Goodwood Downs
The Downs Course at Goodwood is a James Braid downland design that opened in 1914, set high on the South Downs above Chichester. A par 72 of roughly 7,100 yards across the rolling chalk hills, with fast running fairways and long views to the coast, it is one of the most enjoyable big course days in West Sussex.
Photo: Golf at Goodwood via Google.
The verdict
Golf at Goodwood is part of one of England's great sporting estates, and the Downs Course is its senior layout, a proper downland test that James Braid laid out in 1914 across the chalk hills above Chichester. The land does much of the work: fast running fairways, dramatic changes in elevation, and the kind of long views over the Sussex countryside and the sea that make a round here a genuine occasion.
In 2004 Howard Swan began a careful renovation that stretched the course toward 7,100 yards while keeping the integrity of Braid's original design. The result is a course that feels both classic and modern, with tricky doglegs, well placed bunkering and long sweeping greens that ask you to control the ball on ground that is rarely flat. It is a big, open, exhilarating course that rewards the bold drive and the sure short game.
Goodwood Downs at a glance
- Opened
- 1914
- Design
- James Braid
- Type
- Downland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- ~7,100 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Opening year, design history and par verified June 2026 from Golf at Goodwood and leading course databases. The Downs Course opened in 1914 to a James Braid design and was extended by Howard Swan from 2004, a par 72 of roughly 7,100 yards. Goodwood 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
The Downs is all about using the slope. From the elevated tees you can see the shot in front of you, but the rolling fairways feed the ball this way and that, so the line off the tee and the pace of the ground matter as much as the carry. Braid's doglegs ask you to commit to a side, and the renovation added length without softening the strategy.
The greens are a highlight, long and sweeping, set into the natural contours so the approach has to land on the right level to leave a makeable putt. Several holes play along the top of the down with the wind a constant factor, and the par 3s use the dramatic ground to fine effect. The closing holes drop back toward the clubhouse and reward a player who has stayed patient with the slopes all day.
Above it all is the setting. High on the South Downs with views over Chichester to the Solent, Goodwood is a course you play for the experience as much as the golf, and an easy one to build a West Sussex trip around.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort and members' golf that welcomes visitors and societies to the Downs Course on selected days; advance booking is recommended |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 70 to 120 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through Golf at Goodwood; stay and play packages using the estate hotel are popular with visiting groups |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; the downland routing involves real climbs, so buggies are worth considering; trolleys available |
| Getting there | On the Goodwood estate above Chichester in West Sussex, about 90 minutes from London by road and close to the A27 |
| Best months | The downland drains well and plays firm from late spring to autumn; settled days bring out the long coastal views |
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
Goodwood is an estate as much as a golf club, with its own hotel on site, so many visitors stay within the grounds and make a weekend of the golf, the racing and the wider Sussex countryside.
For a fuller golf trip, base around Chichester and pair the Downs with the heathland gem at West Sussex Golf Club near Pulborough, giving a group two very different but equally memorable rounds within a short drive.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Goodwood.
Build a West Sussex golf trip
We arrange tee times on the Downs Course at Goodwood, pair it with the best of West Sussex golf, 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.
Goodwood Downs questions
Who designed the Downs Course at Goodwood and when?
The Downs Course was laid out by five-time Open champion James Braid in 1914. It was sympathetically extended and renovated by Howard Swan from 2004 while keeping the integrity of Braid's original downland design.
What is the par and length of the Goodwood Downs Course?
The Downs Course plays to a par of 72 over roughly 7,100 yards from the back tees, a true downland layout across the rolling chalk hills above Chichester.
Can visitors play the Downs Course at Goodwood?
Yes. Golf at Goodwood welcomes visitors and societies to the Downs Course on selected days; book in advance and confirm the current rate before you travel.
What kind of course is Goodwood Downs?
It is a classic downland course set high on the South Downs, with fast running fairways, sweeping doglegs, undulating greens and long views over the Sussex countryside and coast.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, design history and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.