The West Course at Saunton is the second of two courses at the venue that claim a spot on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses list.

It's older sibling, the East Course, outdates it by some four decades. Herbert Fowler was brought in to design the West Course, which opened for play shortly before World War II.

The West pushes out to almost 6,600 yards form the tips, and is a proper test of golf. Team it up on a two-day trip with the East, and you're pretty much in golfing heaven at Saunton!

 

Visit Saunton's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.
 

Saunton Golf Club was formed in 1897, and it was originally a 9-hole venue, before being extended to 12, and then 18 by the end of 1908. That would become the East Course.

It would be another three decades before a second course - the West Course - came to fruition at Saunton. Herbert Fowler was brought in to design the new layout, with Frank Pennink then redesigning the course in the 1970s.

Saunton, as a venue, has played host to a number of major amateur championships. The British Ladies Championship, English Amateur Championship, Boys Amateur Championship and the Brabazon Trophy.

Most recently, Saunton played host to the  R&A Women's Senior Amateur & Senior Amateur Championships in 2024.
 

The West Course at Saunton has plenty of characteristics that are similar to the East, but it also has its standalone features as well.  Elevation changes are common on the 6,596-yard par-71 layout and of course, small bunkers dictate strategy off the tee. A number of streams and doglegs also mean that good course management is vital. 

The opening hole is played through two towering dunes, but after this the layout becomes less imposing and a more subtle links game comes to the fore. Like the opener, the 2nd is also a slight dog-leg right. The 3rd is the first of four par 5s on the layout, and the shortest of those at just 475 yards. That makes it reachable in two for most, as long as your drive finds the fairway. The first par 3 comes at the 4th, and it is one of two that are more than 200 yards in length. 

Four tough par 4s follow, each pushing past 400 yards from the back tees. The 5th, 6th and 8th are all relatively straight forward, requiring two solid shots. The 7th is the quirky one of the four. Golfers tee off and play across a hazard to the fairway, before the hole turns almost back on itself, and you play back across the hazard towards the green. Two very good shots are required to set up a birdie chance. The final hole on the front nine is shortest on the West Course. This 152-yard par 3 has three greenside bunkers and trees on three sides, to make you feel somewhat claustrophobic.

The back nine begins with the longest hole on the West, pushing to 575 yards off the back tees. It plays as dog-leg right from the second shot, and only the very longest hitters will be able to reach in two. 11 is the second of those long par 3s, at 212 yards from the blues. The 12th is another tricky par 5, with a hazard running across the fairway around 70 yards from the green. That means you have to make the decision of whether to go for the green or to lay up short of it and get on in three. 

Three dog-leg left par 4s follow, with the 14th being the hardest hole on the course. It is the longest of the three at 440 yards, while the 15th is only 305 yards, and a great birdie chance on the way home. The closing holes are the highlight of the round, with a pair of stunning 190-yard par 3s at 16 and 18, one from the top of a hill and the other where a two-shot swing can decide a match.

Where is Saunton Golf Club located?
Saunton is near the north tip of Devon, approximately 45 miles from Exeter and 100 miles west of Bristol. It sits just off the B3231, which runs from nearby Braunton through to the coastline.

Barnstaple is ten miles to the east, and home to the nearest train station to Saunton. The station is the final stop on a service from Exeter Central, with trains running hourly in both directions. Bristol Airport is the nearest major airport for international visitors, which is located just outside the city of Bristol. Some international visitors may have to travel via London Heathrow or London Gatwick, both of which are around four hours from Saunton by car.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  
As we've already mentioned, the same property is also home to the East Course, another staple on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Royal North Devon is just down the coast, with Bude & North Cornwall also within 40 miles of Saunton.

What golf facilities does Saunton offer?  
There are two practice putting greens, a short-game practice area, a covered range for iron play only and a long practice ground.
 

What are the green fees at Saunton?
The price of a green fee at Saunton changes throughout the year, depending on the season.

 

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

 

Visit Saunton's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.