Saunton East Course
Behind the great dune system of Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO biosphere on the edge of Bideford Bay, Herbert Fowler routed what many consider his finest seaside work. Saunton East is classic, understated links golf, eight par 4s over 400 yards and only two par 5s, a course that asks for control and ball striking rather than fireworks, and rewards both completely.
Photo: Saunton Golf Club via Google, contributor Michael Choong.
The verdict
Saunton East is the quiet great of West Country golf, a Herbert Fowler links that good judges rank among the best in England. The course was laid out in 1897 and reshaped by Fowler in 1919, when he took full advantage of the duneland to route a layout that is at once natural and demanding. After military activity damaged the dunes during the Second World War, CK Cotton carried out a careful restoration in the early 1950s.
The character is restraint. There are no tricks and little blindness, just firm fairways winding through the Burrows, well placed bunkers and greens that demand the correct angle and the right flight. With eight par 4s over 400 yards and only two par 5s, it plays longer and harder than the card suggests, especially in the wind that sweeps off the bay. For the travelling golfer in the southwest, Saunton East is the links that surprises everyone who plays it.
Saunton East Course at a glance
- Laid out
- 1897
- Redesign
- Herbert Fowler, 1919
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,774 yds
- Green fee
- Around £175
Par and design history verified June 2026 from the club and course databases. The East Course plays to a par 71 of 6,774 yards from the championship tees, with forward tees in regular visitor use. Green fees are indicative, roughly 175 pounds at the May to September peak for a single round in the 2026 season, with a twilight rate around 105 pounds after 4pm. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Saunton East asks for ball striking from the first hole to the last. The run of long par 4s is relentless, asking for two well struck shots time and again, and the par 3s are a highlight, each set among the dunes and demanding a precise iron into firm, subtly contoured greens. There are no soft holes to recover on, which is why the course plays so much tougher than its modest yardage implies.
Fowler's routing uses the Braunton Burrows beautifully, the holes winding between dunes that frame the fairways and shelter the wind in places while funnelling it in others. The bunkering is well judged rather than penal for its own sake, positioned to catch the slightly errant shot, and the firmness of the turf rewards the player who flights the ball low and runs approaches onto the greens. It is strategic, old fashioned links golf at its best.
Play Saunton on a breezy day, which is most days on Bideford Bay, and you will use every club in the bag and finish with a deep respect for a course that never shouts. There is a West Course alongside for a second round, but the East is the one to play first. It is the round that explains why Saunton sits so high in the rankings of English links.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club that welcomes visitors on most days by prior arrangement, with the East Course the priority round and the West Course alongside it |
| Green fee | Around 175 pounds at the May to September peak for a single round on the East, with a twilight rate of roughly 105 pounds after 4pm (indicative) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the club; the East Course is busiest in summer and visitor times should be booked in advance |
| On the day | A walking links; trolleys and caddies can be arranged. The exposed dunes mean wind gear is wise |
| Getting there | At Braunton in North Devon, around 90 minutes from Exeter and its airport and roughly an hour from Barnstaple |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and best weather, though the links is playable and atmospheric year round |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Saunton Golf Club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The Saunton Sands Hotel sits above the beach a short distance from the club, a comfortable base with sea views, while the villages of Braunton and Croyde nearby offer characterful inns and easy access to the first tee.
Many golfers base around Barnstaple or the North Devon coast and pair Saunton with Royal North Devon at Westward Ho!, the oldest links in England, for a classic two course West Country links trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Saunton.
Build a North Devon links trip
We pair Saunton East with Royal North Devon and the best of the West Country links, book the tee times in the right order and handle the hotel and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Saunton questions
What is the par and length of the Saunton East Course?
The East Course is a par 71 links of 6,774 yards from the championship tees, with forward tees in regular visitor use. With eight par 4s over 400 yards and only two par 5s, it plays tougher than its yardage suggests, especially in the wind.
Who designed the Saunton East Course?
The East Course was laid out in 1897 and redesigned by Herbert Fowler in 1919, work often regarded as his finest seaside design. After Second World War military damage to the dunes, CK Cotton carried out a careful restoration in the early 1950s.
Where is Saunton Golf Club?
Saunton sits at Braunton in North Devon, on the edge of Bideford Bay behind the Braunton Burrows, a vast dune system that UNESCO designated the first biosphere reserve in the United Kingdom. The club has two links, the East and the West, with the East the more celebrated.
How much does it cost to play the Saunton East Course?
Indicative 2026 green fees are around 175 pounds at the May to September peak for a single round, with a twilight rate of roughly 105 pounds after 4pm. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.