West Cornwall

West Cornwall is one of the westernmost golfing venues in England, and also the oldest golf club in the southwest county of Cornwall.

It became the first golf club in the county back in 1889, when it was originally a 9-holer. Today, the course runs alongside St Ives Bay and the Hayle Estuary.

Incredible views, pristine turf and some quirky holes. There is a lot to like about West Cornwall, despite its length of well under 6,000 yards.

Visit the West Cornwall website here.

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Dating back to 1889, West Cornwall Golf Club is able to proudly claim that it is the oldest golfing venues in the county of Cornwall.

Reverend Tyacke was behind the original 9-hole design in the late 1890s, one that was not extended until shortly after the First World War.

The club was famously the home of the great Jim Barnes – winning of the PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship throughout his incredible golfing career.

It is, without question, one of the prettiest layouts in the country. Overlooking St Ives Bay and the Hayle Estuary, trying to stay focussed on your game and not being distracted by the beautiful scenery is part of the challenge at West Cornwall. It is a proper links course, running along the coast, and has crisp turf, pot bunkers and the typical sea breeze that you would expect. Five par 3s and just the two par 5s give West Cornwall a par of 69. At 5,850 yards, it is one of the shorter courses you will find in the region, but that doesn’t take away from its difficulty.

It begins with the first of those short holes – a 175-yarder to begin your round at West Cornwall. There is only the one bunker on the first, but it is some 30 yards from the green, so it should not really be in play. Anything long and left will find itself coming to rest on the tee box of the 2nd. Aim down the left side on 2 – which at 375 yards is the second-longest hole on the front nine. The left side will open up a view of the green which is somewhat hidden between two dunes. At just 335 yards, drive is not needed on 3. Hit an iron to the fairway, making sure you don’t run out of real estate, before knocking a low iron or wedge on to the green. The 4th is also a medium-length par 4, with the tee shot being play over a stream. This 355-yard hole plays as a dog-leg right, with the fairway being shared with the 8th. Two bunkers sit in the fairway and mark a good lay up point for your tee shot, while there are four more traps behind the green.

5, 6 and 7 are held in their own little corner of the property, bordering the estuary. The 5th is a 180-yard par 3 with a large green, while the 6th is another 355-yard par 4. Finding the fairway is imperative here, as the green is the other side of a road and bunker, while the left side of the green is just a few feet from the beach. The 7th is the longest of the par 3s on the front side at 190 yards, but there is no real trouble on this hole, as long as you don’t run too far past the green with your tee shot. No bunkers, and a wide entrance of fairway – it may be a long par 3 but it is about as nice a long par 3 as you will find anywhere.

The 8th also has a wide fairway, and at 322 yards, it represents a great scoring opportunity. The railway line runs around the right side, but it should not be in play as there is plenty of space to the left for the tee shot. The green is in a corner, with bushes around it, but it should be no more than a wedge in here, so control is at a premium. The 8th is the Stroke Index 1 at West Cornwall. It is 405 yards, and has a narrow fairway, once you’ve crossed the stream with your tee shot once more. The green is behind a bunker and occupies almost the same spot as the 3rd tee shot. At 330 yards, the 10th is another good birdie chance, but only if you can avoid the six pot bunkers that surround the putting surface. The fairway on 11 is angles slightly away from you, so you have to aim towards the left edge. The green is separated from the fairway, and requires an accurate approach as one of the smallest targets on the property.

The 12th is the first of the two par 5s on site, and features a split fairway. A solid drive will take you to the dissection, before making the decision as to whether you go for it or not. Most will lay up down the left side of the second strip of fairway before playing their third to the green. 13 is only 265 yards, so do you get the drive out and go for it? A greenside bunker front right is the only real problem to avoid... 14 is a strong dog-leg right, and the longest par 4 on the course at 440 yards. Aim out to the left side to give yourself a view of the green, with approaches able to be run up to this surface. 15 is the shortest hole on the course at just 136 yards, and there is no question that it is the signature hole. 11 pot bunkers surround the green, so accuracy is paramount.

16 is the longest hole at West Cornwall, and kicks off a tricky closing stretch. It is arrow straight, but at 525 yards, most will have to lay up. Two bunkers are in the lay up area, so make your decision as to whether you are staying short of those or not. 17 is the longest par 3 at 191 yards, and like the 7th, there isn’t any danger, so be bold with this approach. The closing hole is a 390-yard par 4 which takes you back to the clubhouse. It is straight, and the danger comes by the green. Four bunkers are in play, with two of those on the right side. It is another good birdie chance to finish your day at West Cornwall.

Where is West Cornwall located?

As the name suggests, West Cornwall Golf Club is located in the west of the English county of Cornwall. In fact, there is only one golfing venue that sits further west in England. The course is on the northern coastline of Cornwall, looking out over Porthkidney Beach and St Ives Bay. Lelant and Hayle are the closest towns, located on either side of the estuary. Penzance is ten miles to the south, with Newquay 30 miles away, and Plymouth over 70 to the east.

Lelant Station is less than a mile from the golf club, but it only operates regional trains than run between St Ives and St Erth. Trains from the latter then run through to Plymouth. Land’s End Airport, which services the very southwestern tip of the country, is the nearest airport – 15 miles away from West Cornwall GC. However, less than 60,000 passengers used the regional airport in 2023. Newquay Airport is bigger, and only 40 miles away, while Bristol Airport – the largest airport in the southwest of England – is 170 miles away from the venue.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

West Cornwall is further into the southwest corner than any of the venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Perranporth is the closest, but that is still more than 20 miles away up the coastline. Trevose and St Enodoc are the other two venues on the list that are within 50 miles of West Cornwall.

What golf facilities does West Cornwall offer?

Along with the seaside golf course, West Cornwall also has a long-range practice area which sits in between the 16th and 18th holes in the middle of the layout. There is also a short game area and a putting green, along with hitting nets, to give golfers the chance to warm up properly before taking to the course.

What are the green fees at West Cornwall?

The price of a green fee at West Cornwall changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at West Cornwall, visit their website here.