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Saunton Golf Club

9.2
Excellent See all 40 reviews

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. The venue does have a history of hosting tournaments though, hosting the Brabazon Trophy in 2022 and the R&A Women's Senior Amateur & Senior Amateur Championship in 2024.

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 courses of Saunton are a must for anyone considering a golf break in Devon, playable all-year round due to the fast draining links surfaces they are the perfect playing partner to the oldest golf course in England, Royal North Devon.

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2 Nights, 2 Rounds

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We found 11 offers that match your search. If you can't see the package you want, simply call 0800 043 6644 and our Golf Travel Experts can help.

From £343
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2 Nights, 2 Rounds

  • Bed and Breakfast
  • 1 round at East Course
  • 1 round at West Course
From £358
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1 Night, 2 Rounds

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  • Bed and Breakfast
  • 1 round at East Course
  • 1 round at West Course
  • FREE TP5 Balls! 12 for groups 4-7 | 24 for 8+. Use code: DOZEN when booking online. (RRP up to £100)
From £477
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2 Nights, 2 Rounds

  • Bed and Breakfast
  • 1 round at East Course
  • 1 round at West Course
  • FREE TP5 Balls! 12 for groups 4-7 | 24 for 8+. Use code: DOZEN when booking online. (RRP up to £100)

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

What Our Golfers Say

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0 reviews
Bar / Restaurant 0
Facilities 0
Location 0
Room comfort 0
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Value for money 0
These reviews are from verified Your Golf Travel customers.

What Our Golfers Say

9.2
Excellent
40 reviews
Condition overall 9.0
Condition of greens 9.4
Speed of round 66.6%
Value for money 8.8
Facilities 9.2
Difficulty 100%
These reviews are from verified Your Golf Travel customers.

Philip

21 Sep 2025

Excellent
10.0

A lovely golf course Recommend it anyone

Angela

25 May 2025

Good
6.0

As a 20 handicap female I found the course quite hard. The course itself was in very good condition. 2 4 balls ahead with no call through was a bit of a nightmare. Much preferred the East course .

Angela

25 May 2025

Very Good
8.0

As a 20 handicap female I found the course hard but enjoyable. My first experience on links course. The course itself was in very good condition. The staff in the pro shop were very welcoming and helpful.

Tom

24 Apr 2025

Excellent
10.0

Matthew

7 Apr 2025

Excellent
10.0

Andy

22 Sep 2024

Very Good
8.0

After playing the East course the day before the West is a little less impressive but still a great course and highly challenging especially in windy conditions. Some shorter holes but none the less difficult with tight fairways and tricky greens. You need to be straight on the East and plot your way around or you will loose a lot of balls as I experienced. Still very enjoyable and would definitely return.

Andy

22 Sep 2024

Excellent
10.0

This is a wonderful golf location. The view from the clubhouse is spectacular, the course is challenging but very enjoyable. I can't recall any 2 holes being similar including a couple with completely blind tee shots. The condition was superb, go too far off line though and be prepared for lost ball or difficult hack out from the long grass. This made the round slow although didn't notice anyone being held up so guess this is just the way it is. The pro shop was excellent and the staff were friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended.

Neal

9 May 2024

Very Good
8.0

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

Dawn

30 Oct 2023

Very Good
8.0

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

30 Oct 2023

Very Good
8.0

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.

Bill

13 Oct 2023

Excellent
10.0

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

Bill

13 Oct 2023

Excellent
10.0

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

Michael

4 Sep 2023

Excellent
10.0

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.

Will

14 Aug 2023

Very Good
8.0

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.

Mark

17 Oct 2022

Excellent
10.0

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

Mark

17 Oct 2022

Excellent
10.0

Excellent golf course

Alex

11 Oct 2022

Excellent
10.0

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

Alex

11 Oct 2022

Excellent
10.0

A magical track

Simon

5 Oct 2022

Excellent
10.0

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

Simon

5 Oct 2022

Excellent
10.0

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

Victor

30 Mar 2022

Excellent
10.0

first class experience

Victor

30 Mar 2022

Excellent
10.0

first rate experience

Lars

12 Sep 2021

Excellent
10.0

Lars

12 Sep 2021

Excellent
10.0

James

1 Sep 2021

Excellent
10.0

James

1 Sep 2021

Very Good
8.0

Christopher

1 Sep 2021

Excellent
10.0

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

Christopher

1 Sep 2021

Good
6.0

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

Julian

25 Jul 2021

Excellent
10.0

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

Jane

1 Jul 2021

Very Good
8.0

Reply enjoyable golf in the sand dunes

Alexander

3 Oct 2020

Excellent
10.0

Alexander

3 Oct 2020

Excellent
10.0

Graham

28 Sep 2020

Excellent
10.0

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

Peter

6 Sep 2019

Very Good
8.0

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

Peter

6 Sep 2019

Very Good
8.0

Very enjoyable links golf course

Martin

5 Jun 2019

Excellent
10.0

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

Martin

5 Jun 2019

Excellent
10.0

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

Christopher (Kit)

1 Jun 2019

Excellent
10.0

A great golf course

Christopher (Kit)

1 Jun 2019

Very Good
8.0

Small greens on shorter course makes it a tough test

Tony

19 Oct 2018

Excellent
10.0

Some players found the course difficult, a wonderful experience

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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