West Sussex Golf Club

Golf Club Lane, Wiggonholt, Pulborough, RH20 2EN

Nearest main town: Pulborough

 

It comes as quite a relief to visit West Sussex. As modern course design gets to grips with the improvements in golf-club technology, so courses are getting longer and longer, pushing the 7000-yard barrier and over. West Sussex, situated in a luxuriant basin of pines, heather and sandy turf just below Chanctonbury Ring, stands as an example of classic design, its total length of 6156 yards no reflection of the perils that lurk on every hole.

That said, long, accurate driving is the game you want here, setting up mid-to-short iron approaches to fairly defenceless greens. Saunds easy, but standing on the tee, the fairways are not what catches your eye. Rather, it's the heather, vast expanses of deep purple, hugging the fairways and edging up to the bases of the indigenous pines and silver birches. Not only will you struggle to find your ball in there, but you'll be forced to play out sideways, the roots of the heather twisting the club face as you muster all your strength to escape.

Although this challenge exists on almost every hole, West Sussex is also marked for greatness by the variety and excitement of its par-3s. There are five in total, three coming in the space of four holes. The 6th plays over 200 yards from an elevated tee over a lake, while the 12th is a long iron over a heather-filled gully with out-of-bounds all the way down the left. The course's most attractive hole is the 15th; a par-3 played through a funnel of mature trees over a lake to a back-to-front sloping green. All three are memorable.

You'll be hynotised by the lush beauty of West Sussex, especially if you get the chance to visit in the autumn when the heather blooms and the leaves take on their tawny colors. Also, make sure to have a meal here after your round - the food is consistently good.

 

Secretary: Mr C. Simpson

Tel: 01798872563 Fax: 01798872033

Professional: Mr T. Packham

Tel: 01798 872426 Fax: 01798 872033

Playing: Midweek: round £60.00 (18 holes), £75.00 (36 holes); day n/a. Weekend: round £65.00 (18 holes), £80.00 (36 holes); day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch from 11 am-3pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Kept in superb condition...Clubhouse outstanding...Members a little overprotective of their beautiful course...Charming and an excellent test...Nearest to a classic links inland...Tougher than it looks.

 

Bognor Regis Golf Club **

Downview Road, Felpham, Bognor Regis, PO22 8JD

Nearest main town: Bognor Regis

 

Secretary: Mr P. Badger

Tel: 01243 821929 Fax: 01243 860719

Professional: Mr S. Bassil

Tel: 01243 865209 Fax: 01243 860719

Playing: Midweek: round £25.00; day n/a. Weekend: round £30.00; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Bar snacks.

Comments: A fine day out...Holidaying golfers give this course a special atmosphere...They don't take the game too seriously here...Flat but certainly not dull.