The Sussex County Golf Union provides administration for 66 golf clubs across the county. “Sussex by the Sea” is the county anthem and for very good reason because Sussex’s lengthy English Channel coastline stretches for almost 100 miles from Camber in the east to Chichester in the west.

Sussex County Ladies’ Golf Association was formed in 1900 as Sussex County Ladies’ Golf Club, with representatives from Ashdown Forest, Bexhill, Crowborough, Hastings, Royal Eastbourne and Seaford in attendance at the inaugural meeting. Today, the association has sixty affiliated clubs under its jurisdiction, with over 4,000 female members. Its aims are to provide a framework for amateur ladies’ golf in the county, promote and encourage play at all levels, identify and nurture talent, develop elite golfers and select teams to represent Sussex.

Despite the lengthy coastline, Sussex can boast only two true links, spread-eagled at either end of the county. Rye in the east is a famous name in links golf, but few golfers will have heard of Littlehampton in the west. Ironically, Littlehampton was founded in 1889, five years before Rye. The coastal golf between these two links is very much in the upland mould and a number of fine downland courses sit proudly on the cliffs.

Heading inland you’ll find a collection of the finest courses in England. If you go down to the woods today at Royal Ashdown Forest, the only surprise you’ll get is that there are two lovely bunkerless courses there. If you want to stay and play, 36-hole golf is available at East Sussex National. But it would be remiss not to go to Pulborough to play West Sussex, a genuine star of sand and heather.

Our Sussex Best in County rankings were updated in November 2019. Click the link to read the story.