COURSE · PARKLAND · BUCKET LIST · TIER C
Torquay, Devon, United Kingdom · The English Riviera
A clifftop parkland 600 feet above the beaches of Babbacombe, with sea views to match any course in England.
01 · Overview
~2 min read
Torquay Golf Club sits on a rolling headland above Babbacombe and Oddicombe, with Lyme Bay laid out below it on clear days like a painted backdrop. At 5,836 yards and par 68, it is compact by modern standards, yet the combination of elevation change, tree-lined corridors, and coastal air gives it a character that outlasts the scorecard.
The club traces its origins to 1882, when members of the Royal Torbay Yacht Club established a nine-hole layout at Walls Hill — said to be the first golf course on the south coast of England. A full eighteen holes at the current Petitor site followed in 1909, and the course was formally opened in 1911 with an exhibition match between Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor, two members of golf's so-called Great Triumvirate. When James Braid completed remodelling work after World War I, all three Triumvirate members had left their mark here, a distinction few clubs anywhere can claim.
The parkland layout rewards those who know it. Blind tee shots, right-angled doglegs, false-fronted greens, and a par-3 played across a duck pond on the fourteenth give the back nine a pleasingly eccentric quality. The sixth hole — a clifftop par 4 with a blind tee shot to what plays almost as an infinity green — and the long, left-doglegged eleventh are among the holes where a careful strategy will save two or three shots over an impulsive one. The course's single par 5, the thirteenth, is the longest conversation the layout has with power golf.
Access is straightforward for visitors: green fees run from roughly £25 to £50 depending on day and season, with county card discounts available. The course is open daily except for occasional member competitions or adverse weather. Torre Station is roughly a fifteen-minute walk, and the surrounding St Marychurch and Babbacombe area offers plentiful accommodation within a short distance of the first tee.
THE TERRAIN
Set on a headland 600 feet above the Devon coast, the course mixes sheltered tree-lined holes with exposed ground where the Atlantic horizon opens unexpectedly between shots.
THE VIEWS
From several elevated positions — particularly the seventh green and the finishing hole — Lyme Bay stretches away to the south-west, a reminder that this is golf played on the edge of the land.
THE DESIGN
Blind shots, a right-angled dogleg, a duck-pond par 3, and a par-3 finishing hole give the layout a personality shaped as much by the headland's contours as by the architect's hand.
THE GREENS
Several greens employ false fronts and two-tier contours that punish underhit approaches. Club selection into the wind — and the wind here is rarely absent — is the course's primary examination.
02 · The Holes
6 of 6 · tap any hole to watch creators play it
Six holes carry more of the course's weight than the other twelve combined — and the creator vlogs that prove it.
HOLE 6 · par 4 · 355y · 1 vlog
A blind tee shot launches from the clifftop edge toward a green that appears to float above Lyme Bay. At 355 yards it is no monster in distance, but the exposure and the absence of a visible landing zone demand composure as much as power.
355 yards · Often called the most visually dramatic hole on the course.
HOLE 11 · par 4 · 446y
The course's longest par 4 bends left toward a green tucked into the property's corner. At 446 yards, with the dogleg requiring a tee shot that resists the instinct to cut the corner, it is the hole where the back nine establishes its authority.
446 yards · The longest par 4 on the card at 446 yards.
HOLE 14 · par 3 · 166y
A duck pond sits squarely between tee and green on this mid-length par 3. The carry is not extreme, but the water focuses the mind, and any thinned iron finds the hazard before it finds the putting surface.
166 yards
HOLE 5 · par 4 · 367y · 1 vlog
Frequently cited as a signature test, the fifth presents a tightening fairway through a dogleg that tolerates little drift. The approach to a well-guarded green rewards a precisely placed tee shot rather than a bold one.
367 yards
HOLE 8 · par 4 · 276y
Recently remodelled, this quirky short par 4 turns at a near right angle, requiring the player to decide how much of the corner to challenge. The green is reachable in one for the bold, but the penalty for overreach is immediate.
276 yards
HOLE 13 · par 5 · 536y
The course's sole par 5 is its longest conversation with power golf. At 536 yards it demands accuracy through the hazards as much as distance, and represents the lone opportunity for the long hitter to force a genuine birdie chance.
536 yards
05 · In Their Words
1 on-camera verdict · spoken while filming here
Absolutely beautiful day... stunning view.
06 · How to Play Here
4 routes to a tee time
Visitor Green Fees · single
Visitors are welcome at this 18-hole parkland course. Times are available throughout the week and weekend, though some restrictions apply during member competition times. Bookings can be made online or via the Pro Shop.
18 Holes Green Fee £25 - £50
County Card · external
Holders of a Devon or Cornwall County Card can access discounted rates at Torquay Golf Club.
County Card Rate £25 - £32.50
PlayMoreGolf Flexible Membership · external
A points-based membership allowing for flexible play at Torquay Golf Club and other network courses. Includes an official handicap and some competition access.
Annual Subscription £480
Full Club Membership · members only
Offers full access to the course, club competitions, and social events. Fees vary by category (Full, Intermediate, Junior).
Annual Full Member £1,215
07 · History
8 moments · 1882–2017
1882
Members of the Royal Torbay Yacht Club established a nine-hole course at Walls Hill, said to be the first golf course on the south coast of England.
1909
Torquay Golf Club was officially formed and a full-length course commissioned at the current Petitor site near St Marychurch.
1911
The course was formally opened with an exhibition match between Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor, two members of golf's Great Triumvirate.
1914
During World War I the course land was taken over for military use by New Zealand armed forces, requiring significant restoration before play could resume.
1921
Five-time Open champion James Braid was commissioned to repair and remodel the layout, completing the club's association with all three members of the Great Triumvirate.
1975
A 17-year-old Nick Faldo won the Torquay Pro-Am, earning what he later inscribed — on a signed photo donated to the club — as 'my first Major!!'
1995
Golf architect Simon Gidman implemented a series of modern improvements to the clifftop parkland layout.
2017
The club withdrew proposals to roughly double its size by acquiring local playing fields and public land, following sustained opposition from the local community.
08 · Common Questions
7 questions · sourced from 7 vlogs
Visitors are welcome throughout the week. Tee times can be arranged through the club's Pro Shop or booked online via the club website. Some restrictions apply when member competitions are scheduled, so it is worth checking ahead.
Visitor green fees typically range from around £25 to £50 for 18 holes, depending on the day and time of year. Holders of a Devon or Cornwall County Card can access discounted rates. A flexible points-based membership through PlayMoreGolf is also available from around £480 per year.
Torre Station is the closest railway stop, roughly a fifteen-minute walk from the course. Torquay Station is approximately a ten-minute taxi ride. Local bus routes 35A and 22 also stop nearby. The nearest airport is Exeter (EXT), about 18 miles away.
The St Marychurch and Babbacombe area, just 0.3km from the course, offers a range of accommodation including the TLH Carlton Hotel and Spa and smaller guesthouses such as Roxedge. Local holiday cottages like Hocking and Bridges Cottage are also within easy reach.
The course is open daily through the year. Occasional closures occur for member-only competitions or in cases of extreme weather. It is advisable to check with the Pro Shop before travelling on competition days.
With a slope rating of 118 and a course rating of 68.4, Torquay is a fair rather than fearsome test. The shorter overall yardage (5,836 yards, par 68) makes it accessible to most golfers, though the blind shots, doglegs, and tiered greens mean that local knowledge is a genuine advantage. Higher handicappers should enjoy the round while still finding plenty to occupy their attention.
All three members of Victorian golf's so-called Great Triumvirate — Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor, and James Braid — are associated with the club. Vardon and Taylor played an exhibition match at the official opening of the course in 1911. Braid was later commissioned to remodel the layout following World War I, completing the connection.
10 · The Library
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