At Minehead, Ian Pemble was greeted by glorious views, clement weather and a links course that added up to a low score

IF you mention links golf in this part of the world, the usual suspects are the nationally famous course at Burnham and Berrow (a pleasure I have yet to experience) and the fine example at Weston-super-Mare.

Now I can add another that can surely hold its head up in such illustrious company – the course at Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club.

The day before I had finished my round at Taunton Vale on a high and was hoping for more of the same. We all know that doesn't happen very often but, remarkably, this time it did. Or, to put it another way, it's hard not to like a course where your round includes two blots (non-scoring holes), two putts that lipped out and yet you still play to your handicap – 36 glorious points.

It even started well. A four-ball was still being assembled on the first tee, so they graciously waved me through... and then gasped in admiration as I smashed my drive to within a few feet of the green.

Admittedly, the first is only 240 yards or so and there may have been a slight following wind, but I allowed myself a macho swagger as I headed off down the fairway.

The par-71 course, founded way back in 1882, is 6,153 yards off the white tees (5,875, yellows) and par-73, 5,479 yards for the ladies, so it's not long and it's agreeably flat. But it has all the traditional charms of a links course: undulating fairways with hidden dips, and grass as well as sand bunkers; patches of grassland plus reed beds and rhynes for the herons; and a layout that, according to a map in the clubhouse, hasn't changed much since 1933. The only real difference is that a pond in front of the first tee/18th green has now become a grassy hollow.

For the purists, I had better point out that some areas are more parkland than links. So the third green, short fourth hole, fifth tee and sixth green are on sandy soil, but with a sprinkling of mature as well as younger trees, and there's a similar patch out by the eighth green and ninth hole. But the rest is pure links and I don't mind at all if the occasional tree adds to the variety.

After my great start (my audience didn't see my birdie putt lip-out) I wandered around for a bit in search of the second tee – and this gives rise to a small criticism.

The card has individual maps of each hole and green, and there are tiny arrows (put your glasses on, you fool) indicating the direction of the next tee. But that is no substitute for an overview of the course. I came to grief on the fifth (eight shots – ouch) because I caught a glimpse of a flag through the trees that turned out to be the sixth green and set off in the wrong direction.

A proper map would be nice – c'mon guys, chuck a couple of buckets of water into that hollow in front of the clubhouse and you can use the 1933 version.

But I really did have a good time. Apart from a brief shower, the weather held off and the "slightly following wind" never really got above a stiff breeze, even when it became a head wind on the back nine. In addition, I played sensibly, held my game together and got lucky a few times.

My favourite hole is probably the seventh, a 480-yard par-5, where I did indeed take five shots – and the loco on the West Somerset Railway let out a whoop of delight as well.

I also liked the 10th, a blind tee shot over trees to a green 149 yards away, and the 11th, a 470-yard par-5 with a tricky two-tier green.

But I can't remember any "bad" holes and although the conditions were clement enough for easy scoring, on another day even that doddle of a first hole could become an into-the-wind monster.

And then there are the views. The front nine heads east from Minehead towards Blue Anchor Bay with the Quantocks on the skyline, inland are the Brendon Hills and as you head home, the east edge of Exmoor towers above the town. Rather less attractively, Butlins towers above the clubhouse, but you can't have everything. Besides, it's the golf that counts and I now count this among my favourite courses.

For visitors, 18 holes cost £28 weekdays and £33 weekends and bank holidays. Member- ships are graduated: £70 (under 18), £130 (18-20), £265 (21-25), £395 (26-30) and £525 for full adult membership – the only category that demands a £100 joining fee.

Address: Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club, Warren Road, Minehead TA24 5SJ

Telephone: 01643 702057

Website: www.mineheadgolf.co.uk

Email: secretary@mineheadgolf.co.uk

Getting there: The club is east of Minehead (but at a walkable distance) past Butlins. From the north and east head for Bridgwater and take the A39 to Minehead, then follow the signs for the seafront and turn right. From the south and west, take the A358 after Taunton until you reach the A39 and then follow the same route above.