Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club
Price Guide: £££££ | HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Book Tee Times
Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, East Sussex is a 36 hole Club with the 18 hole, par 72 (6537 yard) Old Course and 18 hole, par 68 (5606 yard) West course. A private, heathland golf course.
Contact Information
Off Chapel Lane, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5LR United Kingdom
Tel: 01342 822018Golf Pro: Tim Cowley | Tel: 01342 822018
Website: http://www.royalashdown.co.uk
Tee Time Information
- Midweek Guide: £75.00 per round Old Course, £35 per round West Course *
- Weekend Guide: £95.00 per round Old Course, £40 per round West Course *
Book online: with golfnow.co.uk
* Any prices shown are guide prices, please confirm with the course prior to booking.
Course Information:
36 holes | Par Old Course 72; West Course 68 | Old Course 6537; West Course 5606 yards | Private | Heathland
View more East Sussex Golf Clubs
Visitors: Old Course Dress Code
The dress code on the Old Course is that of any traditional golf club. While golfing attire is allowed in the Spike Bar, gentlemen normally wear a jacket and tie in the Dining Room.
Shirts must be tucked in at all times
- Societies Accepted to Play
- Society Deals Available
- Voucher Deals Available
- 7 Day Membership Available
Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club Reviews & Information
4.35

4.00 ... Overall Rating
4.06 ... The Course
4.00 ... Course Cond.
3.85 ... Facilities/Serv.
3.86 ... VFM
4.50 ... Pace of play
4.43 ... Hospitality.
3.85 ... Prac. Facil.
4.29 ... Food + Drink

125 ratings & 88 reviews on Golfshake. Ranked 652 out of 2162.
HIGHLY RATED - 98% would play again or recommend
Played this course? Tell us what you thought: Submit your review now >>
What the club says: Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club has two great courses to enjoy and it is not just us that thinks so. Golf World magazine assembled a panel of experts to decide the top 100 courses in England and, given that there are over 2,000 of them, that is no easy task.
The panel voted the Old Course #42 in the country and included our West Course in the next best 100 saying of it, "Like its sister a superb moorland-heathland with no bunkers. Some really excellent holes and, for some on the panel, should join its sister in the main list.”
Set in the heart of the Ashdown Forest, one of the things that golf lovers most appreciate about playing here is that so little has changed over the club’s 125 year history. Heather, humps, hollows, pools and streams remain nature’s defence against shooting a low score.
Situated approximately 30 miles (48 km) south of London in East Sussex, there are only four other courses in East and West Sussex that make Golf World's top 100 and none, apart from Royal Ashdown, that can boast two in the top 200 courses in England.
This beautiful golf club was founded in 1888, and within a year had opened a designated ladies’ course set in mature heathland. Today both award winning courses are available to play in the same day. Without question this is the best 36-hole golf club in Sussex — and not a sand bunker in sight!
Whereas the Old Course remains very much a classic heathland layout the West Course snakes its way through the heart of the Ashdown Forest, that spreads for over 20 square miles in this most beautiful part of Sussex, and has been named the best course under 6,000 yards in the UK by Golf World magazine.
What about after golf?
Each course has its own area of the clubhouse: The Old Course clubhouse may look somewhat austere perched half way up its hill but is a great place of fun. The West Course extension opened in 2004, with all the modern facilities, seating for up to 60 people and is open year-round.
Society Day on your calendar?
Let us help. In fact, let us take care of every last detail.
The quality of the courses, the reputation of the dining rooms and the friendly ambience of the Club make this a favourite venue for Old Boys' matches, society days, charity days, and corporate events.
Here at Royal Ashdown we especially welcome enquiries from event organisers seeking a venue that can provide two 18-hole courses for golfers to play in one day.
We’d love to host your foursome, your group or any occasion you see fit to spend the day on one of the finest tracts of golf in the British Isles. And one last things, the old temporary tee boxes on the West are all being upgraded, with completion due this year. So come next Winter they will all be in top condition.
Golf Course Reviews for Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club
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The golf courses reviews are the personal opinions of members of Golfshake who completed a review after playing the course. These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Golfshake.com

Short, but tricky
Although a short course, there are many challenging holes requiring good shot placement.








lovely challenging course
tough course long carries and greens interesting. great course would love to play again to make the most of it!








Simply stunning views and plenty of challenging holes. Don't be put off by the Royal - very welcoming indeed and if you play the West as well its one of the best 36 holes anywhere.
(Round played: Mar 2020 - Score: 93 Handicap: 16)



























Holding up well in the wet
Lovely short course. Tricky holes and different each one. Greens are a good pace and not "damp" but enough to leave craters when hitting from high. Not a lot of run but what do you expect at this time of year. Overall well worth a visit....especially with the offer of 18 holes plus food for ?5 less than the Green Fee!!!








Great course









Easy to see why this is in the top 30 courses in England
Our society played Royal Ashdown old course on 17th September. Magnificent condition and a very fair test but stay out of the Heather. Hit it straight and be brave. Equally impressive was the welcome and attention from all the staff. As we neared the end, our last group were tired and offered to waive through a member two ball who politely refused. In the clubhouse we apologised to them and they said they wanted to make it a great experience for visitors so they would come back! How refreshing. A top venue and a top drawer experience. I can?t recommend more highly.








(Round played: Jul 2019 - Score: 89 Handicap: 13.3)









(Round played: Jul 2019 - Score: 99 Handicap: 17.2)









Mr colin









Hard but fair









Tough but enjoyable courses
Booked to play on the west course & old course. Both courses were very challenging. Fairways were very good. Very disappointed with the greens on the old course. Loads of sand. No warning & no offer of a reduced green fee or credit note.








Lovely little course - Shame so wet
Considering amount of rain not surprising that last few greens had standing water...especially 16th. However great short course. Testing holes with many hollows to negotiate but no bunkers. Marking for next tee could be better but after a couple of rounds fairly obvious. Premium on straight and accuratacy.(Round played: Sep 2018 - Score: 81 Handicap: 16.5)








Magnificent
I played this course as part of the Sussex Heathland tour as well as Crowborough and Piltdown. The best of all three with no doubt with Crowborough a close second and Piltdown a lowly third. Course was well presented and a true challenge.








Excellent course
First time at Royal Ashdown Forest on a very hot afternoon. Really interesting course with lots of contours, bumps and slopes. Dry fairways with plenty of run and tricky greens that are difficult to hold to. But course is not too long and no bunkers. 2nd nine significantly harder than front. Enjoyable round will be back.(Round played: Aug 2018 - Score: 101 Handicap: 24.1)









Beauty and Beast
Beautiful course set in some picturesque forest scenery, stick to the fairways and you have a chance, venture off and the rough can be brutal. Will definitely play again(Round played: Jun 2018 - Score: 94 Handicap: 14.5)









Great course - well worth a visit!
Really enjoyable round. Tough course - up and down, heather, difficult rough in places, blind shots etc. Great challenge though and beautiful location(Round played: Jun 2018 - Score: 96 Handicap: 17.1)









West Course Royal Ashdown
Greens in good condition well worth a visit Greenkeepers sprayed greens green.(Round played: Jun 2018 - Score: 93 Handicap: 24.2)







The golf courses reviews are the personal opinions of members of Golfshake who completed a review after playing the course. These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Golfshake.com
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