November 2024, Cornwall, UK: The James Braid-designed Church Course at St Enodoc Golf Club in Cornwall, England has been awarded fifth spot in Golf World’s recently launched ‘Value for Money’ Ranking for its GB&I Top 100 golf courses.
This high position serves as a huge feather in the cap of the golf club which was established back in 1890, especially as the north Cornish championship links is in esteemed company with Silloth on Solway, Machrihanish, Royal St David’s and the Championship Course at Cruden Bay securing the top four slots.
“St Enodoc is pleased to have achieved such a high position in Golf World’s ‘Value for Money’ in GB&I ranking and proud to be in the top five alongside such elite courses,” comments George Tunbridge, General Manager.
“St Enodoc takes pride in providing an exceptional golf and social experience for all. From the warm welcome on arrival to a relaxing post-round drink in the clubhouse, we want every visitor to enjoy their time here as much as the challenge of our championship links course. Guided by the expertise of world-renowned course architect Tom Doak, we continue to invest in our course and strive to maintain our reputation as one of the finest golf clubs in Great Britain and Ireland.”
The opening hole of the Church Course at St Enodoc
Editor Chris Bertram, who put together the Golf World ranking based on 2024 green fees, explains the method he and colleagues employed to define the term, ‘Value for Money’.
“Playing courses on our GB&I Top 100 list can be very expensive and that’s what got me thinking – what *is* value, which of our greatest courses offer most of it, and therefore if you’re going to treat yourself to a game at a GB&I Top 100 course, where should you go?” Chris says.
“Value is not cheap, or budget, or bargain, or low-cost. It is getting the most for your money. So to try and pinpoint the elite courses that offer the best value, an overall monetary value was calculated which incorporated both cost and course quality. The courses could then be listed in value order.”
An expert in the compilation of golf course rankings, three trends jumped out at Bertram, one of which was the exceptional value for money offered by two south west of England tracks, one being St Enodoc and the other being Saunton (East Course) which both charge £150 per round in peak season.
Add to these revered links, Burnham & Berrow at 13th on the list with a £150 green fee and Royal North Devon for an “impossible-to-ignore £120” that comes in at number 40, a trip to the south west to play this set of tracks is irresistible.
These courses (plus Trevose) make up the Atlantic Links, a collection of championship links courses in South West England that has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s premier golfing destinations.
“What I hope is that this Top 100 shows even the very best courses in our islands – which are some of the very best courses in the world – are available for much more affordable fees. They are not cheap, but for the quality of golf, lots of them are exceptionally good value,” adds Bertram.
Aerial shot of the Church Course at St Enodoc Golf Club
Indeed the fact that St Enodoc’s green fee will rise by just £10 per person in peak season in 2025 will preserve the club’s position at the top of the country’s value for money courses.
In addition to the Church Course which is regularly recognised as one of the top championship links courses in England, St Enodoc is also home to the Holywell Course, a shorter and less challenging layout compared to the main course so ideal for juniors, beginners and higher-handicap golfers.
For more information on St Enodoc Golf Club, visit www.st-enodoc.co.uk
