Bowood Park Hotel & Golf Club Review

Cornwall is one of the most beautiful parts of the country - and never more so than when the weather is warm and sunny. 

It is a county that boasts some stunning golf courses. The most famous of these is probably St Mellion, which Jack Nicklaus regards as one of his finest pieces of work.

It is also a county of surprises. And none more so than Bowood Park Hotel & Golf Club in Camelford - not to be confused with Bowood Park Golf Club in Wiltshire.

First impressions matter and as you saunter down the driveway you can’t help but have your breath taken away by the incredible private houses that overlook the course. And that is before you see the hotel, which is a glorious piece of architecture.

The first thing to say is the welcome from the reception team is a warm one.

The Accommodation

There are 31 bedrooms. We stayed in a standard room with double doors that opened onto a roof patio that overlooked the course. It goes without saying that all standard rooms are en-suite and come with tea and coffee-making facilities, a fridge, hairdryer, ironing board and a flat-screen TV. The bed was sumptuous.

Family rooms are spacious and offer a double bed and twin beds or three or four single beds per room. Travel cots are also available.

A two-bedroom apartment located on the ground floor offers four single beds perfect for a family visiting North Cornwall and needing a comfortable spacious base without the constraints of a hotel room, Sold as self-catering, the flat offers kitchen facilities, bath, and shower, lounge area with Sky TV (including sports and children's channels) plus parking directly outside for convenience.

The Food

For me, the barometer of any good golf resort is the produce that comes out of the kitchen. It can make or break your stay.

The food at Bowood Park was spectacular.

I opted for pork belly served with a potato terrine, vegetables and a pork jus that was simply delicious - so much so that I asked our waitress to tell the chef it was the best sauce I have ever had. My wife went for a burger with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, relish, gherkins and fries. The burger was thick and juicy and clearly home-made.

Other options included sirloin steak, fish and chips, vegetable burger, Mac and cheese and curry of the day.

I had Eton mess for dessert, my wife went for a mixed sorbet.

Other options were fruit salad and clotted cream, chocolate brownie and ice cream, sticky toffee pudding, cheesecake, mixed ice cream and cheeseboard. 

I cannot praise the quality of this food highly enough - it would grace the tables of any high-end restaurant. At a fraction of the cost.

There is a well-stocked bar, and the prices are reasonable.

The quality of the buffet breakfast matched the standard of the restaurant food, with a huge choice featuring everything from sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms and beans, to cereal and yoghurt.

The Golf

Bowood Park GC, parkland, par 72, 6,297 yards (6,692 from back tees).

When all is said and done, the food and accommodation can be world-class but if the course is a dud then you are going to be a very unhappy camper.

Bowood Park is a glittering jewel. If it was more centrally located I would even go as far as to say that it could easily host some serious golf tournaments. It is a parkland course set amid rolling countryside and boasting views that will stop you in your tracks.

Let’s take you through some of the outstanding holes.

The first is a 366-yard par four. The drive should be aimed at the marker post. You must avoid the bunker to the right. Find the fairway and you will be left with a short iron to a small green guarded by bunkers. The second is a delightful short hole measuring just 127 yards and played to a shallow, sloping green well protected by bunkers. The third is a 475-yard par five. If you avoid the large fairway bunker this is a good birdie chance. The small green is surrounded by banks - I pulled my approach but the ball caught a bank and finished six feet from the hole. Birdie! The fifth is a terrific 390-yard par four with trees left and right and water on the left - the fairway slopes from right to left. The approach is to a raised green. The seventh is a brute of a par five, measuring 600 yards from the back tee. The fairway is generous enough but the rough is punishing. The approach is from an elevated position to a green which is protected by a large tree and two greenside bunkers.  The front nine closes with a 374-yard dogleg par four, with an approach to a long narrow green protected by two large bunkers.

The back nine starts with a terrific 482-yard par five, with out of bounds and trees on the right so you need to find the fairway. Going too far left will leave you on a punishing bank. The green slopes from back to front. Things don’t get any easier on the par three 11th, measuring 204 yards. It is played downhill but there is thick rough short of the green and you don’t want to go too far because there is some serious trouble at the back. The best hole on the course is the 12th. It is a 371-yard par four with trees lining both sides of the fairway. Find the middle and you are then faced with a horribly tricky shot to a green protected by a huge oak tree short left and water surrounding the putting surface. A par here is a great score. And the same applies to the par-five 13th. It is another dogleg with out of bounds on the left and trees on the right. There is also water in play for your second and a pond just short of the small green. The fact that it is stroke index one tells you everything you need to know. The 15th is the most picturesque hole on the course, a 392-yard par four with out of bounds and thick rough on the right and a stream running through the fairway and a pond lying in wait. The hole is surrounded by some fabulous homes (my approach found somebody’s garden) and slopes from left to right. The approach is to an elevated green. The 16th measures just 280 yards from the yellow tees so can be reached by longer hitters but beware the tall pines on the left. The fairway slopes from right to left so if you are going for this green you need to give your tee shot plenty of thought. The 18th is a 425-yard par four that calls for a draw but steer clear of the bunker at the top of the hill. The approach is to a deep green that slopes from back to front.

Verdict

Bowood may not be the easiest venue to get to but it is well worth the effort. The hotel is excellent, the staff are friendly and the course is a gem. It is also worth pointing out that, unlike many other resort courses, there is "proper" sand in the bunkers. Definitely worth a visit.

For more details, please visit bowoodpark.com.