East Course – 6427 yards, par 71
Framed by magnificent sand hills, Saunton’s East Course is a classic links and one where the character of the terrain and the vagaries of a near ever-present wind combine to create a wonderfully absorbing challenge. Set a mile or so in from the sea in the lee of the unique Braunton Burrows, it presents a serious challenge but without the frustration of some other classic links layouts.
Saunton will keep you gripped from start to finish……the fairways are narrow, the rough thick and lush and the greens fast and true. The course is deservedly listed in various golf magazine’s 100 Best Courses in the UK.
West Course – 6138 yards, par 71
The West is the second course at Saunton, originally laid out in the 30’s, but was restored after 40 years and re-opened in 1975. A number of narrow streams come into play and many of the holes feature doglegs.
The opening hole plays through towering dunes, then the rest of the course is over pleasant undulating links land where the dunes are far less imposing.
The configuration of holes on the inward nine is unusual. There are three back-to-back par 4’s in the middle, and three par 3’s and three par 5’s interspersed at the beginning and at the end. As you would expect from a classic links layout, the greens are renowned for their speed and quality.