A very fine summary of a course that is worth playing if you're visiting Burnham to play the main Championship course or are travelling by and fancy a good value 'stop-n-play' game.
As Sean says the first few fairways are often a little damp but that's a water-table issue being very low lying and so near the sea. The greens on these holes are raised though, so play firm and fast and true, as indeed do all the greens on The Channel.
As to fairway width, yes the course is generally pretty tight, although the dampness on the first few fairways does mitigate this, but what's wrong with tightness? Surely golf should be more than just wack it as far as you can and then go find it, so to play a course where things like angles, positional play, club and shot type choice, course management are more critical than is often the case is rather nice. Sean makes a good point about the far back tee on the 5th hole, best to play from the alternate tee I suggest.
Worth adding that there are only 3 bunkers on the course and several cracking green sites like the 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. The 8th is a standout par-3 - as a player at last years post-Buda event commented "every course should have a hole like the 8th" and the 9th green is just pure evil/nice.
If only more clubs had a second course or 3rd-nine akin to The Channel, ie slightly lower spec, shorter, cheaper etc than the main course. Particularly fine for beginners/novices, the less physically able etc but very playable by all, indeed if you can play to your handicap around The Channel even in calm conditions you'll have done well. Try to overpower it though, as I've seen a few thoughtless low handicappers and macho long hitters attempt, and it'll kill you!
atb