St. Enodoc profile is posted under Architecture Timeline

[Ran Morrissett]

If you were to conjure up the perfect course setting, what would it be? For the longest time, I thought either Shinnecock Hills or Ballybunion would do nicely. Yet, why not throw in a connection to water in the case of Shinnecock and Ballybunion’s coastline would be (in my dream world) more irregular. If you like different environments, what about Cypress Point or Cabot Cliffs with their mix of dunes, cliffs, and inland?


The juxtaposition of supreme linksland and farmland is a sight to behold. The tip of red flag on the 3rd green is barely visible.

Wherever you mind goes, I doubt it is to Cornwall and St. Enodoc. Why? Because such a diverse property seems almost beyond what a brain could summon. You start with sea views and a mere two holes later you are in rolling farmland. No one in the right mind would envisage the tenth and the concept of circling a church is without precedent. My brother John has expressed the view that St. Enodoc may well occupy the best piece of property of any course on the planet. At a minimum, it is in the discussion.

With that being said, the course’s evolution over nearly 130 years seems to have taken maximum advantage of nature’s bounty. The thing that most struck me was how little this links relies on bunkers to provide the challenge. That stands in testimony to the merits of the land and also to James Braid’s design ethos. While the neatest black and white photos from the Golden Age may well be of Alister MacKenzie’s bunkers, bunkers are nonetheless an artifice. And at some point, bunkers make courses look similar to one another rather than different. Just as designers in the 1980s used water too much as a crutch, it seems to me that today’s designs are all about bunker aesthetics and ‘eroding’ faces.

Without question, the single most identifying aspect of any course is the land itself. In the case of St. Enodoc, Braid’s design with a tip of the cap to Fowler & Simpson (who were also famous for a light touch) showed great creativity in how various aspects of the property were utilized. That’s what its design represents – Braid’s homage to a very special piece of land.

St Enodoc enjoys its own unique ‘voice’ highlighted for me by its five bunkerless greens (e.g. the 1^st, 3^rd, 6^th, 10^th and 14^th). It stands as a showpiece of minimalism and it makes me appreciate Braid the designer all the more. It also makes me appreciate the club’s stewardship for not giving in to passing fads and fancies over the generations. 

Here is the link and of course, a link to Sean Arble’s excellent review is included in my effort:

http://golfclubatlas.com/st-enodoc-golf-club/

Best,

[John Mayhugh]

And at some point, bunkers make courses look similar to one another rather than different. Just as designers in the 1980s used water too much as a crutch, it seems to me that today’s designs are all about bunker aesthetics and ‘eroding’ faces.

Without question, the single most identifying aspect of any course is the land itself.

Ran,

Seeing this profile has made made my day.  I recently talked to a friend about why England is my favorite place to play, and I'll point him to this to help illustrate my point.  Paired with the Mildenhall profile, you get a fine illustration of the great diversity of landscapes.  Two brilliant courses both utilizing what the land offered. 

One could play only James Braid courses and be sure of some head scratching, plenty of challenge, and a great time.

[Bob Montle]

I am in LOVE! 
Surely this course cannot be real - it must be the Brigadoon of golf courses. 
Even your photos look more like paintings, and give an ethereal appearance.

The rumpled fairways.  The varied views.  The challenging drives and the LOVELY and difficult one shotters.

Never has a profile struck me like this one. 
Never have I been so enticed to retire and move to where I could play this ONE course for the rest of my life.

Thank you Ran!!!   This afternoon has been my best experience ever on GCA.
I know where my vacation will be next year.

[Thomas Dai]

St Enodoc has two courses, the extremely photogenic Church as described in this profile and the SA referenced photo-tour thread, and the lessor known and shorter on the card Holywell, which sits with it’s smallish size greens atop some delightfully humpy-bumpy sandy land to the north of the Clubhouse.


The Holywell is, like quite a few other ‘second’ courses at famous locations, worth playing.
Here is an insight, initially based around one particular hole, then expanding into a more general St-E discussion -
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62905.msg1497785.html#msg1497785


If your down that way but can’t get on the Church for whatever reason, don’t ignore the Holywell.


Atb

[Rich Goodale]

WOW, Ran!  Best profile ever!

If I have the chance I'm going to drive down to Cornwall with Josie this summer.  If not, what a perfect place for BUDA 2019?!

Rich

[Peter Pallotta]

Bob - I hope your dream comes true, i.e. vacation there at a bare minimum, and hopefully retire there too!


I had a similar (if not so strong) reaction - and for many of the same reasons you cite. But I think for me the image that sold the place was the farmland being worked next to the 3rd green.


That happy (and sensible) integration of essential/practical life with the sporting life seems so sane and healthy-minded; it puts the game in a proper perspective, and yet somehow elevates it at the same time.


Best
Peter
 

[Adam Lawrence]

I really love St Enodoc. One interesting thing (to me at least): the first time I went there, I was blown away by the beauty and general wonderment of the place. I probably didn't look too closely at the golf.


Second and subsequent times, it became clear to me just how much great golf there was.

[David Davis]

Yet another excellent review Ran. Thanks for posting.


Did you photoshop the nice weather into those pics or are those promotional pics after months of camping out?


It's on the very tip top of my wish-list for 2018 and I will be fulfilling that area visit happy to say.

[Charles Lund]

Thanks for the detailed review.


About a year ago, I began looking at options for an August trip for a couple of weeks.  I decided to try a trip to the UK with limited driving for no more than two weeks.  St. Enodoc was described in tne Gourmet's Choice section of The Confidential Guide.  They offered a five day ticket.  I was considering three rounds and had booked two tee times ahead of time.  After I drove into the parking lot, the visible area of the course made it a quick seduction and i asked about the five day ticket.  They offered three additional tee times to make the five day ticket work.


This turned out to provide me with an exquisite golf experience.


In my second week, I played Royal Notrh Devon, the two Saunton courses, and Burnham and Berrow, which supplemented St. Enodoc nicely.


The experience in this area convinced me to work out a loop trip in another part of England as an add on to a briefer stop in Ireland in County Donegal.  I am hoping for a comparable experience next June.


Charles Lund

[PCCraig]

St. Enodoc looks absolutely amazing and about as perfect of a course and setting to my eye as I've seen in a long time...perhaps since the Cape Arundel profile...


GREAT profile, Ran.

[George Pazin]

I am in LOVE! 
Surely this course cannot be real - it must be the Brigadoon of golf courses. 
Even your photos look more like paintings, and give an ethereal appearance.

The rumpled fairways.  The varied views.  The challenging drives and the LOVELY and difficult one shotters.

Never has a profile struck me like this one. 
Never have I been so enticed to retire and move to where I could play this ONE course for the rest of my life.

Thank you Ran!!!   This afternoon has been my best experience ever on GCA.
I know where my vacation will be next year.

Noel Freeman has written quite extensively about St. Enodoc, I will see if I can find those threads/articles. They are pretty amazing.


Someday....

[Pete Lavallee]

Its amazing that the Church was buried in the sands of the shifting dunes from 1500 until 1864!

[David_Tepper]

I played St. Endoc by myself (and first off the 1st tee) on a beautiful June morning in 2002. It was a wonderful experience. Since there was no one behind me, I had a chance to spend a few minutes inside the church. Very cool. 

[John Mayhugh]

David,
I had a 36 hole March day there by myself.  If anyone's interested, the church was worth a visit.
DSC02734 by john mayhugh, on Flickr

DSC02947 by john mayhugh, on Flickr

DSC02742 by john mayhugh, on Flickr

[David_Tepper]

John M. -

Great pics. Thanks.

DT

[ward peyronnin]

Thanks for posting Ran. SE is at least in my world top 10 if not 5.

Contrapuntally to the efficient use of bunkers the sixth whole sports what is one of the most dramatic (tall) bunkers of the world but which is just part of a crackingly good hole. Also the chow is great in and arounc Roc/Padstow

[Charles Lund]

Link to 6th hole pics:


https://goo.gl/photos/iwU373m1QsDuhBez7


Charles Lund

[Charles Lund]

Link to 10th hole pics.


https://photos.app.goo.gl/XBWbif0FzJuWc4cC2


Charles Lund

[John Kirk]

Sensational review.  Beautiful golf course, and very enjoyable to read.  Thanks, Ran!

[Garland Bayley]

Thanks for letting me recall the star of the 2014 Buda experience. Any chance we will see Perranporth grace these profiles?