West Cornwall Golf Club

West Cornwall Golf Club is the oldest existing golf course in Cornwall, founded in 1889 and set above St Ives Bay at Lelant. The course occupies an attractive stretch of linksland overlooking the Hayle Estuary and Gwithian Beach, with the surrounding dunes, railway and coastline giving the layout a strong sense of place. Its long history and relatively compact scale provide a traditional form of Cornish golf that is quite different from the larger championship links at nearby Saunton or St Enodoc.

Although not especially long by modern standards, West Cornwall makes good use of its natural terrain. Blind tee shots, raised greens, dunes and tightly positioned bunkers create a course where positioning is often more important than distance. Several holes look towards St Ives Bay and the surrounding Cornish coastline, while the firm summer fairways encourage the traditional links game of running the ball into the greens. The club's history is also tied to Jim Barnes, a four-time major champion who was associated with West Cornwall.