Golf Course Profile
36-Hole (Private)
Saunton Golf Club (The East Course at Saunton Golf Club)
Saunton GB Nr Braunton, N Devon
Nr Braunton, England EX33 1LG
United Kingdom
Phone: +44-(0)1271-812 436
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Golfers community
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About the Club
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Year built:
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1897
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Designer:
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C. K. Cotton, Frank Pennink
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Club type:
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Private
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Season:
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Open all year
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Guest Policy:
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Open Handicap Certificate required.
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Dress Code:
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No denim, collared shirt and bermuda shorts required
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Metal Spikes:
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Fivesomes:
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Green Fees:
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AVERAGE USER RATING
Not rated
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Pace of Play:
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Money Value:
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Tees:
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Service:
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About the course
Saunton is part of the biggest dune system in Europe and boasts two magnificent links courses. Saunton's East Course is rated #25 of "The 100 greatest courses in the British Isles", Golf World 11/96. It is fair to say that the reputation of the place has been made by the championship East Course, even though it is farther from the sea than its neighbouring West. It may also be fair to say that it is very underrated. This is probably because it lies a little off what might be called the beaten track on the North Devon coast, just across the Taw estuary from Westward Ho! a cradle of the game in England. Such is the peace and tranquillity of this quiet corner of England, with the wonderful sweeps of sand along the beach looking out across the Atlantic rollers and the Saunton Sands Hotel high on the cliff, that the journey is worth every step of the way. This is links golf at its very best, as are the beautifully tended and fast greens. Recognition has come in a number of international tournaments. Saunton nevertheless is a revived golf course. Though golf has been played along what is known as Braunton Burrows for nearly a century and the club was formed in 1897, both courses were commandeered by the military during the second world war and used as a battle school. The East course requires a high proportion of well struck long irons, as witness 10 par fours in the first 12 holes. But the hardest is almost certainly the 16th with the drive over a big sandhill and then a second shot over a deep bunker wedged between sandhills. Precision is absolute. Though Saunton's West Course is also likely to be referred to as "Saunton's other course", this is to be by no means critical. It purely suffers by comparison to the East's championship links, which is among the best in England. It lies between the championship links and the high sandhills flanking the shore of Bideford Bay. It is also much younger than the East in that it was not rebuilt until 1973. Frank Pennink, one of Britain's foremost architects, was called in to design the 18 holes while a close eye during constrution was also kept by John Goodban, for many years Saunton's Secretary, who also attained the high office of President of the English Golf Union. In 1987/88 Donald Steel supervised the re-design and total reconstruction of all 18 greens. Shorter than the East but the sandhills make wonderful golfing terrain and the first hole is a fine example of the many delights that follow. Of gentle length, just under 350 yards/320 metres, it is played from a high tee to an angled fairway and then an attractive pitch to a green tucked away in the shelter of protective dunes and guarded by bunkers front and left. The outwards half, with its par 35, contains one par five and there are three of them coming home. Unusually the 18th is a par three and a spectacular one in that it is just short of 200 yards/183 metres) and played through a narrow gap between sentinel dunes to a green beyond. The feeling is of almost trying to thread a needle. This is a course not to be missed. Saunton's East Course ranks no. 24 of the 100 greatest courses in the British Isles (Golf World Magazine 11/96).
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Number of Sand Bunkers:
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Water Hazards in Play:
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