A strong sea breeze whips the tangy scents of salt and seaweed into our lungs as we loosen up beside the 175- yard par-3 first hole at West Cornwall Golf Club , situated on the southern shore of St Ives Bay . A three-shot opening hole is remarkable enough , but the tee ’ s close proximity to the clubhouse , plus the striking backdrop of St Uny Church and its graveyard beyond the green , adds to the drama . It ’ s a nerve-jangling start to our golf trip that embraces a cluster of challenging links courses between the picturesque harbour towns of St Ives and Padstow along Cornwall ' s spectacular Atlantic coast .
West Cornwall was established in 1889 making it the oldest golf club in Cornwall , and the course hasn ’ t changed much since the heady days of the club ’ s most famous member , Jim Barnes , who won the U . S . Open , USPGA and Open Championship between the years of 1916 and 1925 . What the early holes lack in length they more than make up for in character . The 2nd , threading through the dunes is a beauty , while on the 4th , a heavily faded second shot will perish amongst the gravestones of St Uny churchyard . Once you are out of ‘ Calamity Corner ’ ( play it and you ’ ll understand why ), where two par-3 ' s and a short par-4 have ruined many a scorecard , you will need a cool head for the following eleven holes in the dunes .
South of St Ives near the milestone of Land ’ s End , Cape Cornwall Golf & Leisure has the distinction of having the ‘ First and Last 18-hole Golf Course in Britain .’ Although it ' s not a world class track , it can be worth a visit for its challenging holes and spectacular coastal views , plus its close proximity to the off-course attractions of the filming locations of popular BBC series Poldark , sacred stone circles , old tin mines and fabulous walks along the coast including sections of the 630-mile South West Coast Path . But we are heading north up the coast towards Perranporth Golf Club , widely regarded as one of the finest links in the south of England .
A train rattles by the 13th green at West Cornwall Golf Club , Lelant , St Ives
DestinationGolf . travel 23