2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- Bed and Breakfast
- 1 round at Royal North Devon Golf Club
- 1 round at East Course or West Course
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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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'.
| Par | 71 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Herbert Fowler, Ken Cotton |
| Opened for play | 1897 |
| Blue | 6,779 yards | SSS 72 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,427 yards | SSS 71 |
| Red | 5,960 yards | SSS 76 |
| Yellow | 5,744 yards | SSS 69 |
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.
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
| Par | 71 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Herbert Fowler, Frank Pennink, Donald Steel |
| Opened for play | 1935 |
| Blue | 6,596 yards | SSS 73 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,200 yards | SSS 71 |
| Yellow | 5,801 yards | SSS 70 |
| Red | 5,314 yards | SSS 72 |
Philip
✓21 Sep 2025
A lovely golf course Recommend it anyone
Angela
✓25 May 2025
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
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
Matthew
✓7 Apr 2025
Andy
✓22 Sep 2024
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
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
Tough day on Saunton, fab greens and tight fairways, bunkers a little scruffy
Dawn
✓30 Oct 2023
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
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
Fabulous course - best of the two. Lovely condition and some really pretty golf holes!
Bill
✓13 Oct 2023
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
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
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
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 golf course
Alex
✓11 Oct 2022
Tougher than its sister but still wonderful. Saunton is a wonderful golf club and a MUST visit for every golfer
Alex
✓11 Oct 2022
A magical track
Simon
✓5 Oct 2022
One of the best links courses I have played. Stunning views and a really strong test. Will definitely return.
Simon
✓5 Oct 2022
Terrific links golf test and warmed us up nicely for the East course.
Victor
✓30 Mar 2022
first class experience
Victor
✓30 Mar 2022
first rate experience
Lars
✓12 Sep 2021
Lars
✓12 Sep 2021
James
✓1 Sep 2021
James
✓1 Sep 2021
Christopher
✓1 Sep 2021
As we expected this course is a gem, real quality.
Christopher
✓1 Sep 2021
Should have played off back tee course very tight and kept running out of fairway.
Julian
✓25 Jul 2021
Up there with Hillside and Royal Birkdale for me. Excellent.
Jane
✓1 Jul 2021
Reply enjoyable golf in the sand dunes
Alexander
✓3 Oct 2020
Alexander
✓3 Oct 2020
Graham
✓28 Sep 2020
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
Slightly more enjoyable than the east course but overall nice course to play
Peter
✓6 Sep 2019
Very enjoyable links golf course
Martin
✓5 Jun 2019
Appalling weather couldn’t spoil a great day’s golf...though it tried hard!
Martin
✓5 Jun 2019
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
A great golf course
Christopher (Kit)
✓1 Jun 2019
Small greens on shorter course makes it a tough test
Tony
✓19 Oct 2018
Some players found the course difficult, a wonderful experience
Yes
Yes
£50 plus discretionary
None
There is 1 bar on site
There is complimentary car parking