Crowborough Beacon

Crowborough Beacon is one of the oldest courses in Sussex, with its history dating back to the late 19th Century.

Dr Alister MacKenzie was the man to design the layout, which incorporates a mixture of moorland and heathland settings in its design.

Thanks to its position, sitting high above the county, there are great views at points throughout a round at Crowborough Beacon, adding to the joy of a game.

Visit Crowborough Beacon’s website here.

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As one of Sussex’s oldest venues, Crowborough Beacon has a long and storied history, with the club being founded in 1895. 

The great Dr Alister Mackenzie, of Augusta National and Alwoodley fame, was the man behind the design of the layout at Crowborough Beacon. 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes, was Captain of the club in 1910, while Enid Wilson – a three-time winner of the British Ladies Amateur Championship, was a member as well. 

The course is set on high ground – very high ground in fact – looking down across the Sussex Downs towards the English Channel.  It is probably more moorland than heathland in style but certainly the combination of lively turf and some significant slopes creates great challenge and interest. It is not the longest course in the world, with the back tees taking the course out to 6,300 yards, but there is plenty to watch out for over the course of a round. 

Although 400 yards, there is not much in the way of danger on the opening hole at Crowborough. The fairway is wide, and there are no bunkers to be seen. A road runs behind the green, so make sure that your approach is short rather than long. At 449 yards, its length is the least of your concerns at the 2nd, because it sweeps downhill and right before a deep gully separates the fairway from the green. It's the kind of hole that can end your score before you've even started. The first of the quartet of great short holes comes at the 3rd. It is one of three that are less than 150 yards, and it is played to an oval shaped green. No bunkers, but plenty of trees and other trouble to be found if you are offline. 

“The first thing that will strike the golfer who comes fresh to Crowborough is the wonderful view. I do not suppose there is a wider or more beautiful one in all England.” - Bernard Darwin 

4 and 5 are mid-length par 4s, and good scoring opportunities. The 6th is the second of Crowborough's short holes and played over a valley to a green cut into the hillside. At close to 200 yards from the back tees, it's a hole that you will be delighted to negotiate safely. Next comes the first par 5, a birdie chance but not without danger. It is one of several holes at Crowborough Beacon that call for drives to be played 'top side' to allow for a correcting bounce or two. Sometimes, depending on your preferred shot shape, this acts as a cushion and at other moments it feels like several factors are mitigating against you. 

There are some more scoring chances around the turn, with both the 8th and 11th being par 4s of less than 330 yards in length. If you find the fairway on both these holes, then there is a good chance of knocking it close with your approach. The latter is a dog-leg left with a large tree on the left corner of the fairway Make sure you get past that with your tee shot to have a clear sight of the putting surface. 9 is slightly longer, just shy of 400 yards, but with just a single greenside bunker, the trouble is from the trees and heather lining both sides once more. The 10th is the second par 5 on the course, and the shortest at 495 yards from the tips. Another scoring chance if you get a good drive away. 

12 is the most difficult hole on the back nine, the Stroke Index 2 at Crowborough Beacon. Although the hole is arrow straight, there is a section of heather and thick rough in the centre of it, so make sure to stay short of that to give yourself the best chance of finding the green with your second. The shortest hole on the property comes at the next, with the 13th only just tipping 140 yards. Three large bunkers guard a relatively generous putting surface. 14 is the last of the par 5s, and one where the tee shot does not need to be too big. Heather encroaches around the 320-yard mark, and could cause a problem for the shorter hitters when it comes to laying up with their second shot. 

The closing stretch begins with a pair of generous, dog-leg left par 4s. Neither is more than 370 yards, providing golfers with more scoring opportunities before they get to the final two holes on the property. 17 is the last of the par 3s, and another where there is no trouble in the shape of sand. Heather and thick trees are the danger instead... The final hole is an epic par 4, all uphill, doglegging ever further left and surrounded by heather. To cap it off, the putting surface slopes quite viciously meaning that a plucky four can so easily become a disappointing five and a gritty five can turn into an ugly six. 

Steve Watton: Hilly and dramatic heathland course that takes you on a lovely journey with views to die for

Greg Webber: An interesting and enjoyable variety of holes whose elevation gives beautiful views in places. Ongoing works include repositioning of the 4th tee and creation of a 19th hole

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Where is Crowborough Beacon located?

Crowborough beacon is located in the south of England, around 25 miles from the south coast and the English Channel. The club sits just outside the town of Crowborough, just off the A26 which runs from Maidstone to Newhaven. Crawley and Royal Tunbridge Wells are close by, while the centre of London is around 40 miles to the north of the venue.

The town of Crowborough has its own train station, which is less than a mile from the golf club. Trains run between London Bridge and Uckfield in both directions on a regular basis. For international visitors coming to Sussex, London Gatwick Airport is only 20 miles to the west of Crowborough Beacon, with Gatwick being the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom. London City Airport is 50 miles by road from Crowborough Beacon.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

The south of England is a hotbed for great golf courses, and the region around Crowborough Beacon is no different. Piltdown, Royal Ashdown Forest’s Old Course, and Knole Park are all within a short drive from Crowborough.

What golf facilities does Crowborough Beacon offer?

Along with the glorious golf course, Crowborough Beacon also has a driving range and a short game area to allow members and guests alike to practice their skills. That is situated to the left side of the 1st hole. There is also a putting green by the clubhouse to get a feel for the greens before you take to the course.

What are the green fees at Crowborough Beacon?

The price of a green fee at Crowborough Beacon changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Crowborough Beacon, visit their website here.