| The Course |
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Brighton & Hove is a beautiful place to play golf. Set high on the Sussex Downs, the views are incredible. The course itself offers a stiff challenge. Do not be fooled by the yardage, at just over 5,700 yards, it appears from the score card to be a relatively simple test. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sea breezes, rolling terrain and tricky greens all combine to make the course a true test of ability. Length is required to reach some of the longer par 4’s, accuracy is required to deal with the tighter holes through the valley, and a solid short game is needed to cope with the perfectly true, but tricky greens. The course really will test all aspects of your game. HOLES 1 & 10 436 yards from the 1st, and 410 from the 10th. This par 4 plays straight into the prevailing wind. A large crater on the left, and 2 bunkers on the right will catch all but a very good drive. HOLES 2 & 11 Played as a 476 yard par 5 from the 2nd tee, and a 394 par 4 from the 11th, this hole is uphill from the tee, and into the prevailing wind, making it play much longer than it measures. HOLES 3 & 12 A relatively simple 154 yards from the 3rd, this hole is much harder from the 12th. An extra 20 yards are added, and the angle of approach changed quite significantly. A pond in front of the green can come into play from both tees. HOLES 4 & 13 From the 4th tee this 321 yard downhill, downwind par 4 can be driven by the longer hitters, however form the 13th tee it measures 388, and a good drive is required to clear some mounds in the fairway. HOLES 5 & 14 The 5th is stroke index 1. It is 432 yards, played straight into the prevailing wind, with out of bounds all the way down the right, and long rough on the left. The fairway slopes quite severely left to right. 5 is a good score here. On the back 9, when playing the hole as the 14th, the hole becomes a 500 yard par 5, where the key is on an accurate second shot to leave a good third. HOLES 6 & 15 The signature holes of Brighton & Hove. Play from both tees is from over 100 feet in the air down to a green 155 yards below. Both tees give the hole a different angle. Although the hole looks quite simple, a shot that avoids one of the 7 green side bunkers and lands on the green is always a relief. HOLES 7 & 16 The first hole in the valley. 349 yard from the 7th, and 390 from the 16th. A dogleg hole where a drive in the fairway is essential, before the 90 degree dogleg comes into play, and a shot up and over some trees to a very shallow elevated green is required. A very testing hole, especially from 16th. HOLES 8 & 17 From the 8th this 209 yard par 3 is a brute. Often a card wrecker for the members, with trees on the right, and deep rough on the left. From the 17th, it is a much easier 149 yards. HOLES 9 & 18 A strong tee shot is required to carry over the top of the hill in front of you. The hole doglegs from left to right. A brave tee shot to the right leaves a short iron for your second shot. Anything past the flag leaves a treacherous downhill next shot. |
