East Devon

One of several stunning layouts in the county, East Devon Golf Club also has some big names behind its design and layout. 

Herbert Fowler, Harry Colt and James Braid – three men with some incredible golf courses to their name – all had a hand in how East Devon has shaped to be today. 

The course offers incredible views over the English Channel, and has become a host of a number of England Golf Championships in recent years. 

Visit East Devon’s website here.

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Golf had been played in the area for around a decade before East Devon Golf Club opened in 1902, with the course being designed and laid out by Robert Tosswill.  

Harry Colt, the world-renowned golf course architect, made changes and designed a new layout in the 1920s, with both Herbert Fowler and James Braid also making improvements over the next few decades. 

The course has since played host to the English Girls Open Championship, with the English Club Championship among the other events to have been held at East Devon in its history. 

There is no doubt that East Devon is one of the highest golf clubs in the country in terms of its elevation, with points sitting as high as 450 feet above sea level, despite the sea only being a stone’s throw away at times. It’s a heathland for the most part, with a touch of moorland and even a parkland flavour as well. The fairways and greens are wonderfully firm, no matter the time of year. It is not the longest course in the world, playing just shy of 6,300 yards from the Black tees, but this Par 70 offers up its challenges. 

The opening two holes play out and back to the clubhouse, and are very similar. Both are under 350 yards, meaning there is the chance to get your card going early. The 1st green is surrounded by trees, while the 2nd has sand traps to avoid but both provide birdie chances if you can find the fairway with your tee shots. Playing away from the clubhouse once more, the 3rd is the hardest hole on the property at East Devon. It is a slight dog-leg right, and the fairway gets narrower the further down you hit your drive. A long, narrow green awaits approach shots, making it a very tricky hole. 

The first of the quartet of short holes is the 4th, which is just 140 yards long. The green is round, and has three large bunkers in front of it. Club selection is vital on this par 3. After the medium-length 5th, you get to the first of just two par 5s on the property – the 6th. It is the longest hole at East Devon by some distance, coming in at more than 555 yards from the tips. With trees down the entirety of the left side, and out of bounds lurking down the right, it is a difficult hole to get right, especially if your driver has not been your friend in the early part of the round. 

You then get to the 7th, which almost feels like it doesn’t belong at East Devon. It seems to be on a completely different piece of land and is parkland in nature. It is a dog-leg left par 4, and you feel crowded by the trees that surround the hole. It opens out again for the 8th, the most difficult of the par 3s. It plays 204 yards from the tips, to a small green, so a par is a great score. The front nine comes to a close with the longest par 4 on the course. 9 is 465 yards long but thanks to its wide fairway, it is a hole where you can take driver without having to worry.  

The back nine kicks off with a par 3, played to a large green. However, no fewer than six bunkers guard the putting surface if you are to miss it. Two large cross bunkers are the feature on 11, but if you miss those, then a birdie is a possibility. The 12th is the only par 5 on the back side, and plays as a dog-leg right. A relatively wide fairway should mean that you can go after your drive, and if you find the flat stuff, then going for it in two might be worth it. The 13th is the last of the short holes at East Devon, and has four large bunkers surrounding the green. 

The course ends with five par 4s, all of which have their own challenges. 14 is a sharp dog-leg right, and if you can play a fade (draw for you lefties), then it is to your advantage as the turn comes very early in the hole. If you play to the corner, you will be left with a long approach to a narrow green. The 15th is only 300 yards long but with trees down the right side, longer hitters may opt to play safe with an iron.  

Take a moment when you get to the 16th tee to take in your surroundings. Look to your right and you can enjoy the view over the Devon Cliffs and out to the English Channel. Then it’s back to business for the final three holes! 

The 16th features two bunkers on the right of the fairway which must be avoided at all costs, while the penultimate hole is the longest of the five par 4s to finish. It comes in at 450 yards, and plays as a dog-leg left. The fairway ends abruptly due to heather, leaving you with a long approach to a small green. The closing hole at East Devon sees you tee off over another expanse of heather, to a fairway that runs diagonally from you. The green is large and inviting, but anything wayward will be caught up in the three bunkers.  

Craig Morrison: Colt, clifftop, heathland – so much to recommend it

Sean Arble: Impressive There is a fair mix of holes with some good greens and the fairway width is generally welcome

David Walker: Enchanting course set 400 feet above sea level and close to the clifftops. The tee is probably the pick of a wealth of breathtaking views. The turf is heathland-firm all year round, and the design nous of Harry Colt and a touch of James Braid (8th and 18th notably) is evident

Chris Griffiths: Hidden gem. Great clifftop views down the stretch

Read more about our panellists here.

Where is East Devon Golf Club located?  

As you might expect from its name, the club is located in East Devon. The golf course sits just inland from the Devon Cliffs, with Knowle Cove just below on the coastline. The club is just west of Budleigh Salterton, and less than 15 miles from the city of Exeter, which is to the northwest. The A376, which runs from Exeter to Exmouth, is the closest major road. 

Exmouth is also the home to the nearest train station to East Devon Golf Club. It sits at the end of the line, which sees trains run through Exeter St David’s and Exeter Central, through to Paignton. For international travellers, Exeter Airport is just half an hour away from East Devon Golf Club. However, it only services a small number of destinations. Bristol Airport is around two hours north, while London Heathrow – the biggest and busiest airport in the United Kingdom - is three hours to the east. 

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

East Devon is somewhat on its own when it comes to other venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Burnham & Berrow and Yelverton are the only two clubs that are based within 90 minutes from East Devon. 

What golf facilities does East Devon Golf Club offer?  

The club also has great practice facilities along with its stunning golf course. There is a driving range to the side of the opening hole, while the short game area – which features two greens and four bunkers to practice from – is at the side of the 18th green. East Devon also has a putting green by the clubhouse, separate to the short game area. 

What are the green fees at East Devon Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at East Devon 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 East Devon, visit their website here.