West Course

Formally known as ‘The Members Course’, the West is often regarded as the more scenic but is certainly tighter and more undulating. Surprisingly, at 7,154 yards it is slightly longer than the East. There are still, however, tees to suit varying standards of golfer, the blues measuring 6,638 the whites 6,069 and the ladies 5,199.

After a gentle opening dog leg par four, the second takes you uphill on a long par five to a tight green. From there you face a par three over water, followed by a gentle par four and a long and sprawling par five 5th. Soon you reach the halfway point of the west as you approach the 9th green. Back in the late 80’s when the courses were being built, the first nine holes to be opened were the 10th to the 18th on the West. The then Great Britain and Northern Ireland Walker Cup squad were the first to savour the magnificence of what was to be the East Sussex National golfing complex.

The West boasts no fewer than four signature holes. The 12th is a demanding par five without out of bounds either side of the drive, followed by a difficult second shot with water on the right and trees on the left, culminating in a plateau green guarded by a severe pot bunker and water around half the perimeter of the green.

Standing on the 16th tee looking at the par three green, no more than 100 yards away, looks easy. Beware!

The 17th is another demanding par five. When you reach the lone oak tree on the right hand side and look back to the gold tee ask yourself how John Daly, when playing in the European Open, pitched his drive beyond this tree.

The 18th, in the opinion of many is one of the most underrated finishing holes you could find. From the tee an accurate drive is essential on to a tree lined fairway, followed by a shot into a heavily guarded green with the backdrop of the magnificent Clubhouse beyond.