Royal Ashdown Forest (West)

Royal Ashdown West Course, founded in December 1888, is one of the longest established golf clubs in Sussex. The West Course was originally laid out to the west of the Old Course in 1889 as 9 holes for the Ashdown Forest and Tunbridge Wells Ladies Golf Club. Their Clubhouse, which was for some time next door to the now demolished Ashdown Hotel, is now a private residence known as \\\'The Old Golf House\\\'. Over the years the course was gradually improved and extended, and in 1932 an exhibition match was held for the formal opening of the 18 holes by four leading lady amateur golfers of the day. Joyce Wethered, Diana Fishwick, Wanda Morgan and Cecil Leitch. You can see some interesting pictures of this match - Miss Leitch and Miss Morgan driving from from the 1st tee, spectators around the first green and Wanda Morgan putting. Later that year it was the venue for the English Ladies Amateur Championship. This prestigious start to the extended course was short lived. With the outbreak of war in 1939 and the consequent shortages, the course gradually fell into disrepair. The Ladies were elected Honorary members of the Men\\\'s Club until 6 months after the termination of the war, and moved in with them. Eventual amalgamation of the two clubs took place in1951. In 1946 only 6 holes of the Ladies Course nearest to the Men\\\'s Clubhouse remained open. The remainder had disappeared under thick natural growth of Ashdown Forest. After a few years three of the \\\'lost holes\\\' were restored to create what was known as \\\'The Short Course\\\'. In 1965 the course was fully restored to its present delightful layout and condition. Henry Luff, club maker and tournament professional from the Kingswood Golf Club was one of the owners of the Hotel who persuaded the Club to allow the Hotel at it\\\'s own expense, to restore the lost nine holes of the course. In 2001 the partnership with the Ashdown Forest Hotel ceased and the hotel site was sold for development. From June 2004 a brand new £1.3 million clubhouse extension to the existing Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club was opened for the West Course to provide full facilities, including changing rooms, bar and 72 seater restaurant for West Course golfers. The course is maintained and managed by the parent club. The course offers a very fair test of golfing ability along its beautiful and natural terrain, with not a bunker in sight! Do not be deceived by its apparent lack of length - to find the greens demands considerable accuracy. There are some excellent holes and from the exciting challenge of the 14th there follows a testing combination which will certainly make you earn your score. The West course has a long tradition of providing golfing hospitality to groups and societies. A new £1.3 million clubhouse extension opened in June 2004. The new building has changing facilities on the ground floor, while upstairs the new bar and restaurant occupies a light and airy space overlooking the golf course. It has the capacity to cater for up to 72 people in one sitting, with a wide choice of home-made dishes and local beers to choose from. An outside terrace offers an additional place to enjoy a pint on Britain’s valued sunny days. The new clubhouse has it’s own car park with easy access to the enlarged Professional’s Shop and first tee.