Winter golf in Sussex?

[Austrian Gull]

Evening fellow NSCers.

Coming back over to Sussex-by-the-Sea in 10 days and would like to dust down the old golf clubs. Which courses do you recommend and, most importantly, which would have stood up best to the wet weather of the last few weeks?

 

[R. Slicker]

The only one I know that really drains well is Hillbarn at worthing. Hopefully in 10 days, most of the others will be playable without temporary tees/greens.

 

[murciagull]

Seaford Head as long as the wind isnt too bad

 

[champion7]

Mid-sussex drains very well.

 

[Booley]

Littlehampton drains well although you have to put up with the wind all year round!!!
My home course and is a good challenge

 

[Bakesy]

Seaford Head as long as the wind isnt too bad

Is the correct answer.

 

[zoogull]

The Downs at Eastbourne is still in pretty good nick. Only two temporary greens last Saturday - the 4th and 5th - and the fairways are running well. Very reasonably priced too, only £25 a round on weekends.

 

[backson]

Mid-sussex drains very well.

Are you kidding, or have they put some improvements in? I've only known it to be very boggy there.

It's the only place I've lost a ball in a fairway. I teed the ball too high on a drive, spooned it straight up in the air, it landed about 100 yards away and buried itself in the mud. Never did find it.

 

[Marshy]

Lewes is ALWAYS playable.
Not cheap mind.

 

[champion7]

Are you kidding, or have they put some improvements in? I've only known it to be very boggy there.

It's the only place I've lost a ball in a fairway. I teed the ball too high on a drive, spooned it straight up in the air, it landed about 100 yards away and buried itself in the mud. Never did find it.

I've never had any problems with playing here in winter.

 

[Woodingdean Gull]

Most of the downland courses are playable. Try East Brighton or The Dyke. Both are open and I'm pretty certain that neither are using temporary greens.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Used to play a lot of winter golf when in the UK. My advice would be most downland courses should be ok. Avoid anywhere in Mid Sussex (Haywards Heath, Mannings Heath, Ifield, Copthorne, Mid Sussex etc will all be seriously soggy). We used to play at Seaford Blatchington every February and it was usually fine, The Dyke, Worthing, Pyecombe, East Brighton etc etc should be OK, but may be wet in the lower lying areas.

But if Littlehampton is OK, as an earlier poster said, go there - highly recommended.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

KZNSeagull is right. Don't touch the Mid-Sussex courses this time of year, they can be a nightmare.

West Hove will be in good condition but is probably more expensive.

 

[Jambo Seagull]

West Hove will be in good condition but is probably more expensive.

Off topic, I know, but as someone who was a junior member of the old West Hove back in the 70s & early 80s, I'd be interested in other people's opinion on the new West Hove. Keep meaning to try and get a game there every time I'm down in the area.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Off topic, I know, but as someone who was a junior member of the old West Hove back in the 70s & early 80s, I'd be interested in other people's opinion on the new West Hove. Keep meaning to try and get a game there every time I'm down in the area.

I was a junior there about 2 or 3 years ago, I've stopped playing since then, but my abiding memories of it are that it was usually in good condition and had reaonsble variation. The 18th was always good fun as an impressionable 13 year old!

 

[The Maharajah of Sydney]

Lewes is ALWAYS playable.
Not cheap mind.

It's only £16 anytime on Mondays or after 1.pm the rest of the week .
That's exceptional value for a British course of that quality .
I played there for the 1st time last summer . Can't wait to play it again
when next in Sussex . Stunning 360 deg views , plus shot my best round
in over 4 years .

 

[KZNSeagull]

Off topic, I know, but as someone who was a junior member of the old West Hove back in the 70s & early 80s, I'd be interested in other people's opinion on the new West Hove. Keep meaning to try and get a game there every time I'm down in the area.

Played there a couple of times but 6 or 7 years ago now. Not bad, probably better than the old course, but not fantastic. A few good holes, but nothing to rave about. A pleasant day out - probably worth playing just to compare it with the old. Seem to remember that it was a bit flinty on the fairways in parts, but that was because it was still quite new then.

You must have been a member when West Hove were the team to beat in the Whitbread/Davies & Tate then and for the infamous murder (or did I make that last bit up??)

 

[Jambo Seagull]

Played there a couple of times but 6 or 7 years ago now. Not bad, probably better than the old course, but not fantastic. A few good holes, but nothing to rave about. A pleasant day out - probably worth playing just to compare it with the old. Seem to remember that it was a bit flinty on the fairways in parts, but that was because it was still quite new then.

You must have been a member when West Hove were the team to beat in the Whitbread/Davies & Tate then and for the infamous murder (or did I make that last bit up??)

We had a lot of good juniors when I was there. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them! There was a lad called Jeff Pinsent who was a few years older than me. He was a bit special. Think he turned pro.

Can't remember any infamous murders!

 

[scooter1]

Played West Hove last summer, nice course but I thought a tad expensive. I think its £35 at weekends and if you're a non-member they often start you off on the 9th, but with the proviso that you have to yeald to anybody coming off the 8th. We sat waiting on the tee for about 25mins as people after people finished the 8th and went straight off ahead of us. The 18th is fun though!

 

[Woodingdean Gull]

Off topic, I know, but as someone who was a junior member of the old West Hove back in the 70s & early 80s, I'd be interested in other people's opinion on the new West Hove. Keep meaning to try and get a game there every time I'm down in the area.

Hi JS, I organize the REMF charity golf days and the Prestonville Golf Society. The REMF is again at Mid-Sussex this year, (Friday June 12th), but the four society days are Mid-Sussex, (8th May), Sweetwoods Park, (5th June), West Hove, (3rd July) and Hill Barn, (4th September).

You're welcome to join us on any of those days if you're down this way, especially for the West Hove meeting.