Harbour Holidays


Discover the Top Golf Courses in Cornwall

St Enodoc Golf Course

Photo Courtesy of St Enodoc Golf Club

When you think of a holiday in Cornwall, it’s usually beaches, surf and rugged coastlines that spring to mind. However, tucked away amidst its breathtaking scenery are some of the finest golf courses in the UK, where fairways fold to the edge of the ocean.

Boasting a variety of world-class links and parkland courses that pepper the coast and countryside, there are greens for all levels – from golf enthusiasts to holidaymakers looking for adventures away from the beach. Beyond some of the best golf courses close to Padstow, we go county-wide with our pick of the top golf courses in Cornwall

Top Golf Courses in North Cornwall

Church-Hole-16-St-Enodoc-Cornwall

Photo Courtesy of St Enodoc Golf Club

St Enodoc Golf Club, Rock

One of Cornwall’s – if not Britain’s – finest and most scenic golf courses, the St Enodoc Golf Club links course boasts ever-changing panoramas overlooking the dramatic Cornish coast near Padstow. Of the two courses (the Church Course and the Holywell Course), it’s the Church Course that’s consistently ranked among the top courses in the UK for its panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, undulating fairways and tricky greens. However, the Holywell Bay includes its own perks, including a historic Holy Well near its 12th hole. Located so close to the water’s edge, you can float over on the ferry from a holiday cottage in Padstow, or base yourself in stylish seaside accommodation in Rock.

Trevose Golf & Country Club, Padstow

Also close to Padstow, and ranked as one of the top links courses in the country, Trevose Golf & Country Club offers superb golfing amidst spectacular coastal scenery. Three distinct loops of nine holes are set against the backdrop of Constantine Bay. Hone your skills on the driving range before taking on the Championship Course – designed by renowned architect Harry Colt – which provides a stern test of golf with its strategic bunkering and coastal winds. If you want to combine golfing, surfing and coastal walks, hole up in a luxury beachside holiday home in Constantine Bay or see our post on holiday cottages near golf courses in Cornwall.

Bowood Park Golf Club, nr Camelford

Situated in the heart of North Cornwall’s countryside, Bowood Park Golf Club beckons you to swing into action in lush parkland surrounded by rolling hills and ancient woodland. The course’s signature hole, the par-3 15th demands precision, with its elevated tee and water hazard guarding the green. The course is beautifully located just 20 minutes’ drive from our coastal holiday cottages in the picturesque fishing village of Port Isaac.

Newquay Golf Club

Not just a destination for surfers, Newquay is also a top spot for golfers looking for a stunning 18 holes between the beach and the beach bars. At Newquay Golf Club the fairways overlook the UK’s surfing capital of Fistral Beach, so you can check the surf as you tee off, and cool off in the waves just a pebble’s throw from the final hole. Stay nearby in our Mawgan Porth holiday homes.

Top Golf Courses in West Cornwall

Perranporth-Golf-club

Photo Courtesy of Perranporth Golf Club

West Cornwall Golf Club, Hayle

Perched atop the cliffs overlooking St Ives Bay, West Cornwall Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs in Cornwall, dating back to 1889. Its classic links layout, designed by James Braid, meanders through towering dunes and bracken-covered hills, offering eye-popping views of the Atlantic Ocean. However, such heady views mean that the greens are also exposed to the coastal weather, so the wind often plays a pivotal role in the game.

Cape Cornwall Golf Club, St Just

If you’re set on exploring the wild landscapes of West Penwith, make time for a round of golf near the iconic Cape Cornwall. Here, the Cape Cornwall Club features a nine-hole course set amidst heathland and gorse, providing a unique golfing experience with panoramic vistas of the rugged coastline. Aside from a gob-smacking golfing experience, you can also strike out on foot to Cape Cornwall itself, dip in the sea pool at Priest’s Cove and step back into Cornwall’s mining heritage at the World Heritage sites on the doorstep. 

Praa Sands Golf Club, nr Penzance

Part of Praa Sands Holiday Park, the scenic Praa Sands Golf Club is a sublime spot if you’re looking to take a swing on a nine-hole course overlooking golden sands. With a mix of parkland and links-style holes, it’s suitable for golfers of all abilities, and open to pay and play just a pebble’s skim from the shoreline. While you’re on the south coast, make sure you check out Mount’s Bay, and even hop on a boat to nearby St Michael’s Mount. 

Perranporth Golf Club, Perranporth 

Perched above Perranporth’s majestic miles of wave-lashed sands, Perranporth Golf Club boasts the natural James Braid-designed course – a masterpiece of golf architecture that’s regularly rated in Britain’s top 50 courses. If you’re looking for a skills test and scenery, both come in equal measure, as the course design takes full advantage of the dramatic Cornish landscape while building unique challenges into every hole. 

Top Golf Courses in South Cornwall

Carlyon Bay Golf Club

Photo Courtesy of Carlyon Bay Golf Club

Carlyon Bay Golf Club, St Austell

Watch wheeling gulls and see if you can score a birdie on this championship course, boasting lush fairways and pristine greens that roll to the edge of the ocean. Inviting you on a golfing adventure and coastal ramble overlooking St. Austell Bay, Carlyon Bay Golf Club merges parkland and links golf, with natural hazards, strategic tests, and oh, so dreamy views. Its elemental features mean no two rounds are ever the same. 

Mullion Golf Club, Mullion

The Lizard Peninsula is one of our favourite spots to visit on a day trip to Cornwall’s south coast. And whereas the world-famous Kynance Cove is the destination on many visitors’ agendas, it pays to get up early to gawp up at its wild beauty, leaving plenty of time for a round of golf at Mullion Golf Club. Here, on the closest golf course to England’s most southerly point, you’ll find far fewer crowds than you will at Kynance, yet from the fairways you can still soak up the picturesque scenery of the Lizard and its dramatic coastline. 

Gillyflower Golf, Lostwithiel, nr Fowey

Tucked away in the Fowey Valley, Gillyflower Golf offers a scenic nine-hole course with an ecological twist. Wind your way on an adventure through ancient woodland and along the banks of meandering streams, challenging your skills on lush fairways and natural hazards. All this combines to create a memorable golfing experience on one of the most eco-friendly golf courses in Britain. 

Top Golf Courses in South East Cornwall

St Mellion Estate Golf Club

Photo Courtesy of St Mellion Estate

St Mellion Golf Club and International Resort, Saltash

Ranked as one of the best golf resorts in the world, St Mellion Golf Club is an internationally-renowned golfer’s paradise and home of the best course in the west of England. However, it’s not only the golfing aficionados that will appreciate the highs and lows of the Nicklaus Signature Course, which has featured multiple times as a European Tour venue. Even if your golfing skills don’t measure up to its challenges, elevated tees and stunning vantage points ensure a spectacular experience, whether or not you’re on par.

China Fleet Country Club, Saltash

It’s not only St Mellion that’s highly rated as a golf course in South East Cornwall. Nestled on the banks of the River Tamar, China Fleet Country Club is home to an adventurous 18-hole course set against the backdrop of Cornwall’s rolling hills and tidal creeks. The championship layout provides a true test of golfing skill for players of all abilities, while the 180-acre estate is also home to a health club and spa, all just 15 minutes from Plymouth. 

Whitsand Bay Golf Club

Sprawled over the cliff tops above the rugged shoreline, Whitsand Bay Golf Club’s 18-hole course has to be one of the most sublime and friendly spots for a game of golf with sea views in Cornwall. The contours of the terrain pose interesting challenges for low handicappers and newbies to the game, while the sea view clubhouse makes a delightful spot for members and visitors to mingle over food and drink. 

Looe Golf Club, Looe

Situated on the outskirts of the historic fishing town of Looe, Looe Golf Club offers an alternative location to soak up the breathtaking views from St George’s Island to the peaks of Dartmoor. Designed by six times Open champion, Harry Vardon, you can guarantee challenges for all levels of golfers, and between tees you can pin-point the spot for the next leg of your adventure – whether that’s a boat trip to St George’s Island, a moorland hike, or crabbing off the harbour wall. 

Book a holiday cottage close to the top golf courses in Cornwall

From the windswept links of North Cornwall to the tranquil parkland courses of South Cornwall, Cornwall offers a diverse array of golfing experiences.

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer seeking a new challenge or a holidaymaker looking to explore the beauty of Cornwall’s coastline, pack your clubs and book one of our coastal cottages for a golfing holiday close to some of the top golf courses in Cornwall. Or choose another of our Cornish cottages and head out on the road to discover the county’s finest fairways.

Need Help?
Call - 01841 533402