Week will not now be held at St Enodoc and the course closure dates noted in the diary are cancelled.

“The Committee, in making this decision have also taken into account the uncertainty surrounding this disease and the Covid regulations that are likely to still be in place at this time. We must ensure that our Members and Staff can enjoy as safe an environment as possible, understanding the probable requirement to continue with bio-security measures for some time yet.

“The Management Committee also decided on the cancellation of the Atlantic Pairs Competition March 11/12, Cornish Festival on April 20/21/22 and the Mixed Open on 25th April.”