Mannings Heath (Waterfall)

Mannings Heath – or to give it its full title, the Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate – is blessed with 27 holes of golf.

The Waterfall Course is the 18-hole offering at the Sussex venue, and was designed by the great Harry Colt shortly before the First World War.

Disruptions came through both wars, but the club and course have since been restored back to its best, and today it presents a true test of golf for all abilities.

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It was a tricky start to life for the Waterfall Course at Mannings Heath. Designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1914, it was almost immediately taken back and used for agricultural reasons during the First World War.

That would not be the end of the wartime turmoil at Mannings Heath, as a heavy bomber crashed on the golf course in early 1945. The course now has a plaque to commemorate the incident, which led to the loss of life.

In 2016, the venue became the first in the United Kingdom to be classed as a ‘Golf Club and Wine Estate’. Twenty years earlier, the Kingfisher Course had been opened by designer David Williams.

As the leading layout at Mannings Heath, you can expect a test of all aspects of your game on the Waterfall Course. Accuracy from the tee is a must, with trees and woodlands all around. There are some scenic aspects to the course, but don’t let that distract you form the task in hand, which also includes plenty of undulations and a stream that appears on more than half the holes. Measuring almost 6,700 yards from the tips, you also require some distance off the tee, to go along with that aforementioned accuracy.

A pair of short par 4s get you on your way on the Waterfall Course, with neither being more than 330 yards in length. A tee shot of around 230-240 on the opener is perfect, leaving you with a short iron or wedge in hand for your approach to an elevated green. A similar distance is required down the 2nd, but make sure to favour the right side of the fairway so you have a view of the green, as this hole winds its way round to the left. The green has a mound on its left side, so try to avoid that with your approach. The 3rd is the first par 4 of more than 400 yards in length, and requires a drive missing the two fairway bunkers on its right side. The green is set back among the trees, and has a bunker front right for company.

The tee shot on 4 is one of the toughest ones on the Waterfall Course at Mannings Heath. It plays as a dog-leg left, with the fairway diagonally angled away from you. The further left you go, the further your drive has to carry. Another solitary bunker sits just short of the green, while has runs offs at the back and right. The 5th is the first of three cracking short holes on this Colt design. At 180 yards to the middle from the tips, and with out of bounds hugging the left edge of the green, accuracy is vital. Bailing out right is the safe play, as there is a chance that the ball will bounce down the slope and find the putting surface.

A trio of par 4s and a par 5 bring you to the close of the front nine. The 6th requires a tee shot hitting the fairway, so opt for accuracy over distance, especially with OOB looming down the left. There is a stream in front of the green, while the surface itself is two-tiered, so club selection is key. At 454 yards from the tips, the 7th is one of the toughest holes on the layout. Playing as a slight dog-leg left, and once again featuring OOB down its left side, choosing your line off the tee is half the battle on this hole. Two bunkers and four mounds protect the putting surface. The first par 5 on the Waterfall comes at the 8th. At 528 yards, and with a split fairway, this is a great hole. The end of the fairway is some 335 yards from the black tees, so driver is the play on 8, but make sure to avoid the small copse of trees sitting in the middle of the short stuff. The second shot is then played over water, while the green is guarded by multiple traps. Lay up short of the first of those to have an easy wedge on to this putting surface.

The last hole on the front nine also features a split fairway. However, at 370 yards, it is much more manageable in two shots. The first part of the fairway runs out to 275 yards, so if you can keep it on that, you’re going to have a good chance of finding the green with your second. A two-tiered green makes distance control with your approach crucial, otherwise you might be in three-putt territory. The signature hole on the course comes at the 10th. Named ‘Waterfall’ - like the layout – it features an elevated tee, with the shot played to a green 180 yards away. Two bunkers, out of bounds at the back and a stream in front, all add to the danger. A pair of very different par 4s follows, as you get into the thick of the back nine. 11 is very narrow, requiring an accurate drive. However, at more than 400 yards, it needs to have some distance on it as well. With the stream running down the entirety of the left side, and trees on the right, this is a tricky hole. The 12th follows, and big hitters will fire their tee shots over the trees on the right to find the wide fairway. Another two-tiered green lies in wait, so find the right level or prepare for a tricky two-putt.

13 is the second of the par 5s on the Waterfall Course, and is just 500 yards. A sole bunker sits in the right centre of the fairway, so if you can avoid that, then you might fancy your chances of reaching the green in two. However, there is a big elevation change with the approach, making it play longer than its yardage. Add in the runoffs on both sides, and you might well decide to lay up instead. 14 is the last of the par 3s, and it features one of the largest greens on the course. However, with runoffs to the right and at the back, four bunkers protecting it, and trees all down the right, it is much more difficult than its 150 yards suggests.

The closing stretch on the Waterfall begins with a driveable par 4. Just 287 yards from the back tees, some will certainly fancy their chances here. Most will lay up, with the trees behind the 18th tee box being a good line for that. Even then, it will just be a wedge on to a large green. The 16th is the longest of the par 4s, coming in at more than 465 yards. Keep your tee shot on the fairway and you might make it in two, but for some, this will play as a par 5. Two bunkers and large mounds protect this surface once more. 17 is the shortest of the actual par 5s, and provides a good birdie opportunity down the stretch. The first part of the fairway runs out at the 270-yard mark, but from there, it is only 210 yards to the green. The surface slopes from back to front, so try and stay short of the flag. The closing hole on the Waterfall offers an elevated tee shot so you can see everything that is to come. The green is incredibly shallow, so distance control is vital to finish with a par or better.

Where is Mannings Heath located?

Mannings Heath is located in the south of England, with Horsham being the nearest town – just four miles from the venue. Crawley is the closest city at seven miles, while the centre of London is less than 40 miles away to the north. The A23, A24 and A264 all run close by, with the nearest motorway being the M23, which starts just south of Crawley.

Horsham is also the home of the nearest train station to Mannings Heath. The station has four platforms, and sees services running through to London Victoria, Portsmouth Harbour and Peterborough, among many other destinations. International visitors have plenty of options. London Gatwick Airport, the country’s second busiest airport, is less than 15 miles from Mannings Heath, while London Heathrow is 50 miles away to the northwest of the golf club.

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

Thanks to its location in the south of England, there are plenty of venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list that are close to Mannings Heath. The likes of West Sussex, Piltdown, Tandridge, East Sussex National’s West, Royal Ashdown Forest’s Old and both courses at Walton Heath - the Old and New - are all within 30 miles.

What golf facilities does Mannings Heath offer?

Along with the 18-hole Waterfall Course, Mannings Heath is also home to the 9-hole Kingfisher Course, which provides a great afternoon’s fun. There is also a driving range and short game area at the venue, along with a putting green which sits by the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Mannings Heath?

The price of a green fee at Mannings Heath 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 Mannings Heath, visit their website here.