6221 Yard Pushover? Pah! The difficulty, or not, of West Sussex.

[Mark_F]

My first course played in the UK in eight years, and one mentioned often on this web site.  

It is indeed one of the loveliest courses imaginable, but I would be interested in knowing whether the low markers here who have played the course found it a pushover.

I thought it was far from easy, with acres of heather even more rapacious than the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which is really saying something.  The heather makes it an especially tight driving course, leaving not a lot of margin for error if you want to get the best angles into the greens.

The sand in the bunkers seemingly has the texture of Sweet n' low, making them something to be avoided at all costs, whilst for a short course, there appeared to be an awful lot of 200 yard par threes and 440 yard par fours.  

Hopefully I'll get to a few more of the heahtland courses during my stay, but West Sussex leaves a lasting memory for being a fun, lovely, yet subtle and, for me, demanding course.  

[James Edwards]

Mark,

I have played the course in the final league match of the year between Kent and Sussex and so some good county / national players were on show and yes between us, we did make a heck of a lot of birdies but then again it was matchplay..  As you said, the main key is to survive the par 3's at 5 and 6 first - I remember eagles were abundantand just murder the short 4's.  The day we played, the weather was awesome and the greens were holding...

[Mark_Rowlinson]

James's response really shows up the difference between the good player and the hacker.  The (to me) long par 4s (2,7,10,11,14,17,18) all have the capacity to bring me to my knees and, with two par 3s (6,12) well over 200 yards, I'm struggling to get near many of the greens in something approaching regulation.  I've already used up my handicap before I make my usual hash of things hither and thither.  

It's not dissimilar to St Enodoc in length or challenge, and St E has had many a rave review in these postings.  I'd be happy to play the two for the rest of my life.  or that matter, Rye is not a lot different in length, is a bit nearer, and no less resitant to scoring.  Maybe I'll move south....