East Devon Golf Club
High on the cliffs above Budleigh Salterton, East Devon is one of the most beautifully sited courses in England. Established in 1902 and shaped by Harry Colt in the 1920s, it is a par 70 of 6,279 yards of springy clifftop heathland, with sweeping views along the Jurassic Coast and over Lyme Bay that make it a round to remember.
Photo: Paul Fawcett via Google.
The verdict
East Devon was established in 1902, but the course owes its quality to Harry Colt, who reshaped it in the 1920s with the eye for natural ground that made him one of the greatest of all architects. James Braid is credited with a hand in the 8th and 18th. The result is an open, breezy heathland course laid out on high cliffs, where heather and gorse line the fairways and the sea is rarely out of view.
It is a course people fall for as much for the setting as the golf, though the golf is very good. The position above Lyme Bay gives almost every hole a backdrop, the firm clifftop turf plays fast and true, and the wind adds a links like dimension to a heathland design. For a Devon trip it is an essential round, scenic, walkable and genuinely testing when the breeze gets up.
East Devon Golf Club at a glance
- Established
- 1902
- Designer
- Harry Colt
- Type
- Clifftop heathland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- 6,279 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Designer, founding year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from East Devon Golf Club and leading course databases. The club was established in 1902 and shaped by Harry Colt in the 1920s, with the 8th and 18th attributed to James Braid, a par 70 of 6,279 yards. East Devon welcomes visiting golfers; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
East Devon plays as an open clifftop test where the wind is the chief defense. Colt routed the holes to use the rolling high ground, and on a still day the course can feel gentle, but when the breeze comes off the sea club selection becomes a guessing game and the heather and gorse punish anything pushed offline. Keeping the ball low and under control is the local art.
The holes that run along the cliff edge are the showstoppers, with the bay falling away below and the coast stretching into the distance, and the elevated tees give big, exhilarating views before each drive. The par 3s are strong and exposed, and the closing holes ask for a steady nerve as the wind tends to swirl up by the clubhouse.
What stays with you is the sense of place. Few inland courses sit so dramatically on the coast, and the combination of heathland turf, sea air and that endless Jurassic Coast horizon makes East Devon a round that lingers long after the card is signed.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visiting golfers, mainly on weekdays with limited weekend availability by arrangement; advance booking recommended |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 55 to 90 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the East Devon golf office ahead of travel; summer and settled weather bring steady demand |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; the clifftop walk is breezy and undulating but very walkable; bring a layer for the wind |
| Getting there | Budleigh Salterton in Devon, on the cliffs above Lyme Bay, a short drive from Exmouth and about half an hour from Exeter |
| Best months | April to October; the south west climate keeps the clifftop turf firm and playable across the season |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Budleigh Salterton and nearby Exmouth offer characterful seaside lodging within minutes of the course, and the cathedral city of Exeter, half an hour north, gives a wider choice of hotels and restaurants and an easy rail and road connection for the rest of a south west trip.
East Devon pairs naturally with the great Devon and Cornwall courses for a full south west tour, linking to the links and parkland of the wider region for a varied multi course itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near East Devon.
Build a Devon golf trip
We arrange tee times at East Devon and the best of the Devon and Cornwall courses, pair them with the right coastal base and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
East Devon Golf Club questions
Who designed East Devon Golf Club and when did it open?
East Devon was established in 1902 and shaped into its current form by Harry Colt in the 1920s, with the 8th and 18th holes attributed to James Braid.
What is the par and length of East Devon Golf Club?
East Devon is a par 70 of 6,279 yards, an open clifftop heathland course set on elevated ground above Budleigh Salterton.
Can visitors play East Devon Golf Club?
Yes. East Devon welcomes visiting golfers, mainly on weekdays with limited weekend availability; book ahead and confirm the current green fee before you travel.
Where is East Devon Golf Club?
East Devon is at Budleigh Salterton in Devon, England, on the cliffs above Lyme Bay along the Jurassic Coast, a short drive from Exmouth and Exeter.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, founding year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.