My first exposure to English and heathland golf was at West Sussex Golf Club in Pulborough. What an introduction. With a par of 68 and total yardage of just over 6200, it is the kind of course that a lot of people might dismiss when planning a trip. Yet the par 3s average right around 400 yards from the back tees and the par 3s average nearly 190, so there is plenty of challenge there. The yardage we played from ended up closer to 6000 total and even that wasn't easy.
The course was designed by Campbell, Hutchinson, & Hotchkin. According to their website, the clubhouse was built with plans for easy conversion to a home if the golf course failed. It would be quite the house! The land that the clubhouse, practice area, and first hole sits on is pretty much dead flat, so it doesn't inspire immediately. However, as you ease into the round, you realize that the best land was used for the course.
West Sussex opens with its only par 5. The hole is mostly straightaway and tips out at 484 yards. Here is where I got my first introduction to heather.
Looking back towards the tee & clubhouse.
The bunkers off the fairway are in play if you need to layup with your second shot.
The green is sort of kidney shaped with a spine in the middle. Overall, a pretty easy introduction.
The land starts to get more interesting beginning with the second. The hole plays 412/398 and seems mostly straightaway. There is rough and OB left and heather all along the right side.
Looking back towards the tee.
A look at the beautiful heather. OK, not so beautiful if you're in it.
Compared to the first hole, there is a lot of movement to this fairway. According to the club's website, the large ridges you see going across the fairway are along the path of an old Roman road.
From the green looking back towards the fairway. I screwed up and did not get any photos of the green. The green is elevated a bit more than it looks from the front so balls don't run up as easily as you would think. Missed shots also run down below the green on both sides.
The third is a par 4 367/350 that runs back parallel to the second. This means heather on your right again, but this time heather also covers some of the left side as well. The first bunker you see on the right is about a 200 yard carry, with another bunker 40 yards beyond that.
My tee shot here JUST missed the heather.
This is from short of the first bunker. The heather on the bank of the bunker looks nice but doesn't play very easy.
Looking back from around the green, you can see the bunkers that have to be skirted.
The front part of the green slopes quite a bit from back to front.
Long to a back hole location wouldn't be good at all.