Minehead and West Somerset golf club, Minehead, Somerset, England

 https://www.mineheadgolf.co.uk/

White tees 6233 yards, par 72, slope 121

Red tees 5508 yards, par 73 slope 130

Founded in 1882, Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club is the oldest in the county still playing on the original fairways. It was laid out by John Allan, the professional at Royal North Devon, along the south bank of the Bristol Channel close to the Exmoor National Park.  It was extended to its current 18 holes in 1901.

Looking back from the first green.
The town of Minehead is in
background

We approached the golf club with some trepidation because of the proximity of the Butlins resort but were pleasantly surprised.  We played on a sunny but windy day and had a friendly welcome from the club professional, John Bickerton, a three times winner on the then European tour.  The course is on proper linksland for the most part but is quite flat.  The prevailing wind is from the south-west, helping on the way out and hurting on the way in on this traditional out-and-back layout.  We found the first few holes to be a bit disappointing with rather worn fairways on the first three and the last three holes but the greens were in excellent condition.  The 6th and 7th holes share a fairway but playing in the opposite direction which is a bit disconcerting.  After the 7th hole the course comes into its own with the 8th and 9th being good holes despite the ditch which crosses the 9th twice!  

The well bunkered 10th green

The back nine offers views of the sea from most of the tees.  The 10th is at the furthest point of the course and is a well bunkered par 3 after which the course turns for home along the beach and into the wind.   A double level green sloping from left to right adds to the challenge of the par 5 11th, especially if the pin is on the top level.  With the drive from the 12th tee to a fairway at an angle, it is a solid par 4. The par3 14th is a tricky shot with a bunker on the right guarding the best line in to the green which slopes from right to left.  Temporarily turning away from home, the 15th has a narrow fairway and a well bunkered green.  The final three holes return to the clubhouse with the 18th being a long par 3 into the wind.

The 13th is a straightforward par 4

We liked the protection of wild life!

Worth playing? Yes - a good holiday course if you are in the area.