Great debate abounds year round amongst golfers and the golf media alike about which the top golf courses in England are, but less often the topic turns to which are the best value courses in a country boasting hundreds of good quality layouts. Whilst all such discussions are on the whole subjective, there can surely be little argument that the Church Course at St Enodoc is one of the best value courses in the top 100 golf courses in England?
Whilst regularly appearing at the higher end of golf course rankings created by the various golf magazines following assessments by panels that consider such factors as design, location, conditioning and overall impression, a round over the championship links Church Course in north Cornwall will cost just £85 in the peak of summer. And, of course, if you fancy a spot of relaxation after work or whilst on holiday when the summer days are long, then a twilight round can be booked for as little as £55 whilst 18 holes in the winter will also set you back just £55.
In one of the latest standings to be released by a golf magazine, Golf World placed the Church Course at a heady number six with a group of independent assessors taking into account the various factors of design, setting, playability presentation, memorability and consistency.
Summing it up, the assessors wrote: ‘Playing over as eccentric and exaggerated piece of links golfing terrain as you are likely to find anywhere on the planet, a round of golf at the James Braid designed Church Course is a full scale assault on your senses’.
Compared to the green fee rates of the top five golf courses in Golf World’s Top 100, St Enodoc is the lowest and indeed over half the price of most of them, therefore offering incredible value for money for the quality of the course.
“St Enodoc is extremely proud to be regularly placed so highly in the various golf course rankings as the club and greens staff work hard all year round to maintain the course as well as continually looking at ways to further improve this great course,” comments Simon Greatorex, General Manager at the club.
“We certainly like to think that we offer a green fee that is ‘probably one of the best value courses in England’ and look forward to welcoming visitors all year round to take advantage of our great rates and enjoy our wonderful course in its spectacular setting.”
St Enodoc Golf Club is located in the heart of Rock, high above the sand dunes of the north Cornwall coast overlooking the Camel River and the Atlantic Ocean giving the Church Course some of the greatest sea and estuary views of any 18 holes in the world.
Founded in 1890, the club is home to one of revered architect James Braid’s finest designs that features blind shots, undulating fairways, tricky greens and an imposing Himalaya Bunker on the 6th hole, which is reputedly the highest in Europe.
It is however the 10th that is referred to as the signature hole as it winds its way towards the 11th century St Enodoc Church, where poet laureate Sir John Betjeman lies buried beside his favourite course.
Pictured top: View over St Enodoc’s Church Course towards the sea (Stuart Morley)
St Enodoc Golf Club www.st-enodoc.co.uk
St Enodoc golf breaks www.st-enodoc.co.uk/visitors/devon-and-cornwall-links/