What Is Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club and What Are Its Two Courses Like?

Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club is a traditional members' golf club founded in 1888 and set in the heart of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. It offers two entirely natural courses: the Old Course, a heathland layout with heather, humps, hollows, pools and streams and views over four counties, and the West Course, which runs through mature broadleaf woodland. Choose the Old Course for open heathland character and the West for a tighter, tree-lined round.

Club identity and setting

The club describes itself as traditional and members-focused, and notes that little has changed over its 130-year history. Its address is Chapel Lane, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5LR, with phone 01342 822018 and email [email protected].

A distinctive point is that both courses are shaped by the land rather than engineered: according to the club, no earth has been moved, no ponds dug and no streams diverted. Nature's features — heather, humps, hollows, pools and streams — are presented as the main defence against low scoring.

The Old Course vs the West Course

The practical difference for a visitor is openness versus enclosure. The Old Course gives wide heathland sightlines and long views, while the West Course asks for straighter play through trees. If you only have one round and want the course the club highlights most, the Old Course is the one with the current Top 100 rating.

Before you travel: course status and access

The club homepage carries a live course status notice. On the day the site was captured, both courses were open, with buggies allowed only for those with a medical exemption, trolleys permitted, and fairway mats in play. Conditions like these change, so check the status panel before setting out — winter mat rules and buggy restrictions directly affect how you pack and play.

For booking, the site provides a "Book Tee Time" entry point and a separate members' login. Visitor green-fee prices and any booking restrictions are not stated in the available material, so confirm rates and availability directly with the office rather than assuming public access terms.

Practice and tuition

The club presents its Pro Shop and academy offerings as a way for all players to get more from their game, from a putting practice area for solo work to full instruction from a professional covering basics through to honing an existing game. The site lists a Performance Centre and tuition as the relevant entry points.

Who it suits

• Heathland traditionalists who value natural terrain and a long, largely unchanged history will find the Old Course the main draw.
• Players wanting variety in one visit can pair the open heathland of the Old Course with the woodland challenge of the West.
• Those working on their game have practice and tuition options on site.
• Visitors with mobility needs should check the current buggy policy, since medical exemption conditions applied at the time of the site capture.