World Golf Courses Directory

Saunton Golf Club (East) Devon, England

Rating: *****

Saunton, Braunton, EX33 1 LG

E-mail: info@sauntongolf.co.uk

Nearest main town: Barnstaple

It has been said that if ever the Open Championship had to be staged in the West Country, the East course at Saunton would be the only true candidate.

The course is set amid a sea of sand dunes on the northern crest of Devon’s engaging Bideford Bay, almost directly opposite the famous links at Westward Ho!, and quite frankly, links golf does not come much better than this. It charms and captures you with a surreal, mystical ambience. Each and every fairway winds its way about what can only be described as God-given property, and once you set off, you’re rarely aware of anything but the hole at hand, located in a natural tunnel of dunes.

Saunton, designed by the great Herbert Fowler, who crafted the Berkshire and Walton Heath but only worked on one other links course, Royal Lytham & St Annes, is a wonderfully balanced course, with survival the name of the game for the first four and final four holes. Players who know the East course will temper their games to fit this design, taking caution early on before opening their shoulders and being a little more aggressive around the turn. Unlike a lot of links courses, this policy is not so dependent on the wind because each hole at Saunton is well protected and the greens nestle in the bosoms of the dunes. There are exceptions, of course, like the 5th where you could be hitting a wedge or a long iron depending on the wind.

Saunton may not have the exhilarating nature of other links courses, where the wind burns your cheeks and shots are played across bays or rocks, but it has its own discreet nature, and if you’re greedy, it will turn the screw on you.

Playing: Midweek: round £50.00 (18 holes), £70.00 (36 holes inc. meal voucher); day n/a. Weekend: round £50.00 (18 holes), £70.00 (36 holes inc. meal voucher); day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-10.30pm. Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner 11 am-9pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Quite simply the best in the West. . . A course worthy of the Open at half the price… Golf in traditional links setting. .. True raw links… Not cheap, but a superior course. . . Great golf club, course and facilities first class . .. Great welcome, fascinating course - well worth the drive. .. Encompasses all that is best about links golf. . . An Open venue in the making, surely… If you want a new Open course, try here. . . An absolute belter!

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