Notable holes

The holes that define the round

2nd, par 5, 527y: The first of two par 5s, running along a dune line to a raised green protected by three bunkers.

6th, par 4, 369y: A precise dogleg left over a creek with no bunkers to aim by — conservative, accurate play beats forcing extra distance.

10th, par 4, 334y: A shorter two-shotter that still demands a well-placed tee shot.

13th, par 3, 154y: The only par 3 in a nine-hole stretch containing eight par 4s, protected by pot bunkers around an undulating green.

Why play

A cornerstone of a North Devon golf trip

Saunton offers enough depth to justify more than a single round. The East Course provides the headline championship-style test — ten par 4s across the first twelve holes, including a run of seven in succession — while the West gives travelling golfers another substantial links experience without leaving the same dune landscape. The East hosted the 1937 English Amateur and the R&A Women’s & Men’s Senior Amateur Championship in 2024, among many events between.

For a Devon and Cornwall itinerary, that two-course format is particularly valuable: it reduces transfer time while still giving the trip genuine playing variety.

Playing character

Firm ground, dunes and changing wind

Links conditions reward control of launch, landing point and spin. Wind can make nominal yardages misleading, while firm turf creates opportunities to use the ground when a direct aerial approach is unnecessarily difficult.

Keep enough margin from the most penal dune and rough lines, and think about where the ball needs to finish rather than only how far it must carry. Over two rounds, disciplined course management can also conserve physical and mental energy.

Who it suits

For golfers building a links-led itinerary

Saunton is especially relevant to experienced club golfers and groups travelling specifically for strong links golf. Less experienced players can still enjoy the setting by choosing appropriate tees and allowing the weather to shape expectations.

Stay · Play · Recover

Treat recovery as part of the two-course plan

Walking through dune terrain in wind can be more tiring than the scorecard suggests. Hydrate during the round, refuel soon afterwards and prioritise calves, hips and lower-back mobility before playing again.

Staying around Braunton, Croyde or the wider North Devon coast can keep the transfer load low and leave more time for sleep and recovery between rounds.