It is only at the end of a round that we realised with a pleasurable shock that there is not a single hideous rampart or so much as a pot bunker’. Bernard Darwin made the observation back in 1910 but it is one that remains true today. Royal Ashdown Forest is the one outstanding course in the British Isles that doesn’t possess any bunkers. And yet, anyone anticipating a gentle ride when they visit this golf course had better think again: Royal Ashdown poses a challenge that is at once stern and stimulating.
Gloriously situated on the fringes of Ashdown Forest (the celebrated home of Winnie the Pooh), Royal Ashdown
can properly be described as a moorland course. It is quite similar in appearance to the famous heathland layouts of Berkshire and Surrey but it doesn’t have their sandy subsoil. The principal hazards are an abundance of heather and gorse, a fine mix of trees – which not only frame the fairways but occasionally encroach – and a meandering brook.The natural contours of the landscape contribute greatly to a rare golfing experience.
The most cunningly conceived hole at Royal Ashdown is undoubtedly the 6th, a short par three where, thanks to the aforementioned brook, the only place to be is on the green. The par fours, however, are the real strength of Royal Ashdown and the best of these two-shot holes is arguably the 17th which features a very searching but exhilarating downhill appproach.

DIRECTIONS
Four miles south of East Grinstead. Take B2110 (off A22) in Forest Row and after half mile turn right into Chapel Lane. Bare left at top of Chapel Lane. From M25 take junction 6 (A22 turn off) then as above.

		Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club is just one of the courses detailed in Golfing Guides of Britain& Ireland to order this book click here

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