Saunton West
The second of Saunton's two championship links, the West was drawn by Herbert Fowler in 1935 across the same vast dune system of Braunton Burrows that gives the famous East its drama. A par 71 of around 6,596 yards, later refined by Frank Pennink and Donald Steel, it is the quieter, more playable companion that completes one of England's great two course links venues.
Photo: Michael z Choong via Google.
The verdict
Saunton is one of the finest links destinations in England, a 36 hole club set on the edge of Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO biosphere reserve of towering dunes on the North Devon coast. The East is the celebrated championship test that draws the rankings, but the West, opened in 1935 to a design by Herbert Fowler, the man who shaped the East, is no mere overflow course. It is a proper links in its own right, later refined by Frank Pennink in 1974 and Donald Steel in 1988.
Where the East bares its teeth, the West is the warmer welcome, a touch shorter and more forgiving off the tee, but with all the firm turf, blind shots and wind exposure that make links golf what it is. For a traveling golfer it is the round that turns a Saunton visit into a full day, and on a breezy afternoon off the Atlantic it asks plenty of questions of its own. Many who play both leave arguing about which they preferred, which tells you how good the West is.
Saunton West Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1935
- Designer
- Herbert Fowler
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Length
- Around 6,596 yds
- Access
- Visitors and members
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from Saunton Golf Club and leading course databases; the West Course was designed by Herbert Fowler and opened in 1935, with later revisions by Frank Pennink in 1974 and Donald Steel in 1988, a par 71 of around 6,596 yards. Green fees vary by season. Fees are indicative and we do not quote our own pricing, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Laid out across the same Braunton Burrows linksland as the East, the West weaves through humpy fairways and tall marram covered dunes with firm, fast running turf underfoot. Fowler used the natural movement of the ground to set angles and gather shots, so the challenge sits in placement and flight control rather than brute length, and the wind off the Atlantic is the course's strongest defence on most days.
It is the more forgiving of the two Saunton courses off the tee, with a little more room to miss, but it punishes the loose approach just as firmly, with run off slopes, dune flanked greens and the occasional blind shot that reward local knowledge or a good caddie. The closing stretch back toward the clubhouse can play long into a prevailing breeze and tends to decide the match.
What makes the West essential is the package it completes. Few places in England offer two championship links from the same architect on the same dunes, and playing the pair back to back is one of the great value golf days in the southwest. Take a caddie, study the ground, and the West reveals a subtlety that the bigger reputation of the East can overshadow.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to visitors most days, subject to member tee times and competitions; the West is generally the easier of the two Saunton courses to book |
| Green fee | Indicative around 140 pounds for a 2026 main season round, roughly May to September, with twilight rates from about 75 pounds; the West is the lower priced of the two courses; confirm directly |
| Booking | Book through the Saunton Golf Club office or a southwest golf specialist; combine East and West for a full day on the dunes |
| On the day | Walkable links; caddies, trolleys and buggies subject to availability, a strong clubhouse on site. Smart golf dress |
| Getting there | Braunton, North Devon, near Barnstaple, around an hour from the M5 at Tiverton and a scenic drive from Exeter |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest links conditions; the course plays year round on free draining dune turf |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; green fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is the North Devon coast around Saunton Sands and Braunton, where the long beach, the dunes and a handful of hotels and inns put you minutes from the first tee. The Saunton Sands area is a holiday coast in its own right, which makes it an easy sell for a golf trip that brings non golfers along.
For a links rich few days, pair Saunton's two courses with the ancient Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! just across the estuary, the oldest links in England, and with Burnham and Berrow and Trevose within reach for a southwest swing. Barnstaple offers the nearest larger town for hotels, dining and easy road access.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Saunton, Braunton and the North Devon coast.
Build a North Devon golf trip
We pair Saunton's East and West with Royal North Devon and the best of the southwest links, sort the dune coast hotels and cost it to the head with tee times arranged. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge handles the rest, with no obligation.
Saunton West Course questions
Who designed the Saunton West Course and when did it open?
The West Course at Saunton was designed by Herbert Fowler, the architect of the club's famous East Course, and opened in 1935. It was later revised by Frank Pennink in 1974 and again by Donald Steel in 1988. It is laid out across the Braunton Burrows dune system on the North Devon coast, the same linksland that gives the East its drama.
What is the par and length of Saunton West?
Saunton West plays as a par 71 of around 6,596 yards. It is a genuine championship links, a little shorter and more forgiving off the tee than the East but with the same firm turf, dune flanked greens and Atlantic wind. Together the two Saunton courses make one of the finest 36 hole links venues in England.
How much does it cost to play Saunton West?
Green fees are indicative around 140 pounds for a 2026 main season round, roughly May to September, with twilight rates from about 75 pounds; the West is the lower priced of the two Saunton courses. Visitor access is subject to member tee times and competitions. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play Saunton West?
Yes. The West Course is open to visitors most days, subject to member tee times and competitions, and is generally the easier of the two Saunton courses to book. Many travelers play the East and the West back to back for a full day on the dunes. The course plays year round on free draining links turf and is at its best from May to September. Always confirm tee times and rates directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; access and fee guidance verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.