Royal Eastbourne (Devonshire)

Tom Simpson revised this 9-hole course (now called the Hartington) in 1912. At the same time, Simpson and his design partner Arthur Croome re-modelled the main layout which had previously been extended to eighteen holes then redesigned by J.H. Taylor in 1904.

After World War II, C.K. Cotton revitalised the main course, with particular regard to holes 4-7, located at the further point from the clubhouse in the northeast portion of the property. The 18-hole Devonshire course, as it’s now called, re-opened in the mid-1950s.

Today, the modern-day set-up still retains many of the original Hutchinson greens, and old-fashioned design traits are lovingly preserved, such as the fairway cross bunkers in front of the greens on both doglegging par five holes at the 5th and 16th.

The overall length of the layout is a moderate 6,047 yards from the back markers and par is set at 70; 36 out then 34 back. There are back-to-back par fives to negotiate at holes 4 and 5, and a round here ends with a short hole in front of the clubhouse – until recently, holes 17 and 18 were played as par threes.

Highlight holes on the Devonshire include short par fours at the 340-yard 3rd and 309-yard 9th, while the longest of the par threes on the card, the 194-yard 13th, plays to a long, narrow green with a step falloff to the left of the putting surface – resulting in a strong stroke index of 6 for this hole.