The two best golf courses to play in Cornwall

It’s a fair drive from most places in the UK to reach the rugged yet inspiring coastline of the nation’s most south westerly outpost.

Cornwall of course has so much to offer the visitor and it caters well for virtually every outdoor pursuit, including golf.

During a few day’s break there I enjoyed rounds on arguably the best two courses in the county.

There is much friendly rivalry between members of St Enodoc and Trevose, two great courses situated near each other on the North Cornish coast.

I was lucky enough to play on two consecutive gloriously sunny and calm early autumn days. A great exception, I was told, as in true links style, wind is usually a factor to be dealt with.

St Enodoc Golf Club

This famous club is set on the clifftops above Rock, a smart seaside village and sailing Mecca, often tagged as Cornwall’s St Tropez.

It has two links courses - The Holywell and The Church - situated amid the flowing dunes of Cornwall’s Atlantic coast.

The former is a short course featuring nine par 3s and is a pleasant introduction to the real thing.

The Church takes its name from the old St Enodoc chapel that is found on the back nine, almost hidden by the sand dunes. It’s the resting place of former Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman, who also played his golf there.

The course was extensively redesigned by James Braid and is now established as one of the world’s finest links. Heaven sent, you could say.

Short by modern standards at 6,557 yards, it does remain very capable of wrecking anybody’s card, although its uplifting visual appearance will dull the disappointment garnered from a high score.

The round starts with a relatively kind par 5, although it looks challenging from the tee where players are faced with the course’s characteristic rolls, humps and hollows as the fairway snakes away. A decent drive here will set you up for a chance of an opening par.

Progress through the dunes on the front nine in particular is fun and this really is exhilarating golf. Particularly interesting are the downhill dogleg 3rd hole where the approach is played over a paved road, and the famous 6th, named Himalayas after the huge sand dune which stands between the end of the fairway and the green, which leads to a blind shot into a small hidden green. A glorious sea view greets you from the tee on the 9th, it’s one of the course’s prettiest holes, but pretty tough too.

The back nine starts with true drama; the 10th is regarded as the signature hole and it’s SI 1 for good reason. A drive from the elevated tee with the chapel in view in the distance has to avoid water on the left and a rolling sand dune covering the entire right side of the fairway means absolute precision is a must. Even if that is achieved players are faced with a long shot over water to the green. Swallow your pride and lay up.

The course heads inland for a few holes around the back of the chapel before the glorious par 3 15th, playing downhill to a well guarded green. It’s a stunning hole that will last long in the memory. From here the course finishes very strongly with a challenging par 5, a long par 3, before the finale played to a wicked, well protected raised green.

Visit https://www.st-enodoc.co.uk/ for more information on this exceptional venue.

Trevose Golf & Country Club

Across the estuary near Padstow is Trevose Golf & Country Club, featuring a famous Harry Colt links design celebrating its centenary in 2025.

Like its near neighbour the club has two layouts. The Headland, a 3,000 yard taster course opened in 1993 attracting tourists and beginners. But it is Colt’s Championship Course that all golfers want to play, and it is the real deal.

The view from the elevated first tee just outside the clubhouse is simply breathtaking - beyond the fairway stretching towards the Atlantic lies the entire course as far as the eye can see.

In front of you are two loops of nine with the openers providing ample sea views as the fairways follow the sweeping dunes.

While the fairways are generous and the rough not overly penal, it is not an easy course. The wind blows here so you never know what you will be faced with. Typical links golf at its finest.

Colt’s work here has been widely admired but the club, and in particular the Gammon family which has owned the club for three generations, has been keen to keep pace with current day expectations so a number of modifications have taken place over the years. Top rated course design firm Mackenzie & Ebert was appointed to produce a blueprint for overall improvement of both courses, with particular emphasis on The Championship layout.

Their work commenced in 2016 and featured upgrades to greens and bunkers, restored to their natural appearance in keeping with their location and in many cases making them more playable.

While it remains a much visited holiday course, it is a true championship course in its own right and sits high on the list of the must-play courses of the UK.

As well as having a fantastic golf course in a stunning coastal location, Trevose offers some excellent accommodation options for those wishing to stay and play.

There is a choice of cottages, villas, bungalows, flats, lodges and apartments suiting between 2-6 guests who can choose to self-cater or dine in the clubhouse.

Particularly appealing are the five star Fairway lodges featuring three double bedrooms, open plan dining area, fully equipped kitchen and laundry room.

See https://trevose-gc.co.uk/ for more insights on this wonderful location.

Verdict

These are excellent courses suiting holidaymakers and seriously competitive golfers alike.

Off Course

The North Cornwall coast is such a delight and it’s easy to see why it attracts so many tourists. Nearby Padstow is a pretty fishing port on the west bank of the Camel estuary. It is famed for the Rick Stein Seafood Restaurant which is celebrating its 50th year in 2025. The TV celebrity chef also runs a bistro, cafe, a pub and a fish & chip shop in and around the town.

If you want to know more about playing golf in Cornwall, our travel partners Golfbreaks have the best deals and packages for you to choose from.