St Enodoc in north Cornwall, one of England's oldest and most charming golf clubs is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, the club will stage a Festival of Golf Week.
St Enodoc in north Cornwall, one of England's oldest and most charming golf clubs is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, the club will stage a Festival of Golf Week.
From June 28 to July 5, the festival will feature various tournaments and social functions. The highlight of the week will be a Hickory Shaft Tournament with competitors carrying a set of fully-restored hickory clubs in replica leather and canvas bags over a composite course of club’s Church and Holywell courses.
First laid out in 1890 by acclaimed golf course designer James Braid, St Enodoc’s Church Course is considered one of the premier championship links in England that has a golfing heritage to match. Its location on the high sand dunes of the north Cornwall coast overlooking the Camel Estuary, with Padstow to the west and the Atlantic ocean to the north, makes for ideal links golf and for some of the greatest sea and estuary views of any course in the world.
James Braid playing at St Enodoc
Testament to its enduring quality, the Church has hosted numerous amateur golf events in its 125-year history, including the English Ladies Amateur Championship in 1993 and 2002, the English Counties Championship in 1989 and 2005. Just last year, it was chosen by England Golf to stage the English Women’s Amateur Championship.
The course was immortalized forever thanks to the Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman whose experience of playing St Enodoc was encapsulated in his poem, ‘Seaside Golf’. Fittingly Betjeman, who lived in nearby Trebetherick towards the end of his life, was buried in graveyard of the Norman Church alongside the 10th green of his favourite course.
St Enodoc boasts a second course, the Holywell. Ideal for beginners, juniors and seniors as well as for experienced golfers looking for a quick round. Though just 4,082 yards, the Holywell still boasts some demanding holes making it a challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
Visitors can play the Church Course for £75 or just £45 in winter – and a round over the Holywell Course is £25 all year round.
St Enodoc is part of the Atlantic Links, a trail of ancient links set along the north coast of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall comprising Burnham & Berrow, Saunton, Royal North Devon and Trevose.
