As the Sun begins to rear its effulgent head and Summer nears, the game of Golf can make for the perfect pastime to relax and simultaneously get some exercise, whilst taking in the beauty of the great English outdoors.
Brighton may be more famed for its beach, but there are a handful of great Golf Courses in the vicinity of the city, with each one offering utterly breathtaking views and meticulously maintained greenery.
If you’re looking to get your golfing fix in Brighton, read on to discover courses that rank among the best in the South of England.
East Brighton Golf Club
East Brighton Golf Club is a renowned golf course, well known throughout the UK. The course is situated on the undulating chalk hills, combining your golfing session with stunning views to make a gorgeous spring afternoon on the course even better.
The club has an 18-hole championship course that was founded in 1893. It has long been regarded as one of the best golf courses in the region. As a location, it’s perhaps one of the best in England. The whole of Brighton and the southern coast lay strewn out before you while you play.
The course has been lovingly maintained since its inception 130 years ago well-maintained, with lush green fairways and challenging bunkers that make for a delightful day of golf.
The club offers multiple facilities, including a clubhouse, pro shop, practice areas, and a restaurant. The clubhouse is the perfect spot to unwind after a game. Enjoy a few cold beverages as you celebrate improvements in your short game.
If it’s Sunday, the clubhouse offers delicious Sunday Roasts. A chance to refuel after a good few miles of walking! The pro shop is also well-stocked with ample supply for any of your golfing needs.
With professional coaching available and knowledgeable staff on hand, there’s nothing more you could need to be at your best!
Feel a bit daunted or perhaps need to warm up before you take to the fairway? The practice area is the perfect place to get to grips with the elements or simply shake off any rust.
Whether you are a beginner looking to improve your swing or a seasoned player looking to hone your skills, there’s no shame in a detour to the practice area!
East Brighton Golf Club is a must-visit for golf enthusiasts. The course is challenging yet enjoyable, the facilities are excellent, and the views are simply stunning.
Website: www.ebgc.co.uk
Dyke golf course
Dyke Golf Club is one of the finest downland courses in the south, it’s a challenging 72-par course set to panoramic views of the English Channel. 650 feet above sea level, its placement is out of a movie.
Each season offers new challenges and with fast-paced greens, and exposure to the unpredictable sea breeze, you’ll have to adapt to the elements in a course already made to test golfers’ skills.
With the average par for each hole being 4, there’s plenty of course to play. Each hole builds on the last, throwing new challenges through well-placed bunkers, surrounding roughage and varying elevated playing surfaces making for a round that will test all facets of your golf ability.
A wayward shot can easily cost you more than a few strokes should you fail to adapt to your mistake.
The pro store includes state-of-the-art facilities, such as a virtual swing studio to ensure that every club you purchase is right for your game before you buy it and all custom fittings are perfect for you.
The studio is also used for tuition, as PGA professional, Mark Stuart-William offers 30-minute tuition sessions in the studio, alongside real-life playing lessons around the front 9.
Of course, the icing on the cake of any good golf course is the clubhouse, and this one lives up to the other top-notch facilities. Featuring bespoke furnishings, luxurious leather sofas, and the welcoming, warming vibe any good clubhouse needs.
Featuring a large bar and dining room, and gorgeous patio doors that open out onto an extensive balcony overlooking the course, City and English Channel.
Perfect for some light drinks/refreshments after a challenging session! The practice facilities are also excellent, with a large putting green, chipping area, and driving range available for golfers to hone their skills.
Furthermore, their well-kept practice areas allow for ample practice to shake off any cobwebs before you play, or simply a chance to get some short game practice whilst you have some extra time.
The staff at Dyke Golf Club are as you’d hope friendly and attentive to your needs, available for any question or request you may have. The Dyke Golf Club also holds regular events, with a huge variety of inter-club matches, ranging across all age groups, skill levels, and gender.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a venue for a function, Dykes golf course has been proven to time and again deliver excellent service and organisation.
Their many great reviews from happy customers testament to their high level of attentiveness to ensure your wedding/social or work function goes off without a hitch.
Website: dykegolfclub.co.uk
Hollingbury Park Golf Club
Opened in 1908, Hollingbury Park may not boast some of the state-of-the-art facilities its rivals possess but makes up for it through a course hailed as one of the best in England. This is an opinion backed up by its use as a qualifier course in the biggest tournament of them all, The Open!
Another Par 72, this course is a legitimate test for even the most experienced of players. The 3rd hole is infamous around these parts for being a notoriously difficult hole to finish on par.
A long left dogleg that is marked as a Par 4, commentator and former acclaimed player Peter Allis Senior exclaimed it was the most challenging hole in Sussex.
The course is steeped in history, with a rich heritage dating back over 100 years, made evident in the well-maintained clubhouse and the longevity of the historic course.
Boasting large greens and ample fairways, Hollingbury Park is the picture of the ideal Golf course. The 10th hole is the pick of the bunch when it comes to views, with a scenic 360 view of Brighton and the rolling countryside hills to the North. Who needs the i360 when you can enjoy views this good AND play Golf?
At just £175 For an annual membership, it’s incredibly cheap for a course that was picked to be used for The Open. This selection of course means it’s more than just challenging, and picturesque, with the course most importantly being fun to play.
Also offering lessons, and providing a Pro Shop you needn’t be at the height of your game to test your ability here, with seasoned veterans and complete novices of the game welcome here.
Their Clubhouse is suitably large, with a capacity in the hundreds for functions and weddings. Naturally, this features a bar and restaurant where you can enjoy a beer and sit-down meal at the end of your session. Or a place to just chill if you are a non-golfer while your friends/significant other/family/confidantes play a round.
They do Sunday roasts, which is always a welcome addition after a few hours on the greens.
The professional team are knowledgeable, friendly and courteous, and the ground staff take excellent care of the course, with Greens left truly immaculate.
Hollingsbury Park offers a fantastic game of Golf for an affordable price, and a stunning view of Brighton to boot. It’s definitely worth a round at the very least.
Website: www.hollingburygc.co.uk
Brighton and Hove Golf Club
This historic course dates back to 1887, making it one of the oldest golf courses in the country, and its rich heritage is reflected in the traditional design and layout of the course.
Obviously maintained to the highest standards, or it wouldn’t be on this list, the course is beautifully landscaped, seemingly carved into the countryside itself. From a golfing perspective, You’ll be met with a varied course with a good mix of Par 3’s,4’s and 5’s sure to challenge even the most adept Golfers.
Utilising undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and well-placed hazards that require careful strategy and shot-making to navigate, it features all the challenges the previous courses boast. It is however a far more simplistic course, with only 9 holes and two tees on each hole, it’s a classic, unchanged by time.
The course is obsessively maintained year-round by their team of greenkeepers, ensuring that it always plays immaculately no matter the time of year or weather.
Its lack of an independent back-nine may put some off compared to some of the other courses, but there’s a reason it’s been a stalwart of the Sussex Golfing scene for over 130 years.
The clubhouse is a lovely, building that embodies the classic Golf Clubhouse design. The building itself is steeped in history and exudes a warm and welcoming ambience for all that step inside. With a well-stocked bar and restaurant that serves a range of delicious food and drinks, you’ll be well looked after should you want to be.
The Club also features a similar state-of-the-art Golf Simulator to practice your form and test out gear. It doubles as a fitness studio, that even comes with a personal trainer!
With a beginner’s academy, the golf simulator and an incredibly inviting atmosphere the Brighton Golf course is also well suited for novices and kids looking to get into Golf!
Website: www.brightongolf.co.uk
