Trevose Golf & Country Club Feature Review

Review by Golfshake Ambassador Matt Holbrook, October 2019

Trevose Golf and Country Club is positioned a few miles north of Newquay and has formed part of the famous 'Atlantic Links' since opening in 1925.

Harry Colt designed this Golfshake Highly Recommended Championship Course, which also boasts a range of accommodation making it a perfect spot to base a stay and play golf trip.

The course is split into two nines, all of which are fairly visible from the 1st tee. The front nine shows its affection for the sand dunes and shoreline, while the back sits a bit more inland but offers no less a challenge.

Pre-Round Thoughts

I checked in at the Pro Shop which was very spacious and fresh looking full of everything you would need or want. Just off from there, I checked in with the starter in his hut - had lovely chat with him and discovered that his father was a former pro, and the way he spoke of the club and the course will stick with me. Such pride and joy and love for the job and I can see why.

I had a quick drink and bite to eat in the fairways restaurant overlooking the links through the huge windows before having a quick putt and heading to the 1st tee.

Front 9 Overview

The opening hole is a real tough start. 440 yards with the wind more often coming off the sea to the left you will most probably be aiming out in that direction hoping to avoid the three well placed fairway bunkers. The perfect tee shot will be up the left-hand side, However with the wind in full effect a semi-blind second shot from the right hand side due to the large dune blocking out the view of the green will leave you chasing par.

The first feature hole and undoubtedly the most famous hole on the course comes at the par 5 4th. A hole that dog-legs right to left around a large sand dune and turns to head directly towards the beach and Atlantic Ocean. If you manage to get your tee shot away, you could have a go at the green in two although this largely depends on wind direction. Should you decide to lay-up, you will need to avoid a series of deep pot bunkers that guard the left and centre of the fairway.

The green is set over a slight brow in the land and runs away from you meaning you can chase the ball into the putting surface. As you arrive at the green your golf becomes secondary consideration as one of the best views of golf presents itself to you.

The 7th is another challenging hole as you play back towards the sea - and probably into the wind. The two bunkers on the right shouldn't come into play, however the two large deep bunkers at the front and either side of the raised green will. The green is narrow and long and falls away at the front, so playing up and into the wind you could be easily looking at two of three clubs more on approach.

The 9th is an accessible par 5. Playing at just 454 yard from the white tee the par can be misleading. The green is raised way above the fairway leading to a tricky approach, but it’s really off the tee where the trouble is found. The five fairway bunkers sit in ideal positions to catch out drives, and second shots, depending if you are hitting longer or laying up.

If you can manoeuvre around those your shot into the green needs to be a good strike, anything short may come back down 40 yards.

Back 9 Overview

The back nine starts as the front finishes, a tidy par 5, not great in length, but fraught with danger in the shape of the stream running down the right hand side (The 9th plays the same direction as the 1st so more often than not the wind will be off the left) and then cuts across the fairway. If you're considering taking this green on in two blows, make sure you have enough club to carry the two front bunkers.

At this point I would recommend a stop in the halfway hut - a bacon bap and slice of lemon drizzle won’t do any harm.

The 12th is fairly long par 4 but should be downwind, so this is one hole where you feel like you can really open up and take advantage so long as you avoid the traps down the left-hand side. Then the 13th is a huge 570-yard par 5 that may well be playing into wind. With OOB all the way down the left-hand side and precise tee shot avoiding bunkers and the same again with the second shot will still leave you a fairly long shot into the green, make a five here and run.

Beware of the blind ditch on your approach to the 17th green before heading to an excellent finishing hole.

The par 4 18th. A fitting end to a great course, it plays uphill back towards the clubhouse and dog-legs slightly to the left. You will need to avoid the large bunker on the right-hand side of the fairway from the tee all the while being mindful of the out of bounds which hugs the left side of the hole all the way to the green.

The green itself sits to the left of clubhouse and significantly raised making your second shot play a couple of clubs longer than normal. Should you fall short, there are three pot bunkers waiting to gobble your ball making an up and down very difficult indeed.

Post-Round Thoughts

What stood out most for me at Trevose was the bunkering. I felt like every hole had well placed bunkers ready to punish what may be deemed as good shot.

The fairway bunkers are placed in such positions that really makes you think off the tee and the greenside traps looked daunting and tough. It’s a great feature.

The real challenge will be the weather conditions, catch it on a windy day and it will be extremely difficult but still enjoyable. As you would also expect with a links course of such standing, its excellently conditioned and has no problem taking some water.

For higher handicappers it may play hard, but it should be enjoyed for what it is, a true links test in every sense of the word.

That's a wrap from @TrevoseGC
Stunning golf course playing so tough today in 40mph winds. @golfshake pic.twitter.com/NYq0WFaYI0

— Matt Holbrook Golf (@MattHolbrook86) October 18, 2019

Verdict

Overall, Trevose Golf and Country Club is a fantastic facility. Not only is there the renowned championship course, there is also the Headland Course. a nine hole course with two tees for each hole made up of two par 3s, six par 4s and a par 5 this course is more relaxed but has the same conditions - both course and weather - as the championship and a perfect addition to any stay and play visitors.

If those two weren't enough, there is also the short course. A par 29, nine-hole course measuring 1,360 yards perfect for anyone from a beginner to the next tour pro looking to hone their short game.

The venue is fit for breaks all year round in an ideal spot and stunning views with great food and drink. With Tennis, Swimming, Massage & Beauty Salon there really is something for everyone making it one of the UK's premier golf destinations.

Overall Rating - 10

Course (Conditions) - 9

Course (Hole Variety/Layout) - 9

Course (Green Condition) - 10

Course (Challenge/Difficulty) - 10

Club Facilities & 19th/Clubhouse - 10

Practice Facilities - 10

Friendliness/Hospitality - 10

Pace of Play - 9

Value for Money - 10