Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club: A True West Country Links Experience
First Impressions and Arrival
There’s something special about driving towards a links course, especially one with as much history as Minehead & West Somerset. Founded in 1882, it’s the oldest golf club in Somerset, and you feel that heritage as soon as you turn into the driveway. It’s unpretentious, with a clubhouse that blends in rather than shouts, and a sense of place that you can’t quite define until you’re standing on the first tee, sea breeze brushing your face, with the Bristol Channel in view.
I’d been meaning to get over to Minehead for a while, having heard good things from other golfers. When I finally did, I found a course that offers something increasingly rare; honest, natural golf that doesn’t rely on gimmicks or over design. It’s a true links in both feel and presentation, but what stood out most to me was just how playable it is for all levels, while still asking serious questions when the wind picks up.
The Course: Classic Links with Character
The course unfolds across gently undulating ground, with views out towards the coast and inland to the hills. From the start, you’re aware you’re playing somewhere that’s been shaped more by nature than machinery. The fairways are firm and fast, as they should be, and the greens, even at the tail end of the season were excellent. In fact, I’d go so far as to say they were among the truest I’ve putted on all year.
It’s the kind of place where you have to work the ball. No two holes feel the same, and while there aren’t any particularly extreme elevation changes, the subtle movement in the land means you’re constantly adjusting for stance, slope, and wind direction. The turf gives you proper feedback too, strike the ball well and you get rewarded; get lazy and it exposes you quickly.
Playing the Course: A Test in the Wind
There’s no escaping it, the wind plays a starring role at Minehead. On the day I visited, it was a steady cross breeze for most of the round, which added a layer of complexity that I really enjoyed. You can’t just pull driver on every tee box and swing away. Club selection becomes a real skill here. At one point, I hit six iron into a par three I’d normally expect to be playing with a pitching wedge and it still came up short.
Approaches into the greens are equally demanding. The surfaces themselves aren’t massive, and many are slightly raised or angled just enough that a poor miss leaves a tough recovery. I found myself reaching for the bump and run far more often than the high flop, which is always a sign of a true links layout.
What I liked most is how fair the course is. There aren’t many blind shots or hidden hazards, and if you keep your ball in play off the tee, you always have a chance to score. That said, the moment you start getting greedy, especially when the wind lulls you into a false sense of security, the course bites back.
Greens, Conditioning, and Overall Impressions
The greens at Minehead were superb. They ran quick without being silly and held a well struck shot nicely. What stood out most was the consistency, every green felt like it had been looked after with care and attention, and it made a real difference to the rhythm of the round. You knew what you were going to get as soon as the ball left the putter face.
Conditioning across the board was impressive, especially given the time of year. The fairways had good definition, the rough was playable but penal, and the bunkers, of which there are enough to make you think, were well maintained. It’s clear the green keeping team know what they’re doing, and there’s a sense of pride in how the course presents itself.
Facilities and Atmosphere
The clubhouse at Minehead is traditional but comfortable, with a good mix of members and visitors. I got chatting to a few locals after my round, and the consensus was clear: this is a club that knows what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else. There’s no flash or fuss, just good golf, warm hospitality, and a bar that serves a proper pint.
Food options were spot on too, nothing fancy, just what you need after walking a links course for a few hours. A bacon bap and a coffee in the morning, followed by something hearty after the round, was more than enough to keep me happy. The pro shop was friendly and well stocked, with staff who were clearly proud of the course and keen to help.
Final Thoughts
Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club doesn’t try to impress with flash architecture or resort style presentation, it doesn’t need to. What it offers is something more meaningful: a true golfing experience, shaped by nature, wind, and tradition. It’s the sort of place that grows on you hole by hole, where subtle strategy outweighs sheer distance, and where a steady hand on the putter can make all the difference.
If you’re used to target golf, manicured parkland layouts, and GPS telling you exactly what to do, Minehead might surprise you. But if you love the feel of links turf underfoot, the challenge of playing in changing coastal conditions, and the satisfaction of plotting your way around a course that rewards craft, you’ll enjoy every moment here.
It’s a course I’ll definitely return to, not just for the golf, but for the atmosphere, the scenery, and the sense of stepping into a part of golfing history that’s very much alive and well on the Somerset coast.
Joe Killoran, Editor, 8 Hcp