Is St Enodoc REALLY worth £135?

[Marty Bonnar]

We’re off in the MoHo next week to Cornwall. Thinking about playing once or twice (not really a golf holiday). Is St E really worth THAT?
Cheers,
F.

[Sean_A]

We’re off in the MoHo next week to Cornwall. Thinking about playing once or twice (not really a golf holiday). Is St E really worth THAT?
Cheers,
F.

Si


Ciao

[Michael Whitaker]

Marty - St Enodoc is one of my favorite courses to play. Great fun. But, as you know, I’m not one to pay “visitor” fees at any course if I can avoid it. Unfortunately, the touring companies have been advising UK courses to up their fees if they want overseas business. They say visitors will avoid courses if the fee is too low… they assume there is something wrong with the course if they can’t command a higher fee. Unfortunately, I t’s a constant upward spiral.


Having said all that, I would visit St Enodoc if I were you and hadn’t been there before. I wouldn’t be happy about forking over £135, but I’d be better off for the experience.

[Brett Meyer]

That's up quite a bit over what I paid 7 years ago but yes, it's still worth it. Especially if it's an all-day rate. St. Enodoc is probably the best course in SW England and is as good as any course outside of the top tier (Sunningdale Old, Royal St. George's, Rye) in southern England. It's substantially better than most of the courses that I paid £160+ to play in Ireland/Northern Ireland.

While you're there, you might want to play the other top courses in SW England like Saunton, Westward Ho!, and Burnham and Berrow. It seems to be the one part of the British Isles that isn't yet overrun by wealthy Americans and the green fees still seem to be relatively low. But it seems like they're already creeping up and who knows how long it'll last.

[Michael Moore]

Never played, yes.

[Brian Finn]

For me, St. Enodoc is definitely worth that rate (current day rate of £165 even better, of course).  The question of value or worth is obviously relative, but the biggest reason I believe St. Enodoc should be played is because it is unique.  It is not only one of the best courses in England / the world, but also it is unlike other courses I have played, links or otherwise.  The extremely high quality and distinctive features of the course make it a must play, in my view.

[Ben Stephens]

Yes its worth playing - even if the rack rate is that high. You also get access to the Church where the former Poet Laureate John Betjeman is buried.

[Ally Mcintosh]

2019 rack rate was £85. Big hike.


But in the scheme of top class links courses, it’s still relatively low.

[David_Tepper]

Recent thread on St. Enodoc:

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,72085.0.html

[Michael Whitaker]

2019 rack rate was £85. Big hike.


But in the scheme of top class links courses, it’s still relatively low.

Everyone is jacking up “visitor” rates, Ally. It’s not about local pricing anymore… it’s all about rankings and comparison pricing to “similar” courses. As I said, the tour operators are counseling the clubs to up their prices to attract visitors who won’t play a “cheap” course for fear of a poor experience. The day of “hidden gems” and great value for “B” level courses is gone.

[Thomas Dai]

I don’t dispute there may be an element of increasing prices for appeal/fleecing purposes but don’t dismiss lightly the extent to which the cost of materials and supplies for golf courses and other golf related items has gone up over the last couple of years or so and how the lead time from order to receipt has widened considerably as well and then there’s inflation generally.
As to the current price, to get a better understanding of the situation I suggest it’s compared to the same courses figure and that of other courses both now and in previous years. Additionally bear in mind that what something costs in relation to a home country persons salary/pension can be very different to the cost in relation to the salary/pension of someone from another part of the World.

Atb

[Ben Stephens]

Other courses current pricing


Saunton - £115 a round
Royal North Devon - £80 a round
Perranporth - £65 a round
Trevose - £100 a round


These are good courses however St Enodoc is another level for GCA golfing purists wise

[Tim Gallant]

Go for it! And be sure to take the small ferry from Padstow to Rock. Nothing better than arriving to the course via ferry (although there is a wee walk on the other side).

[Mark Chaplin]

Am i alone in thinking St Enodoc is superb on the estuary side of the road and frankly very ordinary on the otherside (10-15)? It’s high ranking with so many uninspiring holes mystifies me.

[Craig Disher]

We’re off in the MoHo next week to Cornwall. Thinking about playing once or twice (not really a golf holiday). Is St E really worth THAT?
Cheers,
F.

Without a doubt. The visitors fee has gone up but not at the rate of some of its peers, of which there really aren't any in the area. It's really a great golf course. Be aware that there is no visitor play on the weekend and during the week it's limited to a few times early (all 2-ball) and after 2 in the pm.

[Sean_A]

Am i alone in thinking St Enodoc is superb on the estuary side of the road and frankly very ordinary on the otherside (10-15)? It’s high ranking with so many uninspiring holes mystifies me.

I find it extraordinary that folks can't see the positives of 10, 12, 14 & 15. My count has one uninspired hole, #13. That said, inspiration is an individual thing. I have St E as a firm top 30 GB&I.

Ciao

[Scott Warren]

Chappers and Sean,


I don’t want to divert this thread into yet another argument about whether 10 is a shit golf hole, but despite my feelings about it I still think about it 14 years after my one play of it, which I can’t say for hundreds of other holes that I may have enjoyed but then never thought about again after the day I played them.


If the comparison is what so many other courses are charging now, I think £135 for St Enodoc seems like reasonable value.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Am i alone in thinking St Enodoc is superb on the estuary side of the road and frankly very ordinary on the otherside (10-15)? It’s high ranking with so many uninspiring holes mystifies me.

I find it extraordinary that folks can't see the positives of 10, 12, 14 & 15. My count has one uninspired hole, #13. That said, inspiration is an individual thing. I have St E as a firm top 30 GB&I.

Ciao

I’m a fan of 12,14 & 15. My only issue is that 13 is a big letdown, 10 a poor hole (though Simpson would tell you that every great course needs a controversial, bad hole) and 11 is a little uninspired.


Nevertheless, that loop gets considered together due to site location. If St Enodoc was 1-9, followed by adjacent 16 through to 18, it might be the best 12 hole course in England.

[Marty Bonnar]

Perranporth is £65. Is St E really twice as good?
F.

[Sean_A]

Perranporth is £65. Is St E really twice as good?
F.

Play them both.

Ciao

[Marty Bonnar]

Perranporth is £65. Is St E really twice as good?
F.

Play them both.

Ciao

 
In a PM, Tony described Perranporth as Braid on Acid. That might be good enough for me!
F.

[David Harshbarger]

Perranporth is £65. Is St E really twice as good?
F.

Play them both.

Ciao

 
In a PM, Tony described Perranporth as Braid on Acid. That might be good enough for me!
F.

Makes me wonder what Doak would come up with on the rotted rye. 

[Ally Mcintosh]

Perranporth is £65. Is St E really twice as good?
F.

Three times as good. Perranporth has a lot of laugh out loud moments (in a good way) but does not add up to very good golf.

[Sean_A]

Perranporth is £65. Is St E really twice as good?
F.

Play them both.

Ciao

 
In a PM, Tony described Perranporth as Braid on Acid. That might be good enough for me!
F.

Perranporth is well worth playing. A bit crazy here and there, but a keeper.

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

Definitely worth playing. Just crosses the line to a little bit over the top, primarily because the scale of some of the holes is a little too small and the whole site is slightly convex.


Depends on your mood, Marty: A golf course worthy of study and memories Vs a bit of fun for half the price