Saunton Golf Club West Course

Saunton West golf course was built in 1935. It was recognised that Saunton needed a second course and J.H. Fowler was asked to design it. However in 1939 the 2nd World War 'interrupted play' and the courses and Clubhouse were occupied by the military until 1951. The whole area was extensively used as a battle training ground prior to the D-Day Landings and the Americans based a large number of tanks in the dunes. As can be imagined, the Courses suffered immense damage during this period but the Green Staff and some German Prisoners-of-War had the East Course up-and-running by January 1952.

The West course was re-designed by Frank Pennink and re-opened in 1974. Further work however was required to bring the standard of the greens up to those of the East course and they were all re-laid in 1987-8. Since then the West course has been updated with the enlargement of many tees and the introduction of new bunkers to try to keep pace with the improvement in clubs and balls.

Despite the proliferation of new courses nationwide, Saunton's West course has stood up well to the competition, ranking in Golf World's Top 100 Courses in the UK.