Bowood Park

The course at Bowood Park Golf Club is laid out within two hundred and thirty acres of the 14th century hunting estate that belonged to Edward of Woodstock, Duke of Cornwall and Prince of Wales (better known nowadays as The Black Prince) and it first opened its doors to golfers in 1992.

The course was routed by Bob Sandow (a former associate of Robert Trent Jones) but was laid out by Bob Knott in collaboration with Brian Huggett (who played in six Ryder Cups and was GB&I Team Captain in 1977). Bowood Park was ahead of the game in the UK, the Cobbledick family not only commissioned a well-known professional to headline its design credentials, but also the owners assigned Eddie Connaughton – one of Europe's leading agronomists – to the project.

As its name suggests, Bowood Park is a parkland course, in fact it's set in what was once the largest deer park in Cornwall. The outward nine is routed around rolling hills while the back nine meanders through the valley of the River Allen.

Greens were constructed to USGA specification and more than two-dozen water hazards come into play during the round, none more so than at “Azalea,” the 385-yard par four 12th, where its island green is accessed via a covered, New England-style wooden footbridge. The sharply doglegging par five 13th is stroke index one for very good reasons. It's jealously protected by water on the corner of the dogleg and short left of the green. Despite its relatively modest 510-yard length, very few birdies will ever be carded here.

The layout extends to almost 6,700 yards from the back markers and it plays to a par of 72. Both the front and back nine return to the clubhouse, which is very handy on society days when groups of golfers can get out on the course in double quick time.