West Sussex, ENGLAND   

The diagonal bunkers across the 440 yard 17th green are evidence of the skill and thought that
Major C.K. Hutchison, Sir Guy Campbell and Colonel S.V. Hotchkin
frequently displayed in designing golf courses.

Charm - this course has it like few others.

Under the lee of the South Downs, this course is removed from the hustle of London. If there were no golf course, the walk on the heath would still be immensely enjoyable. The combination of deep purple heather, gorse, pine and silver birch along with the green swatches of grass simply pulls one along.

Sir Guy Campbell, Major C.K. Hutchison, and Colonel S.V. Hotchkin built West Sussex at Pulborough in 1930, some five years after they had started their own design firm. One of their first endeavors had been  Woodhall Spa in 1925, so it comes as no surprise to find artful bunkering here as well. Their services were utilized by many of Great Britain's finest clubs, including Royal West Norfolk in 1928 and North Berwick in 1930. World War II and Huthison's health effectively ended this partnership in the late 1930s, which is a great shame because this was a formidable team and they showed much flair at a time when few others did.

Like several other great favourites on this website, a look at the score card is deceiving. Pulborough is 6,220 yards and plays to a par 68. Yet once again, there are no par fives to speak of and with seven par fours greater than 400 yards, and two par threes over 200 yards, you will be asked to hit every shot. Furthermore, with the exception of perhaps the 9^th hole, there isn't a dull hole to be found.

After the first three holes, most of the fairways on the par fours bend one way or another. Given this is a heath course and that the trees frame the holes more than encroach, the better golfer is encouraged to shape his tee shots. A hard draw over the dogleg left 10^th with four bunkers in the corner is followed by the need to hit a power fade on the long 11^th. And so the course pleasantly goes, asking something one moment and something altogether different the next. Yet the sum of what it asks is refreshingly within reach of all golfers.

Is this the sandbelt of Melbourne or the outskirts of London?
Pictured are the bunkers that the 10th at West Sussex dogleg around.

Holes to Note:

4^th hole, 390 yards; This hole sums up the appeal of Pulborough. It is playable for all skill levels and yet the stronger golfer can seek an advantage. The hole bends to the left. If the bunker at the 200 yard mark on the inside of the dogleg can be flown (ideally with a slight draw), the approach shot becomes much shorter. A gully gives the fairway a fine rumpled look. The green is unprotected save for its fine nice rolls.

If the golfer can skirt the bunker in the foreground off the tee, he may get additional role
The other bunker pictured above is 40 yards shy of the green.

5^th hole, 145 yards; A hole of true beauty. The silvery - there is no other word - sand sets off the green to great effect. A bunker some thirty yards short of the green creates dead space between it and the green so you have to trust the yardage. The backdrop of the Chanctonbury Ring on the summit of South Downs adds to the setting's tranquillity.

The glories of the 5th aren't fully captured on this dullish gray day.

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