Clifftop championship golf above St Austell Bay with a contrasting parkland finish
Carlyon Bay Golf Club sits above St Austell Bay and offers an 18 hole, par 72 course of about 6,400 yards from the back markers. The opening ten holes follow the Cornish clifftop, where sea breezes and elevation changes demand flight control. The course then turns inland into sheltered parkland, with sloping fairways, trees, stone boundaries and well protected greens continuing the strategic test.
The course forms part of the Carlyon Bay Golf & Spa Resort, where the four star Carlyon Bay Hotel has 86 rooms, many overlooking the bay. Hotel facilities include indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, a sauna, steam room, spa treatments and several dining options. With the clubhouse and first tee close by, the resort provides a convenient base for Cornwall golf breaks built around on site golf and leisure facilities.
The round begins from an elevated tee beside the coast. Although the 1st fairway offers room, the approach can be partly blind and the long, narrow green is protected by sand. The 449 yard 2nd is one of the course’s strongest tests, with the cliff to the right, a fairway bunker to the left and a blind second shot towards a green that falls from front to back.
The par 3 5th plays downhill but leaves little margin for error, with out of bounds beyond the wall on the left and sand protecting both sides of the green. At the 9th, players must judge how close to challenge the old quarry before playing an accurate approach across it. The short par 5 10th then offers a scoring opportunity, although the clifftop and a narrow green keep the hole interesting.
As the course moves inland, cambers and green contours become increasingly important. The 13th features the longest green on the course, while the 15th is the longest par 5 and rewards careful positioning. The tree lined 16th calls for an accurate drive, and the round finishes with the 186 yard par 3 18th, where trouble to the right makes the left side the sensible target.
Practice facilities include a six acre long game area, two putting greens and a nine hole approach course. A TrackMan simulator studio provides an indoor option, while PGA tuition, equipment hire, a professional shop and clubhouse are available. Overall, Carlyon Bay combines an exposed coastal opening with a sheltered finish, offering variety for repeat visits.
