Playing golf in and around St Ives

In and around St Ives we are extremely fortunate to have almost everything a golfer could possibly wish for, and with this article we would like to highlight the options available should you chose to bring your clubs on holiday here, come here specifically to play or just fancy a round or practice during your stay here.

Hayle Golf Range opened in 2014 and provides a fantastic versatile facility for practicing all aspects of your golf game.
There is a comprehensive driving range with a large number of well maintained bays leading onto a 250-yard open area with numerous targets to aim for.  The range bays are fully customisable for both left and righthanded users and offer the opportunity to practice the full range of clubs in your bag.  It is possible to buy different packages of range balls suitable both for one-time and heavy users and families visiting the site.  There is also a large range of clubs available in all sizes that can be borrowed free of charge for those who have not brought their own clubs.
Below the range there is a brand-new practice area for short came, pitch and roll and putting as well as sand play with both a shallow fairway bunker and a deep links-style bunker to play out of.  Those with their own equipment may prefer to use their own balls here, though a bucket of range balls can be hired if needs be and, as with all facilities on site, if you do not have your own clubs you can borrow some from the pro-shop.  The charge for using the practice area is £6 per person per hour.
The range offers a small 12 hole golf course.  They describe it as a step up from pitch and putt but a step down from playing a full round of golf.  The holes are longer than a typical pitch and put allowing for the use of woods, but simple and without many challenging features.  It is therefore the perfect place to play a quick round for just £6.50 for adults and £6.00 for juniors and discount cards and second-play promotions are available.
Finally for a rainy day and for those that really want to delve into the details of their swing the range also offers the use of an indoor virtual golf simulator.  You hit the ball against a screen and a series of sensors calculate the flight and trajectory of your ball and display on a virtual course.  You can either play virtually or you can use the simulator to analyse various aspects of your swing and play.  The cost for hiring the simulator is £15 per hour and it can accommodate up to a maximum of four players.  Booking is necessary.
Two resident professionals offer golf lessons for any level for the reasonable price of £16 for half an hour or £32 for an hour working on any aspect of your game.  Booking is necessary for this.  There are also senior drop-in group sessions on Wednesday evenings and for juniors Friday afternoons with no booking necessary.
Hayle Golf Range opens at 9:30am every day and closes at 9pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends in summertime and 8pm in wintertime.  Range balls vending finishes 30 minutes before closure and last round of golf on the course tees of two hours before closure.
For further information about Hayle Golf Range see website – http://www.haylegolf.co.uk/#home

For an even more relaxed family orientated experience you can visit Penwith pitch and putt for a traditional pitch and putt course for golfers and an 18 hole crazy golf course for less serious and fun seeking golfers and an 18 hole football golf course for those who want to play a golf-like game using their feet instead of a club and a football instead of a golf ball (yes the holes are proportionately bigger).  Club hire in a range of sizes and shapes is available for those who come without equipment.
The site also contains a children’s play area and a coffee shop.
Penwith Pitch and Putt is open seven days a week from 10am-5pm.
For further information about Penwith Pitch and Putt visit their website – https://penwithpitchandputt.co.uk/

If you want to play nine or 18 holes in a mature woodland this course, adjacent to the historic 18^th century Tregenna Castle, is the one for you.  The Tregenna course is scenic and beautiful and well maintained but does not offer the greatest challenges or variation between the different holes.  A step up from the pitch and putt experiences of Hayle Range and Penwith but not quite the experience of one of the classic courses of the region.
The Tregenna Course is strictly pay and play and there are no tee time bookings available, you just turn up, pay £15 and play.  Club hire and trolley hire is available for those who wish to avail themselves of that.  A loyalty card is also available that can reduce the price of the round to £10.

The course at West Cornwall Golf Club has been at the forefront of Cornish golf since it was first established 130 years ago.  It plays in true links style with undulating banks and dunes, and the natural topography combined with an outstanding drainage system ensure that the course is dry and very playable year-round with no winter tees.  The wind coming off the coast or meandering through the estuary provides an added challenge, as does the run of the fairways and the green that will punish overzealousness with ferocity.  In addition to taking on a challenging and varied course, golfers may enjoy a breath-taking scenery of the Hayle Estuary and the full St Ives coastline up to the Godrevy lighthouse.
The club pro-shop has the best range of clothing and equipment in West Cornwall and in addition offers the chance to hire clubs, trolleys and even buggies – something we recommend if you are not up for a 10-15km walk across undulating and challenging terrain.
After the round refreshments can be enjoyed in the clubhouse from the restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and the fully licensed bar.
West Cornwall Golf Club is open seven days a week from dawn till dusk, but often hosts tournaments and special events so booking a tee time in advance is essential.
For further information about the club, green fees, current offers and to access the online tee time booking system, visit the club website – http://www.westcornwallgolfclub.co.uk/Home.aspx

We are confident that the above venues and options will ensure that your golf holiday to Cornwall will be an enjoyable and fulfilling one irrespective of what your level and objective is.  The rest is up to you, see you on the green!