East Devon Golf Club

East Devon rightfully ranks among the top 100 courses in England. The numbering of the tees (59, 55, or 49) is also a nice touch. The opening holes give no hint of the elevation changes that lie ahead. Hole 7 is an atypical hole among the otherwise open ones, as it is played entirely in the woods. The reward for the gradual climb up the hill is then Hole 9, played from a very large hill down. For longer hitters, this shorter par 5 is an ideal chance for a birdie. The back nine is played literally up and down. The most beautiful view of the sea is from holes 16 and 17, both of which are played downhill. An interesting course.

East Devon is een mooie, correcte baan waar alles zeer in orde is, zeker de prachtige, snelle, geonduleerde moeilijke greens. De baan lag hard toen wij speelden, waardoor de ballen bleven rollen. De back 9 zijn mooier en uitdagender dan de front 9. Met name op H17 krijg je een prachtig uitzicht Geen buggy nodig , super vriendelijke ontvangst Alles is zeer ok maar niet echt fantastisch

Course type: Heathland / Links Topography: Undulating slowly climbing to the top of the course and then a few holes steeply downhill Best feature: The 10th is a stunning par three played from an elevated tee across a valley clad in gorse and heather to a well protected, three-tiered green. Towards the end of the round you get spectacular views Worst feature: The greens seemed quite inconsistent in their speed - some uphill puts seem ridiculously slow, some down hill puts are fast but then some downhill puts seem slow. Condition: The whole course was in good condition Verdict: Worth playing

East Devon Golf Club is a scenic heathland course perched high above Budleigh Salterton in Devon. Designed by Robert Tosswill and opened in 1902, the course combines classic design with dramatic natural beauty. Panoramic views stretch across the English Channel and surrounding countryside, making it one of the most picturesque courses in the region. The layout follows a two-loop design, climbing steadily toward the high point of the course before descending. Elevation changes are present but manageable, with only the descent at hole 17 providing a real physical test. The routing is engaging, with a mix of heathland and clifftop features adding variety throughout. Facilities are strong. The pro shop is well stocked with branded merchandise and refreshments. Staff were friendly and welcoming, with particular praise for Trevor, who provided a fantastic first impression. The clubhouse, situated beside the 18th green, offers excellent views and is a perfect place to relax post-round. East Devon is a must-play for those travelling through the southwest of England. Beautifully presented, quietly challenging, and rich in character, a standout (non-links) course in the Devon.

East Devon was opened in 1902 but redesigned by Harry Colt in the 1i920s and much time, money and energy has been spent attempting to recreate some of the views from his day.

That has included significant clearance of tangly gorse bushes with plenty still to come,

We were amazed and impressed by the care and detail of the work undergone a to preserve the lowland heath to the benefit of wildlife and rare plants, as well as the club's golfers.

Its plans have been created in collaboration with R&A agronomists, much-celebrated course designer Donald Steele, woodland management experts Nicholson Associates and Harry Colt architecture specialist Frank Pont.

The advice of local experts is evident on the par-five sixth hole, where gorse and tall bushes have been removed for a traditional Devonshire hedge (who knew there was such a thing). Two trees remain for bird nesting.

The clearance work across the course has opened up some stunning views and made the course feel less claustrophobic.

The huge three-tiered green on the par-three 10th is one of the craziest I can recall.

Mrs W's tee shot nearly reached the flag but stalled and fell 40 feet back down the flights to the bunker's edge. Her follow-up putt saw the ignominy repeated.

The bending 11th is nearest to an original Colt hole with a drive into a rising fairway that turns towards his typical horizontal bunker sequencing.

Gorse removal has opened more options for players tempted to cut corners.

The best views are from the 16th tee, from which you can see 40 miles east to Portland Bill in Dorset and 16 miles west to Berry Head by Brixham.

This panorama includes a national park, a national marine reserve, two national nature reserves, three river estuaries, six sites of special scientific interest, over half of the World Heritage Jurassic Coast and Golden Cap - the highest point on the south coast of Britain.

The 17th is East Devon's Marmite hole – a very tough par-four with a hellish 100-yard band of rough separating two sections of fairway before a steep rise to the green.

Thankfully, I finished on a high with the short par-four, dogleg 18th, which swings in front of the clubhouse before an attractive green in the corner of the course.

But I was firmly in the shadow because, with 42 Stableford points, Mrs W had enjoyed one of the finest rounds of our travels.

This was pleasing because the course was in great shape, and the welcome was so kind and heartfelt that the day almost demanded good golf.

Afterwards, we mused on the club's history, enjoyed food from the Captain's Day barbecue, and thought about what a pleasure it must be to be a member of East Devon.