Saunton Golf Club

Saunton Golf Club is home to two of England's best links courses. It has been asserted by many that if the Royal & Ancient was to add to the Open Championship rotation, Saunton would feature high on a list of potential venues.

Located within the North Devon AONB, running through a UNESCO World Heritage site, the rugged coastal landscape has had golf played on it for over 100 years. Herbert Fowler, famed architect of Walton Heath and The Berkshire, is responsible for creating both courses with help from English Amateur Champion Frank Pennink along with his business partners Donald Steel and Ken Cotton.

The links courses of Saunton are a must for anyone considering a golf break in Devon and they are the perfect playing partner to the oldest golf course in England, Royal North Devon.

Bed and Breakfast at Royal & Fortescue Hotel
1 round at East Course
1 round at West Course

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Golf Courses at Saunton Golf Club

East Course

Herbert Fowler's East Course at Saunton is ranked just outside England's top ten and at 6,779 yards provides a stern test to even the most skilled golfers. The rugged sand dunes of Braunton Burrows are the setting for this fine true links destination, a site that has been designated as being of international importance by UNESCO.

The real challenge of the East Course from the back tees is the tough par-4s, seven of which measure over 400 yards with carries over heavy rough and sand dunes. The charm of the course is accentuated by the feeling that every hole is cut distinctly through the dunes.

The 16th hole on the East Course seems somewhat out of character with the rest of the course, it consists of a blind risk and reward dogleg with a long approach to a hidden green. Being a stand out hole it is not surprising that it is named after the architect responsible for building it, 'Fowler'.

Course Information
Par	71
Designed by	Herbert Fowler, Ken Cotton
Opened for play	1897

Tees
Blue	6,779 yards	SSS 72
White	6,427 yards	SSS 71
Red	5,960 yards	SSS 76
Yellow	5,744 yards	SSS 69

West Course

The West Course was originally opened in the 1930s but was used as a training field during the Second World War and subsequently lay dormant for some 40 years until the esteemed Frank Pennink revived it in the 1970's.

Donald Steel later supervised the relaying of all the greens and he has stated that he considers Saunton’s West course greens some of his best work. Emulating the general characteristics of the East course, the West requires clever positioning off the tee and accurate approaches to run your ball into the green complexes.

The West may be shorter than the more prestigious East Course, but it remains a considerable test, with a network of burns and streams interspersed through the dunes to test your short game.

Both courses are reputed to boast some of the finest putting surfaces in England, and together they represent a truly terrific links golf tour in Devon.

How to get to Saunton Golf Club

Saunton Golf Club is located just off the Saunton Road (B3231), 3 miles West of Braunton, 8 miles from Barnstaple train station.

Address: Braunton, Devon, England. EX33 1LG

Course Information
Par	71
Designed by	Herbert Fowler, Frank Pennink, Donald Steel
Opened for play	1935

Tees
Blue	6,596 yards	SSS 73
White	6,200 yards	SSS 71
Yellow	5,801 yards	SSS 70
Red	5,314 yards	SSS 72

Features

Driving Range
Pro Shop
Putting Greens
Practice Area
Club House
Championship Standard Course

Saunton Golf Club
EX33 1LG
Get directions

9.4

Excellent

Overall Rating for All courses

Condition overall

9.0

Condition of greens

9.2

Speed of round

Slow About right Quick

Facilities

9.2

Value for money

8.8

Difficulty

Easy Average Hard

Reviews

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8.0

Very Good

Tough day on Saunton, fab greens and tight fairways, bunkers a little scruffy

Neal – Reviewed 9 May 2024

8.0

Very Good

This is a lovely little course. I would say more interesting than the East course as the holes are shorter but more tricky. Great views from one of the higher tees as well.

Dawn – Reviewed 30 Oct 2023

8.0

Very Good

Lovely course, and layout. Easy walking course as well. Fabulous halfway sausage rolls! Round a little slower than we would have liked but we were a 2 ball and got round in 4hrs 15 so I suppose we can't complain too much.

Dawn – Reviewed 30 Oct 2023

Excellent

Fabulous course - best of the two. Lovely condition and some really pretty golf holes!

Bill – Reviewed 13 Oct 2023

Excellent

Lovely course and greens were excellent. Fairways were a bit worn but has probably had a lot of traffic throughout the summer

Bill – Reviewed 13 Oct 2023

Excellent

The East Course was a great challenge, there was little or no wind for my round so it played a lot easier than it could. I would recommend getting a course planner or playing with a local to advise of the line from the tee as carries and runouts are sometimes across the fairways.

Michael – Reviewed 4 Sep 2023

8.0

Very Good

A tight course, and tricky in the wind but very enjoyable. Particularly the finishing 3 holes Par 3, Par 5, Par 3. Was a great test of nerve for the leaders in the finishing pack. Well worth playing this course.

Will – Reviewed 14 Aug 2023

Excellent

The best course I've ever played,the greens are amazing. The greenkeepers do a fantastic job, will definitely be going back.

Mark – Reviewed 17 Oct 2022

Excellent

Excellent golf course

Mark – Reviewed 17 Oct 2022

Excellent

Tougher than its sister but still wonderful. Saunton is a wonderful golf club and a MUST visit for every golfer

Alex – Reviewed 11 Oct 2022

Excellent

A magical track

Alex – Reviewed 11 Oct 2022

Excellent

One of the best links courses I have played. Stunning views and a really strong test. Will definitely return.

Simon – Reviewed 5 Oct 2022

Excellent

Terrific links golf test and warmed us up nicely for the East course.

Simon – Reviewed 5 Oct 2022

Excellent

first class experience

Victor – Reviewed 30 Mar 2022

Excellent

first rate experience

Victor – Reviewed 30 Mar 2022

Excellent

Lars – Reviewed 12 Sep 2021

Excellent

Lars – Reviewed 12 Sep 2021

Excellent

James – Reviewed 1 Sep 2021

8.0

Very Good

James – Reviewed 1 Sep 2021

Excellent

As we expected this course is a gem, real quality.

Christopher – Reviewed 1 Sep 2021

6.0

Good

Should have played off back tee course very tight and kept running out of fairway.

Christopher – Reviewed 1 Sep 2021

Excellent

Up there with Hillside and Royal Birkdale for me. Excellent.

Julian – Reviewed 25 Jul 2021

8.0

Very Good

Reply enjoyable golf in the sand dunes

Jane – Reviewed 1 Jul 2021

Excellent

Alexander – Reviewed 3 Oct 2020

Excellent

Alexander – Reviewed 3 Oct 2020

Excellent

A real test off the white tees in 20mph+ winds. Probably the best course of the trip - a real and true links test in the wind

Graham – Reviewed 28 Sep 2020

8.0

Very Good

Slightly more enjoyable than the east course but overall nice course to play

Peter – Reviewed 6 Sep 2019

8.0

Very Good

Very enjoyable links golf course

Peter – Reviewed 6 Sep 2019

Excellent

Appalling weather couldn’t spoil a great day’s golf...though it tried hard!

Martin – Reviewed 5 Jun 2019

Excellent

Wonderful course in a great location. Nice clubhouse with an excellent pro shop. Food was typical golf fare but no worse for it.

Martin – Reviewed 5 Jun 2019

Excellent

A great golf course

Christopher (Kit) – Reviewed 1 Jun 2019

8.0

Very Good

Small greens on shorter course makes it a tough test

Christopher (Kit) – Reviewed 1 Jun 2019

Excellent

Some players found the course difficult, a wonderful experience

Tony – Reviewed 19 Oct 2018

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Saunton Golf Club Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a range on site?

Yes

Are there buggies available to hire?

Yes

How much is the fee for the caddies?

£50 plus discretionary

Are there any weekend golfing restrictions?

None

How many bars are there?

There is 1 bar on site

Is there a charge for car parking on site?

There is complimentary car parking

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