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.