The Sussex Heathland Experience

The Sussex Heathland Experience is a tour around three gloriously natural heathlands in this beautiful county.

Describing Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club’s Old Course in 1934, Bernard Darwin wrote “two salient facts come to mind. It is not quite like any other of my acquaintance, and secondly, I never knew anyone who played on it and was not fond of it.” Over 75 years later and little has changed. Here is a course designed by nature yet still ranked as one of the top 100 courses in the British Isles. Famous for having no bunkers, its reputation as a true test of golf is undiminished thanks to uncontrived hazards of heather, narrow fairways, hollows and streams. Originally open heathland, trees from the forest have seeded, grown and matured to make accurate golf even more of a premium requirement as well as adding to its natural beauty. By comparison with some modern developments the course could be considered short, yet because of the exacting challenge it presents to even the best golfers, the Old Course has been selected by the R&A as an Open Championship Regional Qualifying venue.

Replete with heather and charm, Piltdown Golf Club is a wonderfully natural golf course, that feels as if has been the same way for centuries. Although relatively short by modern standards, and like Ashdown having no bunkers, the course takes advantage of the natural landscape and presents a hugely enjoyable test of golf. A recent renovation of the greens means the course has top quality putting surfaces, and the heather and gorse, along with a challenging Par of 68 will provide any true lover of the game a wonderful golfing experience.

Established in 1895, Crowborough Beacon is a terrific mature heathland layout which delightfully sits close to the highest point in Sussex at nearly 800ft above sea level, offering stunning South Downs views.It’s a serious test – the fairways are fairly tight and are well flanked by an assortment of heather and gorse bushes. Beware of the greens too, they can run very fast at certain point sin the year.

Sussex is a beautiful county that attracts visitors for the sheer beauty of the countryside alone, so the region offers a wide range of hotels that are suitable for golfers and easily accessible to these three fine golf courses. A two night, three round stay will be one of the most satisfying imaginable.

TREVOSE, CORNWALL - MAY 24: The green on the par 5, 4th hole at sunset at the Trevose Golf and Country Club, on May 24, in Trevose, England. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)