West Cornwall Golf Club

“Golf was started at Lelant by a cleric, the Rev. R.F. Tyacke, who probably learned his golf at Westward Ho!” Wrote Henry Cotton in his guide to Golf in the British Isles. “He saw that there was some fine golfing country at Lelant and, aided by some local enthusiasts, he quickly got a nine-hole course constructed.” The Reverend’s activities happened way back in 1889 and therefore this makes West Cornwall Golf Club the oldest club in Cornwall.

This wonderfully natural course is set on the edge of St Ives Bay and its elevated location provides for some magical views across the bay to the Atlantic Ocean beyond. At 5,884 yards (par 69 for men), West Cornwall is certainly not a championship layout, but the club is certainly capable of nurturing champions. This is where “Long Jim” Barnes cut his golfing teeth, one of the few golfers to have clinched Open Championship victory on both sides of the pond.

As stated in Frank Pennink’s Choice of Golf Courses: “Lelant begins with a rather fierce short hole, with a road on the right, and it is well over a furlong – hinting that to break 70 is far from simple achievement. The next is one of the best – bending slightly right, with sandhills on that flank; the line is along the left, with the second shot to a raised green with a narrow entry.”

“Golfers will not easily tire of playing this course… even a tiger will not find it easy to achieve a record score here.” Henry Cotton’s words are absolutely true and at this point we'd only add that Lelant offers golfing fun with a capital “F”.