St Enodoc Golf Club Review
One of the great things about playing golf in the British Isles is the variety of courses you come across. Whether it be the link land, seaside, parkland, heathland or downland courses, England has it all!
This theme is continued at St Enodoc which is part links, parkland and seaside golf. This provides an unique golfing experience which is jammed packed with quirk, charm and just good fun.
St Enodoc Golf Club has two 18 hole courses, the Church & Holywell. Located in the village of Rock in North Cornwall just across the Camel Estuary from the picturesque village of Padstow. Famous for its association with Rick Stein and his seafood restaurants.
Golf was first played at St Enodoc in 1888 with the club officially being formed two years later. In 1907 James Braid was brought in to lay out an 18 hole course which is essentially the Church course played today.
Church Course
St Enodoc has many wonderful holes but here are some of the best:
The opening hole is a straight away par five that has a heavily undulating fairway which causes the second shot to be blind and requires a well positioned shot to setup a birdie.The second is a 448 yard par four with a semi-blind tee shot, the green set up high on a plateau and a large false front makes for a tricky approach.
The downhill 3rd hole starts with a blind tee shot that needs to be well positioned just short of the road and the stone wall that runs across the fairway. The second shot is played to a green that can best be attacked from the right side of the fairway especially when the pin is cut back left.
The 4th is a shorter version of the 'Road Hole' which makes great use of the out of bounds wall which creates some wonderful angles with the green set up against a fence. The 6th is a par four and is famous for its Himalaya bunker which makes the correct line for the approach shot difficult to judge.
Next comes a change of pace…
The 7th plays along a ridgeline with a wider fairway and strategically placed bunkers. The 8th is a short par three which is ringed by pot bunkers and is a difficult target, especially on a windy day.
The 10th hole is the start of the parkland holes and plays out to the 11th century St Enodoc Church from which the course is named. At 457 yards it is no push over, requiring two well struck and accurate shots to reach the green in regulation.
The 14th hole is a par 4 from 382 yards and plays uphill to a green that is supported on the right side by a stone wall, don't miss the green right!
The 16th brings you back into the links ground and is a par five from 560 yards which was lengthened in 2006. It plays along a plateau with stunning views of the estuary and across to Padstow.
The penultimate hole is a 206 yard par three that looks harder than it plays since the green is built in a small depression that helps the ball gather onto the green. The home hole is 469 yard par four which runs parallel to the 1st hole and enjoys the same undulating characteristics to the fairway.
St Enodoc has recently been voted in the top 100 courses in the world, and rightly so! The links is a fabulous mix of different terrains, unique features, thoroughly challenging golf, but most importantly, it’s a tremendous amount of fun!!
Holywell Course
The Holywell course is much shorter then the main course at 4082 yards par 63, but don't let that put you off. The course is a fun experience and is perfect way to finish a day off with a quick round.
Padstow & Cornwall
The idyllic village of Padstow is a short ferry ride across the estuary and is not to be missed. Full of restaurants, boutique shops and hotels Padstow has its own harbour and is a wonderful place to base yourself when enjoying wider Cornwall.
After golf there is plenty to do, including coastal walks, visiting the beach, swimming, sailing, fishing, visiting gardens and of course to enjoy the culinary delights of Cornwall.