Saunton Golf Club

The West Course at Saunton Golf Club occupies a dramatic stretch of linksland along Braunton Burrows in North Devon, one of the largest sand dune systems in England. Herbert Fowler designed the course in 1919, routing it through towering dunes and natural valleys that create a classic links experience. Frank Pennink later refined the layout, preserving Fowler's strategic intent while adapting certain holes to modern play. The course runs out and back along the dune corridor, with the outward nine generally playing toward Saunton Sands and the inward nine returning to the clubhouse. The terrain features significant elevation changes unusual for links golf, with several holes playing from elevated tees down into dune-framed fairways or climbing back up through the sandhills. The turf is firm and fast-running, and the wind off the Bristol Channel influences play throughout the round. Fowler's design emphasizes angles and positioning rather than pure length, rewarding players who think their way around the course. Bunkers are placed to challenge both drives and approaches, and the greens feature subtle contours that demand careful reading. Saunton has hosted numerous amateur championships and regional qualifying events over the decades. The club maintains both the West and the East Course, with the West generally regarded as the championship layout. The clubhouse sits between the two courses with views across the dunes toward the sea, and the club has a traditional membership culture rooted in Devon golf history.