Rye Golf Club (Old)

Top 20 Golf Courses in Sussex 2015 Sussex Best in County rankings updated The historic county of Sussex is said to have its origins in the Kingdom of Sussex, where Ælle was the first king of the South Saxons in the late 5th century. Of course, the Romans flooded into Britain through this region 500 years before then and the Norman conquest of England began with the Battle of Hastings 500 years later in 1066 so the county has seen more than its fair share of trouble and strife over the course of the last two millennia. Nowadays, visitors to Sussex can still connect to the past through sightseeing trips to the 11th century Arundel Castle, 14th century Bodian Castle or Brighton’s 18th century Royal Pavilion but for sports-minded people who prefer to deal in the present, there are plenty of places to take in top class sporting action such as the horse racing at Goodwood, Fontwell Park and Plumpton or county cricket at Arundel, Horsham and Hove. For golfers who wish to play, rather than watch their chosen sport, there are more than sixty golf clubs spread around Sussex and we maintain Top 20 Best in County listings for these courses. We’ve just completed a period of consultation with golfing contacts in the region and have now revised our local county rankings, presenting the results below for your examination. The top three positions remain exactly as they were following our last update two years ago so the number 1 course in the county is still West Sussex, which Sir Guy Campbell and Major C.K. Hutchison laid out in 1930. Nothing much has changed with the layout of this heathland track in eighty-five years and the golfing world in general should be eternally grateful for that. Rye (Old) is at number 2 and, like West Sussex, it also sits comfortably within our Top 100 chart for Great Britain & Ireland. The first course designed by Harry Colt in 1894 when he was still a solicitor and only 25 years of age, it’s been described by a recent reviewer as “a knowingly understated, pure and simple golf club that presents you with a stiff challenge hole after hole”. The number 3 course in Sussex is the Old course at Royal Ashdown Forest, where the club achieved its royal prefix from Queen Victoria in 1893, five years after its formation. The fairways here are set out on rather hilly heathland terrain, with not a bunker in sight at any of the eighteen holes. It’s younger sibling, the West course, is a highly regarded companion at a wonderful 36-hole facility. Rising one place to number 4, Crowborough Beacon is an Alister MacKenzie re-design which is in much the same mould as Royal Ashdown Forest, its near neighbour. With springy heathland cum moorland fairways laid out across the southern slopes of the East Sussex High Weald, the course plays host to the Men’s Senior Home Internationals later this week. The two 18-hole layouts at East Sussex National also make positive upward moves. The West course climbs one place to number 6 and the East course nudges up two spots to number 7. Both tracks were designed by American Bob Cupp and constructed completely with bent grass, first opening for play in 1990. A full day at this 36-hole complex is recommended but visitors should expect a serious golfing examination when teeing it up here. The only other significant advance up the standings is made by Cooden Beach, which soars seven places to number 11. Located in Bexhill on Sea, this Herbert Fowler course dates back to 1912, when the master designer fashioned the layout with five par threes and five par fives. Two courses enter the Top 20 chart for the first time: Seaford debuts at number 10 and this club moved to its present site in 1907, twenty years after its formation, when J.H. Taylor set out a new course for the members. Cowdray Park also makes its first appearance at number 17 and this layout is set within the massive 16,500-acre Cowdray Estate in Midhurst, where golf has been played since 1904. We’re grateful to everybody in the county who helped with our re-ranking process for Sussex. To view details of all the courses in our Sussex Top 20 rankings click the link. If you have extensive experience of playing across the south region of England and would like to contribute to our next re-ranking exercise then please email Editor-in-Chief Keith Baxter at keith@top100golfcourses.com. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses

Top 100 Courses of England 2022 This is the third biennial chart release for countries in Britain and Ireland that we've published in recent days. We’ve reported on Northern Ireland and Wales and now it’s the turn of England, where we actually feature more than 500 courses across thirty-six regional listings. The 100 layouts ranked below represent the crème de la crème of a very strong golfing nation which extends to more than 1800 golf courses. Royal St George’s There’s very little movement within the top fifteen spots in our new English standings. The top three places remain unchanged, which means the links at Royal St George’s in Sandwich retains its Number 1 status for the sixth consecutive edition, having taken over from Royal Birkdale at the top in 2012. Host venue for fifteen Opens, including last year’s event, the course is one of the most iconic layouts in all of golf. Review comments from the last 12 months describe the course as “perpetually interesting and always challenging… the definition of exceptional golf… just perfection from start to finish… stunningly beautiful and perfectly maintained… a real tough challenge even in a moderate wind… a brute and very tough especially in linksy conditions… absolutely outstanding, best I’ve ever played on!” Rye The Old course at Ryein East Sussex gains significant traction in the listings, moving seven places forward to number 17. Since 2010 the course has held a position in the English rankings between #20 and #27 but its 2008 position of #13 shows it’s certainly capable of better. Designed by Harry Colt in 1895 and subsequently revised by Tom Simpson and Guy Campbell between the wars, the course at Rye is something of a step back in time. Recent review excerpts include: “Rye may only be a par-68 but that and the relatively easy opening hole should not fool anyone. With the wind blowing off the English Channel, it is very tough to score well… Golf clubs do not come much more charming than Rye. The clubhouse is eerily quiet and the course is most likely empty… weaves its way around and over dunes and is laid out to perfection.” Further down the table, four courses make remarkable double digit upward moves. New Zealand At number 41, rising thirteen places, the course at New Zealand in Addlestone was founded in 1895 then modified in the early 1930s (after long-term secretary Samuel “Mure” Fergusson’s death) by Tom Simpson and Philip Mackenzie Ross. Not much changed in almost ninety years until Frank Pont was brought in several years ago to begin a bunker restoration project and oversee a comprehensive woodland management programme. This year we’ve received the following review comments: “New Zealand is my idea of a perfect inland course, huge pine trees lining most of the fairways with heather ready to scoop you up if you stray off the fairways… the course was a pleasure to play, shorter than most but by no means a pushover… very narrow tee shots with short spaces between fairway and punishing heather are the norm.” The New Zealand image above from David Cannon was kindly supplied by the club. Tandridge The 18-hole layout at Tandridgein Surrey dropped down the pecking order in our last chart update but it has more than recovered lost ground with an 18-place leap up to number 74, the highest position it has occupied since a #76 listing in 2008 – and there’s still room for further improvement. Frank Pont conducted a decade-long restoration exercise at the club, starting in 2009, and Tim Lobb's design firm has since made further changes to an old Colt classic which celebrates its centenary in 2024. “A great traditional course and very accessible from London,” is what one reviewer wrote about Tandridge last year. “The course is well-treed, less hilly at first, but the back nine dips and rolls with the lovely countryside.” Another person posted: “Very welcoming club with an outstanding layout with a superb mix of challenges (and) lovely views over the Downs.” Blackwell Since 2012, the course at Blackwellin Bromsgrove has lingered between #85 and #90 across five chart iterations but it now shoots up twelve places to number 76 in our latest standings. Frank Pont is again the man spearheading the course’s revival as he leads a multi-phase restoration project to revitalize this old Tom Simpson/Herbert Fowler design which reaches its 100th year in just over six months from now. Reviewers last year said of Blackwell: “An old and great course and club. The layout is stunning and the bunkering is special… it’s got charm in abundance, keeps your attention through eighteen holes and spreads out its quality holes… it almost makes Swinley appear modern (and) I mean that in a nice way because it is a lovely place with quintessential old world charm and understated appeal.” Woburn The Duchess course at Woburn in Buckinghamshire lies in the shadow of both the Marquess and Duke’s at the golf club. However, while those two higher regarded layouts take a little tumble in our latest chart revision, the Duchess rises a commendable ten places to number 86, regaining much of the ground lost last time around when it fell from #79 to #96. Many may have thought it was heading out of the national listings but it’s made a wonderful about turn in its ranking fortunes. “Always in amazing condition all year round,“ wrote a reviewer last year. “Very tight fairways on this course but if miss the fairway and hit your ball into the trees you quite often get a lucky bounce back onto the fairway!” Another person said: “I’d easily have the Marquess as the best but would have Duchess and Dukes MUCH closer in the rankings… members here are very lucky to have three lovely courses to choose from.” Cavendish The Alister MacKenzie-designed course at Cavendishin Buxton is the first of five new entries, appearing at number 88. Architect Jonathan Gaunt has been a member here for more than a decade and he’s currently involved in a renovation project to remodel greens, restyle bunkers and implement a woodland management plan, with the intention of having all the work completed in time for the club’s centenary in 2025. Two reviews in recent months sing the praises of Cavendish: “settings and views were second to none, the beauty surrounding the course is breath taking… what a pleasure it was to play so many MacKenzie greens again… renovation and improvement work on the bunkers is exemplary (with) white, top-quality sand being used and the bunkers remodelled. These stand out on each hole.” Dropping out of the listings to make way for the newcomers are Beaconsfield, Fairhaven, Prince’s (Himalayas), Centurion Club and Stoke Park (Colt & Alison) – but expect at least one of these courses to re-appear when we next revise the English standings following renovation work that’s currently under way at Stoke Park. In a similar vein, Prestbury will also come into contention when upgrade work is finished on the course. To view the complete detailed list of our new Top 100 Golf Courses of England chart click the link. View list here.

England is home to some of the best golf courses in the world, and its five highest-ranked layouts can be played without being a member. From a 15-time Open venue on the Kent coast to some of the finest heathland golf in Surrey and Berkshire, plus a spectacular links course in Cornwall, these are the five highest-ranked courses in England that welcome visiting golfers. Royal St. George’s Golf Club (Kent) World Ranking: 19th | England ranking: 1st | Green fee: £430 Royal St George’s offers the chance to play one of England’s most historic and challenging links courses. Founded in 1887, it was the first English course to host the Open and has staged the championship 15 times, including the most recent edition in 2021. Routed through towering dunes in a loose figure of eight, Royal St George’s has undulating fairways, uneven lies and plenty of elevation changes that can make even seemingly straightforward shots difficult. The fourth hole is particularly memorable, with a huge bunker carved into a towering dune guarding the fairway. Despite its reputation as a demanding championship test, the course is as enjoyable to explore as it is difficult to score on. Wildflowers and dune grasses line the fairways, while views stretch across Pegwell Bay towards the white cliffs beyond. Add in distinctive features such as the thatched shelters and St George’s flags, and there is plenty to keep you entertained between the inevitable moments of frustration. Sunningdale Golf Club - Old Course (Surrey) World Ranking: 22nd | England ranking: 2nd | Green fee: £485 The Old course at Sunningdale is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful inland courses in the British Isles. Opened in 1901 by Willie Park Jr, it was one of the first great courses to emerge from the Surrey and Berkshire sand-belt, with Harry Colt later reshaping the layout and giving it the intimate, tree-lined character it has today. Pine, birch, oak and heather frame the fairways, while the firm heathland turf makes Sunningdale a joy to walk and play. The course has hosted plenty of memorable golf, too, including Bobby Jones’ remarkable 66 in Open qualifying in 1926 and Nick Faldo’s 62 at the 1986 European Open. The 10th is a particular highlight, with its elevated tee offering a spectacular view before the halfway hut provides one of golf’s more welcome rewards. The 15th, a 226-yard par three, is another standout. For golfers visiting England, Sunningdale Old offers a classic heathland experience in one of the country's finest golfing regions. Sunningdale Golf Club - New Course (Surrey) World Ranking: 41st | England ranking: 3rd | Green fee: £485 The New course at Sunningdale provides a rather different experience to its famous older sibling. Opened in 1923 and designed by Harry Colt, it is more open and rugged than the Old, with elevated tees, heathery terrain and long carries placing a greater emphasis on driving. At 6,700 yards and par 70, the New is no pushover, with narrow fairways and plenty of undulation making it a particularly demanding test from the back tees. Even the professionals have struggled to make it look easy: Jack Nicklaus once held the course record with a 67 before Graeme Storm carded a remarkable 62 during Open qualifying in 2009. The course has also benefited from an ongoing tree-management programme, allowing more heather to return and restoring views across Chobham Common. The fifth, a picturesque par three played across the heath, is one of the highlights. The result is a course that rewards good driving without becoming a purely distance-based test, with the heathland setting providing plenty of visual interest along the way. St Enodoc Golf Club - Church Course (Cornwall) World Ranking: 49th | England ranking: 4th | Green fee: £190 St Enodoc is unlike almost any other links course in England. Overlooking the Camel Estuary in Rock, with views across to Padstow, the Church Course takes its name from the 13th-century church that sits beside the 10th green. Remarkably, the building was completely buried by sand in the 19th century before being excavated in 1863. Founded in 1891 and redesigned by James Braid in 1907, St Enodoc is defined by its towering dunes and constantly changing terrain, where no two holes feel quite the same. The sixth is the course's signature hole, demanding two blind shots over the towering 'Himalayas' dune to reach the hidden green. The 10th, played across a natural valley to a narrow fairway below, is another memorable challenge. If your ball strays towards the churchyard, you'll also find the grave of Poet Laureate John Betjeman, whose poem Seaside Golf was inspired by the course. The combination of huge dunes, unusual holes and views across the Camel Estuary makes St Enodoc a particularly distinctive addition to any English golf trip. Swinley Forest Golf Club (Berkshire) World Ranking: 52nd | England ranking: 5th Swinley Forest offers a quieter, more understated version of heathland golf on the Surrey and Berkshire sand-belt. Set among mature pines and heather, it has a wonderfully quiet atmosphere and an old-fashioned character that is increasingly difficult to find. The firm, fast-running fairways and purple heather in summer give it all the hallmarks of classic heathland golf. Designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1909, Swinley measures around 6,400 yards and plays to a par of 69. The short holes are particularly strong, with a varied collection of one-shotters that require careful club selection. Around the greens, false fronts, run-offs and subtle slopes provide plenty of opportunities for a good round to unravel. For much of its history, Swinley was an intensely private club where visitors were few and far between. It now welcomes green-fee golfers, although the club retains much of its distinctive character. The result is a course that feels removed from the modern world, with little of the glamour associated with some of its better-known neighbours. For golfers who enjoy traditional heathland golf, that simplicity is a large part of Swinley's appeal. Green fees quoted are summer 2027 rates where available.