St Enedoc (Church)

www.st-enedoc.co.uk

SSS White tees 71
           Red tees 75

The Church course at St Enedoc is ranked 99th in the top 100 golf courses in the world by Golf Digest and thoroughly deserves that ranking, if not higher.  It lies beside the Camel estuary opposite Padstow on the North Cornwall coast.  Designed by James Braid, it was built in 1907 and despite a few changes since it is said to play today essentially as laid out by Braid.  The club was founded earlier in 1890 when the annual subscription was five shillings (20p).  Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman was a member of the club and his poem 'Seaside Golf', which heads this blog, was written about the 13th hole.  Betjeman is buried in the St Enedoc churchyard around which the 10th, 11th,12th and 13th holes wind.  For about 200 years the church was buried in the sand dunes and to maintain its consecration the vicar had to be lowered into it through the roof to hold a service once each year.

The biggest bunker in Europe?

View to Padstow from the 17th tee.
The 16th green is in the middle distance.

The course itself is a delight.    The fairways were fast running and the greens true - it is all one could ask of a true links course.  Every hole is memorable for its quality and the panoramic views.  Each hole requires careful thought about shot placement.  This is particularly true of the 4th which requires accurate shot placement from the tee between out of bounds on the right and deep trouble on the left.  Miss the fairway and a par is unlikely.   The 6th hole has what is reputed to be the largest bunker in Europe over which a blind shot to the green is played.  The 16th is a challenging par 5 which follows the Camel estuary with views across to Padstow.  The 18th is an excellent finishing hole to a plateau green in front of the lovely clubhouse.  All in all a great test of golf!

St Enedoc church from the 14th tee.
 The 11th green can be seen in the distance
 with the Camel estuary behind 

Worth playing?  Without a doubt.

Newquay

www.newquaygolfclub.co.uk

SSS   Blue tees 70
           Red tees 73

All the holes overlook Fistral Beach

Newquay is set above the magnificent Fistral Beach which is renowned for its surfing and there are sea views from every hole.  It was designed by Harry Colt in 1890.  The clubhouse has a unique castellated tower and was built in 1835 as a home for the Molesworth family, Cornish landowners and baronets.

The unusual castellated tower of the clubhouse

The course is a proper links course with interesting and challenging holes and difficult greenside bunkers.  A public path crosses the course protected by fencing which comes into play at several holes. The greens were in a disappointing condition and the course in general looks a little neglected.  It is surrounded on three sides by the town of Newquay which has seen better days.

Worth playing?  There are better courses nearby in Cornwall.

Perranporth

SSS white tees 71
          red tees  72

www.perranporthgolfclub.co.uk

Situated high on the sand dunes to the north-west of the town of Perranporth, Perranporth golf course was designed by James Braid in 1927 and it is clear that very little structural work was done in building the course.  It follows the natural contours of the dunes and consequently there are a lot of blind shots so local knowledge is very helpful.  The greens are excellent but the fairways were worn after a dry summer.  The views over Perran Bay and the beach are spectacular but inland from the course the caravan park spoils the ambience. We played it on a sunny day with light breezes and found it extremely challenging and tiring - it must be almost impossible when the wind blows.  The holes are named in the Cornish language with helpful English translations such as Whym Wham (This way and that), Cowan Nuggies (Gremlins) and Uthek (Formidable).  It will be memorable for us as we watched the European team win the Ryder Cup in the clubhouse after our round.

Worth playing?  Perhaps this course improves with familiarity but the number of blind shots precludes it from greatness.  It is certainly not for the faint-hearted!

The view to the town of Perranporth

West Cornwall

www.westcornwallgolfclub.co.uk

SSS white tees 69
SSS red tees     73

The start of the Cornish swing!  We have come down here with Rosie and Martin Dennis to play the six true links courses in Cornwall.  The oldest club in Cornwall, West Cornwall is in Lelant near St Ives.  We played it on a sunny day with clear blue skies and a light breeze.  Set around the magnificent sweep of Porthkidney sands at the mouth of the Hayle estuary there are stunning views to St Ives in the west and Godrevy lighthouse to the north east.  A single gauge railway line runs along the sea side of the course but does not obstruct the views.

The course is quirky and fun.  The first nine is tight with shared fairways and a number of crossing holes so make sure your golf insurance is paid up!  The second nine goes up the hill around the bay - the panoramic views may well distract you from your game.  This is a real links course with hard, fast running fairways and true but small greens. A lovely, fun holiday course with a warm and friendly welcome.


The view to St Ives

Worth playing?  Definitely for the fun course, views and friendly welcome.

The 4th green

Muirfield

www.muirfield.org.uk

SSS 73

Golf was first played over Muirfield in 1891 on 16 holes designed by old Tom Morris and extended to 18 holes for the Open in 1892.  Today's layout was the result of extending the total area and recommendations from Harry Colt in 1923.  Muirfield departs from classic links courses with two loops of nine holes each, one anticlockwise and one clockwise.  This adds to the challenge of the course as the wind direction from the tee differs at each hole.



The 18th green with the clubhouse behind

Muirfield is world renowned and has held 16 Open Championships, with the list of winners including some of the greatest players in the game.  Jack Nicklaus described it as the best golf course in Britain and named his own course in Ohio Muirfield Village.  It is the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers which claims to be the oldest verifiable golf club in the world with continuous records extending from 1744.  It is an all male club which caused some controversy when the Open was staged there in 2013.


The par 3 13th requires an accurate shot.
Danger lurks for any slight deviation

We were guests of our friends David and Kath Anderson on a perfect summer's day with a light breeze and played foursomes, which is a traditional format for visitors.  The course was in magnificent condition and presents a real challenge to the amateur golfer.  The fairways are narrow, the rough is tough and the bunkers are deep and strategically placed.  The golfer who can avoid trouble will score well but that is easier said than done - even the best in the world have tried and failed.




Worth playing?  Unquestionably - it is one of the best courses in the world.