Bowood Park: A Relaxed Cornish Parkland Retreat
First Impressions and Setting
Nestled in the heart of North Cornwall, near Camelford, Bowood Park Hotel & Golf Club offers a soothing mixture of natural beauty, comfort, and quality golf. The club occupies some 230 acres of rolling hills, wooded valleys, and open parkland, designated an area of Special Landscape Value. From the moment you arrive, there is a sense of being removed from rush, with countryside views, mature trees, and peaceful surroundings that promise a round of golf coupled with a chance to truly unwind.
The hotel complements the golf course beautifully: 31 en‑suite bedrooms offering views over the course or across the Cornish countryside, modern comforts, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Free Wi‑Fi, good food, and the charm of Cornish hospitality give the place character without pretension.
The Course: Layout and Character
Bowood Park’s 18 hole championship course is set amid rolling terrain, combining open parkland with wooded sections. It’s not a links course, but the way the holes stitch together across the hills and through the trees provides variety and challenge. The course’s design gives players plenty of options: you’ll face strategic bunkering, water hazards at certain points, and greens built to USGA standards for good year‑round playability.
The practice facilities are strong too, with a driving range, a putting green, and professional coaching available. These give visiting golfers a chance to warm up properly or polish parts of their game before teeing off.
Facilities and Amenities
The clubhouse, restaurant and bar at Bowood Park offer a relaxed environment both before and after a round. The food emphasises locally sourced ingredients, hearty options, and good service. On warmer days, the terrace becomes a lovely vantage point over the fairways.
Beyond golf, the hotel offers a quality stay: comfortable beds, en suite bathrooms, views of either the golf course or the countryside, and that all important warm Cornish welcome. For those accompanying golfers, or for mixed groups, the location also allows easy exploration of North Cornwall’s charms; moors, coastlines, castles, and quaint villages are all within reach.
Course Strategy and Key Features
Bowood Park rewards thoughtful play: many holes ask you to think about line and club choice rather than simply attacking. The bunkers are well placed to catch errant drives or misjudged approaches, water hazards come into play at certain points, greens are contoured, and the rolling terrain means lies are seldom entirely flat. The variety of set ups across holes means you’re seldom in a predictable rhythm; there are holes where you need to attack and others where caution leads to better scoring.
USGA spec greens are a major plus, especially for those concerned with consistency in speed and run offs. They help ensure that even in wetter weather, the surfaces hold up well and offer good putting. Rough and fringes are maintained so that errant shots are punished, particularly around the edges. Multiple tee positions allow golfers of different abilities to enjoy the course fairly, giving forwards a more forgiving layout and more challenge for those wanting to test themselves from the back.
Final Thoughts
Bowood Park Hotel & Golf Club may not be the flashiest or most famous course in Cornwall, but it does many things very well. It combines a well designed and maintained parkland course, solid facilities, comfortable accommodation, and a sense of charm and tranquillity that many golfers appreciate. It’s especially suitable for those looking for a golf break where the surroundings enhance the round rather than distract from it.
What stands out most is the value: good hotel and golf packages, excellent food, and a setting that feels like a retreat. Whether you’re visiting for a day, staying a weekend, or travelling with non golfers, Bowood provides enough variety and comfort to make the trip worthwhile.
If you enjoy a round with visual variety, appreciate well conditioned greens, and prefer courses that reward strategy and consistency over raw power, Bowood Park should be high on your list when exploring golf in Cornwall.
Joe Killoran, Editor, 8 Hcp