One of the Atlantic Links courses, the Church Course at St Enodoc, has been included in Golf Digest’s inaugural ranking of the ‘World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’.
The inclusion of St Enodoc represents a major feather in the cap for one of England’s oldest golf links as Golf Digest, a top international golf magazine that has been ranking golf courses for almost half a century, is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative voices in golf with regard to course rankings.
The north Cornish links is in exalted company. The all-American trio of Pine Valley, Cypress Point and Augusta National top the rankings whilst Northern Ireland’s Royal County Down has secured fourth spot.
St Enodoc, one of just 11 courses in England that feature in the listing, has been awarded 99th position and is described by Golf Digest as ‘A rollicking James Braid design on the southwest toe of England, lengthened in the past decade but still short and odd enough to be a cult favourite’.
Founded in 1890, St Enodoc is a championship links that is both beguiling and challenging. Famed for its characteristic fairway undulations and firm greens, this stunning links is set against the backdrop of some of the greatest sea and estuary views of any course in the world. From every hole, the views of either the north Atlantic Ocean or the Camel Estuary are breathtaking.
Further testament to the quality of the course, the Church Course has hosted numerous amateur golf events, including the English Ladies Amateur Championship in 1993 and 2002 and the English Counties Championship in 1989 and 2005. And this year St Enodoc has been bestowed the honour of hosting the 2014 English Women’s Amateur Championship from July 14 to 17.