[Ed Tilley]

It was apparent from my inclusion of the 10th hole in my personal eclectic course that very little is known on this site, or indeed in general golfing circles, about Mullion golf club. This is in large part due to its remoteness, even by Cornwall standards it is a long way from anywhere. It is situated on the Lizard peninsula, less than 10 miles from Lizard point, making it the most southerly course on the British mainland. I have played the course maybe 30 times over the years due to a regular family holiday in the area that sadly is no more. It is a very natural course in an extremely beautiful setting exposed to the Atlantic winds.
I have no photos of my own of the course but the club’s website has an excellent course tour with several photos. A number of these are a bit “arty”, i.e. from the sides highlighting the views rather than from the actual playing angle. However, these will give you some indication of the nature of this lovely course. One review I have read of Mullion said it was “Not championship golf, this is enjoyment golf”. I think that is a perfect summation.
The course is mostly contained on high ground well above the sea offering fantastic views. There are 2 holes on the lower ground more or less at sea level with a couple of holes taking the golfer down and 2 holes taking the golfer back up. This transition is, on the whole, superbly done, with 3 of the “transition” holes being amongst the finest holes on the course. This section from 5-14 is very much the strongest part of the course.

Hole 1 – 196 yards par 3
A longish par 3 to start, going across the 18th fairway. The hole plays downhill and the green site is slightly built up against the natural slope, unlike the general “lay of the land” nature of most greens. In the ever present wind it is very difficult to hold this green and chipping from over the back is very tricky.  





Hole 2 – 407 yards par 4
A moderate length par 4 with very little trouble – there is very little rough to speak of at Mullion. The highlight is a lovely green site in a mini dell with a ridge short of the green making judgement of distance very difficult.





Hole 3 – 410 yards par 4
A very similar hole to the 14th – in fact you can see the 14th flag in one of the photos below. You play towards the sea with both the fairway and the green sloping from left to right. What trouble there is is right and there is loads of room left. However, the slope and bunkering short and left means there is very little prospect of getting a ball close to the hole from the left side.







Hole 4 – 485 yards par 5
The first of 2 par 5s with some severe bunkering protecting a saucer shaped green favouring a run in from left to right.





Hole 5 – 358 yards par 4
The course starts to warm up now with the 5th. An accurate drive is needed as there are bunkers on both sides of the fairway. A good drive sets up a lovely approach over rolling ground to a green with a steep drop off the back.



Hole 6 – 311 yards par 4
I can’t remember if there are any hole names at Mullion, and if there are they are not shown on the website. I like to think this one would be called “WTF??”
A short par 4 that is easily reachable due to the severe downhill nature of the hole. However, OOB awaits long and right. The nature of the slope means that you need to aim well left and try and judge the roll of the ball on the hill. An excellent and memorable short par 4.







Hole 7 – 432 yards par 4
An absolute belter of a par 4 which very nearly made it into my eclectic 18. A lovely natural hole winding its way between the hill left and an expanse of reeds to the right. Anyone signing for a 4 on this hole will be very happy.









More to follow

[jeffwarne]

Thanks Ed for another fantastic journey.
I had considered Mullion on my one trip to SW England, but was unable to find more than one or two low quality images of the place'
Well that and Had already "Shermanized" the journey as Sean would say.

Your pictures are fantastic and despite it's clifftop (as opposed to links) setting, it appears you have captured quite a few humps and hollows in the rolling and heaving terrain.

Another reason for a return to the southwest

[Ryan Coles]

Ed are those your pictures or from the Club website?

[Peter Pallotta]

My thanks too, Ed.

To put it simply, whenever I'm assailed by the feeling that golf is a vain and precious pastime fit not for me but for the modern day equivalents of the old English 'gentleman' and that in charity I should better spend my money not paying inflated green fees or travelling to play 'the best courses', a golf course like Mullion settles my spirit and reminds me of the game's simple and humble aspects, a gentle and 'homely' recreation.
Thanks.
Peter

[Thomas Dai]

Splendid Ed. Many thanks for the narrative as well as the photos.
Looks like somewhere else to visit and also somewhere deserving of inclusion in Jeff's recent 'non-listed' courses thread. Looking forward to seeing and reading more about Mullion.
atb

[Ed Tilley]

Ed are those your pictures or from the Club website?

Ryan,

These are from the website. Next time I visit I will bring the camera and get some more from the player's perspective.

Ed

[Paul Gray]

I would have written something about 'real golf' and waxed lyrical about the virtues of British courses like this and how lucky we are to have these places and how there are so many lessons to learn. I would, except that Peter, as is so often the case, has done a far better job of nailing it.

For a start, he doesn't write things like "nailing it." 

[Tony_Muldoon]

Loving this Ed

On the other thread someone asked re Thurlestone.  There are similarities both cliftop and both not sand?  Both splendid views.   Mullion looks like smaller greens and more lay of the land stuff.  Thurlestone was a full  on Colt construction with hundreds of bunkers, most of which have since disappeared. This leaves the course feeling strangely unfinished.  But there's still a good golf course there.

South Devon is lovely and Thurlestone Golf Club were one of the friendliest I've ever visited so I hope to get back soon. Some how loading these pics up has corrupted my photobucket settings and I've not been able to get a full sized image since. But this will give an idea.


EDIT    WTF!!!!  I have posted a few of these before several times and they've never presented correctly until now!  Will try and do its own thread this week.

[Ed Tilley]

Hole 8 – 155 yards par 3
A lovely par 3 teeing off by the beach playing uphill. It’s easy to underclub and leave yourself in the very deep bunkers short – note the steps! A wickedly sloping green from back to front and left to right can leave some treacherous putts.





Hole 9 – 445 yard par 5
My least favourite hole on the course. In truth, this is a slog straight up a steep hill (hence the par of 5 for only a 445 yard hole). It is very tight with trouble left and right. The green is quite nicely situated sloping from back to front but you want to get off this hole and onto the lovely 10th as soon as possible.





Hole 10 – 394 yard par 4

A truly lovely hole with a fantastic “death or glory” approach to a green with a deep pit short and right. An iron or fairway wood to the top of the hill leaves you in the perfect spot. You can play safely left. However, left of the bunkers leaves a very treacherous pitch shot and you’ll do well to keep it on the green. Enjoy!













Hole 11 – 158 yard par 3

A really lovely par 3 playing slightly uphill. The green slopes severely from back right to front left making hitting the green in the right place very important. Some tricky chips await anyone missing the green.







Hole 12 – 385 yard par 4
Number 9 take note – this is how to do a hole going up the hill. Rather than just going straight up, this turns to the left meaning you are playing across the hill as well as up for the second. The green site is lovely with a big two tiered green – the flag in these photos is on the bottom tier with the top tier extending to the steep bank at the back.





Last 6 to follow

[Ed Tilley]

Hey Muldoon - butt out and get your own thread

I haven't played Thurlestone. I have stayed at Bigbury a couple of times in the apartments overlooking Burgh Island. I played Bigbury golf club a few times which I enjoyed. We also went for a walk from Bantham all the way along the cliff top path by Thurlestone and back via some of the more inland holes so I've seen most of it. I liked what I saw but it definitely had a more constructed look than Mullion which largely sits naturally on the land it was given.

Ed

[Matt MacIver]

Great thread, both commentary and pix.  Quite simply, this makes me want to play golf.

Did I miss some info on who the architect(s) are and some course history?  This area is high on my list of next trips, (un)fortunately its a very long list.

Ed - you mention OB a few times...how prevalent is it?  Like the Old Course where you've enough room to always play away from it, or scaring you to death on more than a few occasions?  I ask because I'm wild...

[Ed Tilley]

Great thread, both commentary and pix.  Quite simply, this makes me want to play golf.

Did I miss some info on who the architect(s) are and some course history?  This area is high on my list of next trips, (un)fortunately its a very long list.

Ed - you mention OB a few times...how prevalent is it?  Like the Old Course where you've enough room to always play away from it, or scaring you to death on more than a few occasions?  I ask because I'm wild...

Looking at the website it appears that this was all done in house. The design is credited to William Sich who was the first captain of the club in 1895. The club almost folded a few times over the years and was reduced to 9 holes after the war. The full 18 was re-established in the 60's celebrated by an exhibition match featuring Peter Alliss and Dai Rees.

There is only really OOB on 2 holes - the 6th and 17th. On both occasions you can play well away from the trouble. There is plenty of room at Mullion. You will be disadvantaged if you go off line but not unduly penalised - a great plus for a crooked golfer like me.

[David_Tepper]

Ed T. -

Many thanks for the pics and the tour. Looking at a map of Britain the other day, I was surprised to see that it is almost as far from London to the end of Cornwall (300+ miles) as it is from London to the Scottish Border (370 miles). I never thought of Cornwall as being that remote.

DT 

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Played Mullion a couple of times,fun,fun,fun...would go back at any opportunity

[Thomas Dai]

Thanks for posting Ed. The more I see the more I'd like to visit/play Mullion. As you say though, a long journey to get there.

Was Mullion for sale sometime in the last year or so, or was it another course in that area? I seem to recall some media/GCA? mentions.

Atb

[Ed Tilley]

Reading back through my previous posts on this thread, I realise that I have used the word “lovely” about 500 times. I will not use this word again other than to say this – Mullion is a lovely, lovely course.

Hole 13 – 344 yards par 4

Ostensibly there is not much to this hole - a short par 4 on reasonably flat ground. However, this is one of my favourite holes. There are bunkers left and right of the fairway but the beauty is near the  green with bunkers in the fairway 10 yards short and short left and right. There is a little ridge just short of the green after which the green slopes gently away. The pitch is therefore extremely difficult to judge and it is very easy to be faced with a 40 foot putt or a pitch back up the slope.









Hole 14 – 354 yards par 4

Similar to the 3rd this par 4 plays back towards the sea with everything running from left to right. The safe play off the tee is left but you need to be right to get a good angle into the green.







Hole 15 – 404 yards par 4

A bit of a nothing hole really. Slightly uphill and away from the sea with no real interest around the green. Not Mullion’s best.



Hole 16 – 124 yards par 3

An interesting par 3 with several bunkers short making you think short is the place to avoid. However, the real trouble is over the back with a steep drop off to bushes. Picking the right club is essential.





Hole 17 – 305 yards par 4

A short par 4 playing slightly uphill. However, a road runs all the way along the right of the hole tight to the fairway and green. The simplistic genius of this hole is the one small bunker short and left of the green with the green itself sloping from front left to back right. There is all the room in the world to play safely left away from the OOB. However, the bunker and the slope means that only a drive from the right place in the fairway – i.e. bringing the road into play – stands a chance of getting the ball close.
 


Hole 18 – 388 yards par 4

A good finishing hole with a rolling fairway and a road just short of the green. Despite its moderate length this is no easy 4.





Doing this tour has made me realise again what a really good course Mullion is. The aim of the game should, in my view, be for golfers to have fun. Mullion does this as well as almost any course I know.

[Garland Bayley]

Thanks for the tour Ed. This was a possible for my southwest England tour, but time available caused it to be cut.

I'm sure I would have rather played it than Saunton East.

[Ed Tilley]

Was Mullion for sale sometime in the last year or so, or was it another course in that area? I seem to recall some media/GCA? mentions.

Atb

Can't see any evidence of that online - I think the club is doing reasonably well and it's not as if the site is going to be sold for housing!

[Ben Stephens]

Was Mullion for sale sometime in the last year or so, or was it another course in that area? I seem to recall some media/GCA? mentions.

Atb

Can't see any evidence of that online - I think the club is doing reasonably well and it's not as if the site is going to be sold for housing!

Thomas

I think you are referring to Cape Cornwall Golf Club that was up for sale a few years ago not Mullion.

Cheers
Ben

 

[Thomas Dai]

I think you are referring to Cape Cornwall Golf Club that was up for sale a few years ago not Mullion.
Cheers
Ben

Thanks Ben, it was indeed Cape Cornwall I was thinking of.

Atb

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks Ed, this looks terrific. Just when you thought you'd seen them all.


I presume most of your plays were in summer?   What is the soil like?  With a lot of greens requiring the ball to be fed in, that really demonstrate the superiority of sand based soil.   Laom produces rich grabby turf and clay can become rock like.

6053 yards, Par 70, SSS 70, off the white tees.

[Ed Tilley]

Thanks Ed, this looks terrific. Just when you thought you'd seen them all.


I presume most of your plays were in summer?   What is the soil like?  With a lot of greens requiring the ball to be fed in, that really demonstrate the superiority of sand based soil.   Laom produces rich grabby turf and clay can become rock like.

6053 yards, Par 70, SSS 70, off the white tees.

Tony,

Actually, our family holiday was always Easter so almost all the times I've played it have been then, the only other time being a couple of games in late October. Obviously, in that part of the world there has been known to be the odd drop of rain at those times! We usually played a selection of links courses and one inland 9 hole track that was very close to the Helford River where we stayed. Mullion was always in a similar condition to the likes of West Cornwall and Perranporth, and significantly dryer than any inland courses we played at. We all just thought of it as a links course and I assume the soil is sand based, although I never really stopped to think about it at the time. It's always been in great shape whenever I've played it.

Ed

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks Ed, this looks terrific. Just when you thought you'd seen them all.


I presume most of your plays were in summer?   What is the soil like?  With a lot of greens requiring the ball to be fed in, that really demonstrate the superiority of sand based soil.   Laom produces rich grabby turf and clay can become rock like.

6053 yards, Par 70, SSS 70, off the white tees.

Tony,

Actually, our family holiday was always Easter so almost all the times I've played it have been then, the only other time being a couple of games in late October. Obviously, in that part of the world there has been known to be the odd drop of rain at those times! We usually played a selection of links courses and one inland 9 hole track that was very close to the Helford River where we stayed. Mullion was always in a similar condition to the likes of West Cornwall and Perranporth, and significantly dryer than any inland courses we played at. We all just thought of it as a links course and I assume the soil is sand based, although I never really stopped to think about it at the time. It's always been in great shape whenever I've played it.

Ed

Bonus points!   Definitely on The List.

[Sam Krume]

First played mullion in 2003 and have always loved this place. Some really lovely holes here, my favourites are around the turn and the run down to the beach.

[Ed Tilley]

Thanks Ed, this looks terrific. Just when you thought you'd seen them all.


I presume most of your plays were in summer?   What is the soil like?  With a lot of greens requiring the ball to be fed in, that really demonstrate the superiority of sand based soil.   Laom produces rich grabby turf and clay can become rock like.

6053 yards, Par 70, SSS 70, off the white tees.

Tony,

Actually, our family holiday was always Easter so almost all the times I've played it have been then, the only other time being a couple of games in late October. Obviously, in that part of the world there has been known to be the odd drop of rain at those times! We usually played a selection of links courses and one inland 9 hole track that was very close to the Helford River where we stayed. Mullion was always in a similar condition to the likes of West Cornwall and Perranporth, and significantly dryer than any inland courses we played at. We all just thought of it as a links course and I assume the soil is sand based, although I never really stopped to think about it at the time. It's always been in great shape whenever I've played it.

Ed

Bonus points!   Definitely on The List.

Thinking about it, the last time I played it was in June 2012, the only time I've played in the Summer. I only mention it because the course played pretty much the same as it always did, specifically there was no massive rough to speak of. Playing a links in June usually means thick rough but Mullion clearly know their clientele and keep the rough short. Except for a few holes, the playing areas are very wide, with punishment for being offline being awkward approaches, and a struggle for par, rather than lost balls. The course is a lot narrower for a good player than it is for an average player as good players need to hit specific spots to score well. As a result I've never really played with anyone there who hasn't enjoyed the game.

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