St Enodoc (Church) - Cornwall - England

St. Enodoc Golf Club, sitting proudly above the affluent village of Rock on the North Cornish coast, is a much revered and cherished place to play golf.

It is held in extremely high regard by a number of notable golfing personnel, institutions and publications.

Golf Digest recently rated the Church course amongst the top 100 best in the World. To put this into context only ten other courses in England made the list.

All of the major UK national magazines continually rank St. Enodoc among the higher echelons of golf courses in the British Isles. And respected golf architect Tom Doak also chose it as one of his ‘Gourmet’s Choice’ selection for his respected book, The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses.

St. Enodoc has rightly received many other accolades and will no doubt continue to do so.

The course has a superb eclectic mix of holes and changes in elevation that take the golfer on an amazing, almost spiritual, journey around the impressive property. But it is greater than the sum of its parts and this is essentially what makes it such a special and unique place.

Cleverly routed by James Braid St. Enodoc enjoys a beautiful location with a varied terrain. The course is like a chameleon in that is changes its characteristics, colours if you like, throughout the entire round to blend in seamlessly with its surrounds.

The opening holes are pure links, played through fabulous duneland, before you head towards the countryside and enjoy a trio of holes with a more meadowland feel. The famous 6th hole follows where one must first hit short of, and then over, the iconic and cavernous Himalaya bunker to a secluded green set in more dunes. This hole is impressive and really sticks in the mind but there are even better ones to be found on the rolling hills of St. Enodoc.

If you are seeking a classic and traditional links experience you will only find this over six or seven holes at St. Enodoc. However, the course makes up for this in the embarrassment of riches it has amongst the other dozen holes and I can imagine the course only gets better with each playing.

To quickly sum up St. Enodoc, a little piece of golfing heaven, I will use the final words from Betjeman’s ‘Seaside Golf’ poem, “…splendour, splendour everywhere”.

Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.

Played a round here in March 2017. A stunning course only let down by a bland stretch after going past the Church on the back nine. All of the holes around the coast are magnificent and the condition of the course was terrific. Some of the greens were if anything too fast and smooth considering the squally conditions we had interspersed with glorious sunshine.

Highly recommended, just ignore the very few dull holes in the middle.

A classic mix of holes. Apart from the 4th hole, the front 9 is excellent especially 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. The infamous bunker on 6 is ridiculous but in a charming way although the hole is not a particular great golf hole. The 10th is brutal, combing length with a tough green complex and surround. The course drops off on the back 9, (11 to 15 are, in my view, only “ok”), but all in forgiven with an astonishing last 3 of which 16 is truly wonderful and can be sensibly described as world class.

I have always believed quality golf starts squarely with superior land. In any assessment of a course it is the terrain from which any course emanates from. In my mind, no less than 60% of any course rating is based on how good the terrain is. Rarely will you find a course with dead flat land being rated a top tier course -- a notable exception The Old Course at St. Andrews.

Any visit to southwest England must include some serious time at St. Enodoc Golf Club. The club is blessed with 36 holes but one's time must be particularly focused on the renowned Church Course. Rest assured - you will need to say your prayers when playing the course because you will find numerous instances when the Almighty had best steer you through the range of top tier shots you will be required to play time after time.

The Church Course is a links but its location is set along Daymer Bay and is not immediately adjacent to the sea itself. There are striking views of the nearby Atlantic Ocean in the far distance as well as the community of Padstow which lies across the bay.

The quality of the golf starts immediately at the first. Playing under 530 yards would seem to provide a quick opportunity for birdie. The hole has high dunes on the right and features a rumpled fairway akin to an old man's face. There's sufficient rough on the left side for those who shy away from the right. Best of all, the hole has a narrow passage way roughly 150 yards from the green. The key is getting into position for a short pitch but be ever mindful of the false front that repels the weakest of plays. What appeared initially as a birdie hole can easily mean a fast bogey for the careless golfer.

The uphill long par-4 2nd that follows is a stout hole. At first glance it may appear heading down the right side is the best bet -- that position only leaves a blind approach to a green nearly all tucked out of view. Going down the left side opens up the approach but pulling a shot can mean menacing rough awaits. What many can't appreciate in their first round is a devilish hidden greenside bunker lurking on the far right corner of the green. The approach play must be well executed -- with falloffs on the different sides of the green.

The 3rd is a brilliant counterpoint to the 2nd. Playing downhill with a blind tee shot the 440-yard par-4 requires total confidence in the line of attack taken. There is an internal road which cuts in diagonally -- favoring the left side is preferred but a pulled shot will mean an even more exacting approach.

After two long par-4's the 4th is a seductive short par-4 -- out-of-bounds hugs the right side and while the bold play can reap rewards the certainty of punishment for a wayward play will have you think otherwise and opt for a fairway metal or hybrid. The green is narrow and the same OB which protrudes on the tee shot is equally a force to the right side of the green. Just a grand hole for the multitude of decisions it mandates the player to decide.

At the par-4 6th you encounter one of the truly majestic holes in golf. The drive turns left and it's best to favor the left side but be mindful of the land pulling shots even more to that side. On one's approach you see a gigantic dune with a sand bunker cut into its 40-foot face. The green is hidden behind and set in a wonderful bowl setting.The target is small and far from easy to hit in the regulation stroke.

The remaining holes on the outward nine are a good mix but not in the same league with the first six played.

The back nine starts with a hole equally fascinating and bewildering. The fairway is as narrow as Marilyn Monroe's waist and anything hit left will be deader than Elvis Presley. A steep hillside confronts the golfer on the right and landing in that area doesn't automatically mean one's ball will kick down to the fairway. The smart play is to hit for no more than 250 yards so that you can likely get an angle to the green hidden over a hill tucked more to the left than you might initially imagine. My only issue is that the player must throttle down to the point of a forced lay-up because the opportunity to do more is simply not a realistic option. Great golf holes do not mandate players having to play the hole in a one-way manner. The most unique bonus feature of the 10th comes with the beautiful St. Enodoc church -- just off to the right of the green.

The uphill par-4 13th at just under 400 yards.is one of St. Enodoc's best holes. Generally, played into the prevailing wind the hole requires a solid tee shot -- avoiding -- two fairway bunkers well-positioned on the right side. The green is also slightly elevated above the fairway so gauging one's approach distance adds an elements of concern. The greatness of the hole is that it is not cluttered with all sorts of distractions -- it falls squarely on the player to execute at the highest level.

The Church Course ends in grand fashion - a superlative troika consisting of a par-5, par-3 and par-4 combination. The 16th is 560 yards and often is played into the prevailing wind. The land rises to a plateau that provides a slew of different stances and lies. The strongest of players can clear the plateau but there's no reprieve without successive quality shots made. The green provides another elevated target so even a short pitch shot is tested.

The par-3 17th is listed at 206 yards but there will be times when far more club will be pulled from one's bag. The green is protected by a solitary deep bunker on the right and like the preceding hole - the putting surface is elevated just enough to prevent the half-hearted play from succeeding.

Topping things off is the final hole -- clearly one of the finest one will find in this part of England. At 469 yards the tee shot is central in order to have any opportunity for success. The fairway is quite wide but there's a bottleneck point the longer one attempts to go. The green is blessed with subtle contours and again is slightly elevated.

The richness of St. Enodoc speaks volumes to the misnomer that any course with a par less than 70 is likely to be seen as a lightweight. That is clearly rubbish -- St. Enodoc provides a scintillating setting for the talented golfer able to play the fullest range of shots. But there's also enough playability so all players can get in on the fun. Unlike so many other courses which have highly irrigated and fertilized rough that can be completely 100% green and often deep -- the rough areas at The Church Course feature a range of situations -- some tilting to the advantage of the fortuitous players -- at other times causing a major point of frustration. Golf, like life, means being able to handle the unpredictable bounces of the coin.

So much of modern design has been geared towards pushing total yardage to ridiculous outcomes. Little real emphasis on escalating character -- facing shots and holes in which a combination of power, control and finesse are woven interchangeably together. At The Church Course you play a layout that's under 6,600 yards but pound for pound oozes memorability and a rush to head immediately over to the 1st tee when the round concludes. Not all of the holes are top tier but even in the lulls that happen The Church Course provides a clear embrace that "fun" golf -- not laborious slog type holes -- is something so many other courses would be wise to follow.

Your prayers will not always be answered when playing The Church Course but you will be blessed in making sure you're in the right pew in savoring a memorable time when playing here.

By M. James Ward - photos courtesy of David Cannon, Stuart Morley and Top 100 Golf Courses

I played this James Braid gem on a beautiful spring afternoon and what a jaw dropping, joyful experience it was; scenic, challenging, dramatic links golf personified, exuding character and originality. Immaculately kept too I might add, with outstanding greens. I look forward to returning to this beautiful corner of the country and would recommend highly. LB

This is a wonderful course, everything I look for in great golf. You need every club in the bag, if you switch off for a second you're in trouble, and that's difficult when the views are this good. The course is also routinely in perfect condition. If you play to handicap here you've had a blindingly good round. I've played it many times now and it doesn't get easier. I still have no idea how to play the par 4 10th - a bogey there is a great result.

Played in August 2015 on a Sunday morning, very impressed and challenging course. Some wonderful holes, including the 6th and 10th which I found to be the most memorable. On the back nine you play a few holes around the church (hence the name) all of which are lovely.This is a course that if you are a bit erratic you will be punished but not so much that you will lose your ball everytime, if you go offline you may have you sacrifice distance on your next shot but at least you will still be in play (played St Mellion the day after and if you are wayward there you can say goodbye to the ball). I played it on a still day, but I can imagine how much harder it would be when the wind is up.Although not a review of the course I must mention the friendly welcome from the club to me as a solo player, a number of members offered to go round with me, the club was nice and I would defiantly recommend a round here

Sheer golfing bliss! From start to finish you are treated to a golfing links of purity and unparalleled quality. Towering dunes, stunning vistas and classic links tests. Stand out holes are 6th, 10th and the closing stretch along the estuary. Is this the best Braid course? It may not have the reputation of Royal Aberdeen, Cinque Ports or Troon, but it will give you more pleasure and leave you wanting more, trust me!

Among the courses along the south Atlantic coast of England St. Enodoc provides a unique and exciting experience. The steep driveway up to the clubhouse alerts you to the hilly nature of the course. The excitement and drama of playing across massive hills and dunes begins on the first tee and never ends throughout the round. The tee shot off the first is suitably intimidating with high dunes to the right and uneven hills and rough to the left. Into the wind this is as demanding a first shot that you will find. The hole then plays up to a crest with a blind second down to a valley and then an approach to a green with a steep slope in the front. Not exactly an easy birdie hole off the mark!

The course demands excellent driving on every hole to avoid the hills and rough, and the approach shots demand precision to avoid the hills, slopes and runoffs that abound. There are many great holes on this course, and several that rank among the best in the UK and the world. I thought the short par 4 fourth was one of the best 300 yard holes I've ever played. Out of bounds dominates the right side of the fairway as it doglegs left. There is no bailout left, however as bunkers, dunes and steep rough await you there. Appropriate to such a short hole, absolute precision is required. The 6th with it's famous Himalaya bunker is well known, but the steep slope from back to front left makes keeping the ball on the green as much a challenge as negotiating the intimidating fairway bunker. These holes are the stuff of genius.

The back nine begins with the incredibly intimidating tee shot on 10 which once again demands your best to thread your ball between the burn on the left and the hills to the right. The uphill par 4's at 13 and 14 were difficult to hit as well. The fairways had just enough angle to them to make choosing the proper line very difficult. The finishing stretch of 16 through 18 involves a sequence of a very difficult par 5 at 16, a difficult par 3 to a bowl shaped green at 17, and a long downhill then uphill par 4 at 18. After you finish it's almost impossible to believe that the course is 6300 yards from the white tees and 6500 from the blues. It plays much more difficult than you could ever imagine. This may be the most difficult driving course I've ever played and there is really not an easy or bail out shot to be had. This is exhilarating golf which requires your best.

The course was in tremendous shape, and the greens were simply the best I've ever encountered on a links course. In fact the entire course was in excellent condition. The best thing I can say is that I remember each hole, in fact each shot, with extreme clarity. This course is a tribute to the genius of James Braid, and surely deserves all of it's praise and accolades. I don't think a UK golf resume is complete until you've played here. Click the link to read my Atlantic Coast Golf Links story. Richard Smith, Knoxville, Tennessee

Brilliant golf course, possibly the best I have ever played. Visited St Enodoc whilst on a week trip to St Mellion and had to play the Church Course. Wonderful holes, imposing dunes, beautiful views make up the experience of playing what must surely be one of the World's Greatest Links.The greens are fast and true and the opportunity to play this should not be missed. Brilliant value for money (£75) for a course of this stature.Happy to have ticked St Enodoc off my bucket list!