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Enjoyable Championship course
Saunton Golf Club has two very enjoyable courses, the East and the West. The West is more among the sand dunes; it’s also shorter and maybe more scenic – very enjoyable to play.
My preference is though the East course. It’s a tough Championship course with a very interesting natural variation of holes. It’s 6427 yards from the White tee and it’ll certainly put pressure on your long game off the tee to be in play for your second. It’s not that many bunkers on the course, but they are well placed and needs to be watched out for. Greens are in general fairly large, but by no means easy. It’s hardcore Championship golf that will test your long game and accuracy.
The final stretch of holes are extremely testing with the 16th (406 yards par 4), 17th (186 yards par 3) and 18th (387 yards par 4)
The holes that stand out are:
Hole 1 – 470 yards par 4
Some length on an opening hole and not exactly a warm up hole. Long drive is crucial; place it on the left hand side to avoid trouble. The second shot will be long and you need to avoid the burn crossing the fairway about 60 yards from hole. A 5 will win the hole more times than not. Bad drive to about 220 yards, second shot short of burn, pitch on green about 10 yards from hole, two put for a bogey 5 – OK.
Hole 4 – 428 yards par 4
Place your long drive on the left side, but not to much left to end up in the four large fairway bunkers about 230 to 260 yards off tee. Let side is needed to get a good view of the green through the narrow gap (140 yards from green). Be aggressive on the approach shot and take one more club than you think. Drive ended up in one of the bunkers, out of the bunker to about 140 yards from green, 8-iron to 5 feet from hole, missed the par put for a bogey 5.
Hole 5 – 113 yards par 3
A tricky short par 3 and you don’t want to be on the back of the green because you’ll have a very quick and difficult put. Short on green is much better, but not to short because you’ll then be in a bunker. Club selection is key. Pitching wedge just short of green and on the edge of the bunker, two put for a par – well done.
Hole 18 – 387 yards par 4
A great finishing dogleg right hole that require accuracy. Avoid the three deep fairway bunkers on the left side and as well the five bunkers protecting the green just in front of the clubhouse – the bunkers will penalize you badly. Drive to the right and in the corner of the dogleg, 9-iron to the middle of the green and a two put for a solid par
Once again i had the company of Daniel Dagorn and Gunnel Edenius. The East course is long from tee to fairway and it’s a challenge for any golfer. We all were fighting well with the course and our match play game ended up with me winning.
I was inspired by this Championship course and my game was holding up well. I did a 41 on the front nine and an honorable 39 on the back nine for a total of 80 shots (gross). I’m very happy with my game today and the long game was very solid.
We did also play the West course and I believe Gunnel came out as the stableford winner – well played. I did shot an 83 (gross) after a bad 44 on the front nine and an OK 39 on the back nine.
Saunton Golf Club is certainly worth a visit and you’ll have two very good enjoyable golf courses to play.
Saunton Golf Club (East course)
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