Bude: Cornwall’s hidden gem that is fun, fun, fun
As far as golfing prowess is concerned, golf in the westcountry is very much alive and kicking. None more so than at Bude & North Cornwall.
Situated close to other south-west gems including Royal North Devon and Saunton up the road, and St Enodoc and Trevose a bit further south, Bude is well worth a visit on any golfing trip to the Cornwall coastline.
Bude placed 36th in our list of the most fun courses in GB&I, and for good reason. This is a quirky, thrilling course full of plateau greens, blind drives and rumpled fairways.
The greens are lightning fast and feature both harsh and subtle borrows that will seriously test your ability to read a putt.
The front nine boasts a run of treacherous par-fours. The third hole features a sharp dogleg fairway and an elevated, undulating green that is protected by bunkers on the left, right and front. The sixth hole is another great test, but the jewel in the crown is the par-four seventh.
You will most likely require a fairway wood or strong iron shot to avoid the mounds and marshy water hazard that flank the fairway, while overshooting the blind plateau green on this 346-yard par-four could prove costly.
History
The course was established in 1891 on the common land known as Summerleaze Downs and quickly garnered a reputation for quality.
Legendary player and course designer Harry Vardon was a regular visitor early on in the 20th century and held the course record for a number of years.
Back then the track measured a mere 5,534 yards, but subsequent updates to Tom Dunn’s original design work have extended it just past the 6,000-yard mark.
Why it’s special
The course boasts natural all-weather, undulating fairways and excellent drainage which means that it is very rarely unplayable, ensuring your golf trip will not be dictated by the unpredictable seaside weather.
Where does it rank?
178th in GB&I, 80th in England, 36th in GB&I Fun and 81st in Best Value.
Where is it?
Bude sits on the North Cornwall coast and is easily accessible from south-west towns Barnstaple and Newquay.
Get in touch with Bude & North Cornwall
For more information about the club and course, visit Bude & North Cornwall’s website or call 01288 352 006.
Have you played Bude & North Cornwall? Let us know in the comments, or tweet us.
Ben Outhwaite
Ben is National Club Golfer's Marketing Editor and the latest addition to our golf equipment review team.
He specialises in testing golf bags, beginner golf club sets, apparel and golf accessories. He also collates our buying guides so you know which are the latest and greatest bits of golf equipment on the market.
Ben picked up his first golf club when he was five years old – which was in fact a left-handed set of clubs!
He is a member at Rudding Park Golf Club and has a handicap of fifteen.
