ST ENODOC’S STUNNING NEW FACELIFT REVEALED

Classic links golf course furthers its reputation as a world Top 100 venue

St Enodoc, widely regarded by many golfers as one of the world’s finest links courses, has been given a facelift - and reveals her newfound beauty for the first time in a set of sensational new pictures by Kevin Murray.

The famous course - founded in 1890, designed by James Braid in 1907 and remodelled by him in 1935 – is determined to retain its proudly-won reputation as a regular World Top 100 course against competition from multi-million pound new developments from around the globe.

So remodellers Weller McEvoy were called in to bring the course up to date, making subtle changes which have been designed to toughen up the rolling, meandering layout while complementing its spectacular and historic North Cornwall features.

St Enodoc General Manager Tuck Clagett, said: "We didn't want to be prisoners to length, so many of the changes are subtle and strategic, designed to give the golfer plenty to think about.

“It was vital to our members - and visitors - that we retained many of the features and characteristics that have stood the test of time and made St Enodoc famous around the world. But we also had to appreciate that technological advances had blunted the teeth of some of the holes.

“The 16th, for example, was a very pretty par 5 but golfers were disappointed if they came off with par. Lengthening the hole by 70 yards and introducing a dramatic new green complex has made the hole much more challenging and now given St Enodoc three tremendous finishing holes."

St. Enodoc began its course development plan in 2004, with the first phase adding 10 new back (Blue) tees to the course, while a bunkering programme introduced new sand traps to holes 5, 7, 12, and 14. The bunkers on hole 11 were completely re-shaped and re-faced.

Phase Two involved a new green complex on 13, moving it 25 yards back and increasing the elevation of the green by approximately 8-9 feet. This complicated design changed the hole dramatically - allowing for more pin positions, guarded by two new bunkers front and back.

An additional project to phase two was the addition of a new practice green adjacent to the 1st tee and a new pathway to the 1st.

But Phase Three was the piece de resistance, moving the Par 5 16th green back some 70 yards, with McEvoy designing a beautiful new two-tier green guarded by three bunkers and collection swales and a site-line bunker in the fairway.

Peter McEvoy, OBE, of Weller McEvoy, said: "St Enodoc is a fabulous course, one of the finest links courses in the world, and we were adamant that the modifications should be sympathetic to the original design.

“We wanted to restore the challenge the course presented – a challenge that had been slightly compromised by the effect of modern equipment.

“We felt that alteration to the distinctive greens, which shed rather than gather balls, would be inappropriate, as it would change the essence of the challenge at St Enodoc, which is a superb natural links course.

“However, several opportunities existed for creating new greens, to be styled in keeping the existing ones.

"Raised, revetted faces were felt to be the best way of creating more attractive and more penal hazards while some new tees have added length and others have created more challenging driving angles."

Following advice from an agronomist brought in by Weller McEvoy, the club’s greenkeeping staff completed the revetting of existing bunkers, construction of new bunkers and a new tees. A specialist shaper, Mike Smith, was used for some grading work.

Construction of a new short game practice area – again designed by McEvoy – begins this Autumn.

Tuck Clagett, St Enodoc GC
Tel: 01208 863216, email: tuck.clagett@st-enodoc.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

- WELLER MCEVOY

Weller McEvoy is focused on remodelling golf courses, and offers solutions to the length, safety and general wear & tear issues faced by modern day golf clubs. Peter McEvoy, Bruce Weller and David Weller have, between them, completed over 100 golf course design, construction and remodelling projects during the last 15 years Peter McEvoy OBE has been a leading figure in British golf for over 35 years. He remains the only British amateur golfer to make the cut at The Masters, and has completed golf design & consultancy projects in 15 countries around the world. Bruce Weller is a qualified landscape designer, horticulturalist and EIGCA Member. He has 16 years’ golf course design experience, working with Bernhard Langer’s design partnership and Peter Alliss Golf Designs. David Weller’s career in the golf industry spans 14 years, with a special focus on golf course construction and on-site project management. He has a BSC in Plant Biology.

- ST ENODOC GOLF CLUB

St Enodoc Golf Club, overlooking the River Camel estuary in Padstow Bay on the north Cornwall coast, was originally designed by James Braid in 1907 and remodelled by him in 1935. There are two 18-hole golf courses there. The longer of the two, The Church, is regularly included in UK and World Top 100 lists, and is regarded as one of classic English links golf courses.