Named the Pit. The drop in elevation after crossing the track that cuts across the fairway, is due to gravel excavation which pre-dated the laying out of the course. Historically a hole named the ‘The Pit Hole’ played across the current practice ground to the current 1st green.

A formidable opening hole, requires two well struck shots to reach the raised putting surface. Try to hold the right side of the fairway to avoid a blind approach over the waste bunker.

Named the Fort. Standing guard at the mouth of the River Arun lies the imposing Littlehampton Redoubt, more commonly known as Littlehampton Fort. Built in 1854, this historic fortification served as a vital line of defense against potential French invasion during the reign of Napoleon III. This fort played a significant part in our history, it was the very first Palmerston Fort. Great place for a Tee box!

From the tee, enjoy the views of the River Arun flowing into the sea before tackling this tough Par 4. Aim slightly left to use the fairway camber, your approach will need to carry steep pot bunkers.

Named the New. The third was the most recent hole to be added to the current 18. It was added in the 1950s. It replaced a hole which was played over the land behind the current 2nd tee.

Don’t be deceived by the relatively high stroke index, a challenging short hole for all standards of play, descending from the dune down to the sanctuary of the green complex. Green side pot bunkers left and right swallow even the slightest miss-hit and a par here is highly regarded.

Named Long, a traditional name for the longest hole on a links course.

The longest hole on the course. After navigating the drive bunker & the gorse carry from the tee, a series of bunkers along the right-hand side of the fairway can easily impede your progress. Be sure to check the flag position on this deep ~30yard green to setup a possible birdie.

Named the Rife. Rife is a Sussex word for a stream. The 5th hole is played adjacent to our rife from tee to green.

Turning back southwards, another par five somewhat shorter in length, with a gentle dog-leg to the right. The Rife along the right of this hole is a factor on your tee and second shots. A sloping green with multiple ridges ensures you will have to work hard for your Par.

Named Little Whin. In the 1890s a hole named ‘Little Whin’ was played from nearby the existing 6th hole and 4th tees. It was played over the gorse in the opposite direction to our current 6th hole.

As you approach the sea, the wind becomes a stronger element to manage, this tee shot can play a driver to a short iron. Come up short and you will encounter a raised green, go too long and you may be left with a tricky downhill chip or putt. Bunkers on both sides can also snare seemingly good tee shots.

Named Wight, after the views of the Isle of Wight which can be enjoyed from the tee box. It is approx. 24miles to the island from the raised tee.

Take in the sea views and air from on high, taking strength for the challenge ahead! A slight dogleg, gorse bushes and a blind waste bunker are the holes defence should you attempt the short cut. Imposing pot bunkers left and right are the guardians of this relatively flat green.

Named the Dunes. A traditional name for a hole on a links golf course. The green of the eighth hole is set into the dune with the dune ridge as the backdrop.

A delightful par three, the longest on the golf course nestled below the coastal dune. The green’s defence is the wild contours of the putting surface, sometimes it’s easier to be in one of the pot bunkers than deal with the break of a long putt here.

Named the Butt. The mound in the carry on the ninth hole is a rifle butt from the pre WW1 days when the course was used a military shooting range. Soldiers fired from an area near to the 17th tee, up to 800 yards away.

More sea views to re-charge those batteries ahead of the back 9 test, but first avoiding the bunker on the right off the tee is paramount here if you are to have a comfortable shot in to another well-guarded green.

Named Clymping. The tenth reaches the furthest point away from the clubhouse at Clymping beach.

A slight dogleg curving around the dunes & shoreline, the free draining turf can run fast so be careful with taking on the waste bunker to the left. An extremely well protected green awaits your approach.

Named the Mill. This hole plays alongside the historic Clymping Mill, with the current structure dating from 1799

A change of orientation relative to the previous holes & the ever tricky wind conditions, making club selection tough on this seemingly short par three. The large bunker & surrounds can easily kick a ball into the rough or swallow into the sand. Equally a bunker lurks left & long out of sight from the tee, should you mis judge the breeze.

Named Homeward, at the twelfth we turn back towards the clubhouse and homewards.

Turning back towards the town and clubhouse, you are about to be severely tested. A good drive is required to miss the bunker on the right, but you can’t aim left as the course boundary & OOB lurks. Typically a long iron or fairway wood for your second shot, tested by the fast encroaching rife and bunkers.

There is a boundary stone beside the 13th tee. This stone is marked on several historic maps. It is engraved with ‘DN’ on one side and is thought to mark the original boundary of the Duke of Norfolk’s land.

The rife & course boundary are again present on your left. Take aim for the sight pole from the tee, the margin of error here is very small with rough awaiting on the right. Should you find the fairway, be careful to observe the flag position as this green has a two tier ridge running through it. Some deep revetted pot bunkers can easily catch an errant approach.

Named Rifle Range, Before the course opened in 1889, the land now occupied by our current 14th hole was used as a military rifle range, with the targets on the 9th and the firing position being as far back as the 17th tee.

The rife until now has been on just one side of your shots. Now as befits a Stroke Index 1 hole, you have to carry it, and avoid it left and right. The huge waste bunker in the middle of the fairway has a habit of shortening the hole to the eye, so trust the yardage to find a raised green. The built up banks of the green can easily kick a ball back into the rife, so don’t be too disappointed to find one of the deep pot bunkers, it could have been worse.

Named Dormy. The 15th hole plays to a green set in front of Dormy Cottage. A Dormy house or cottage would have been built originally and operated by a golf club as accommodation for lodging members overnight.

The coastal woodland to your left offers some shelter from the prevailing wind, but don’t lose focus as your friend the rife lurks again on the right, to catch shots that attempted to avoid the fairway bunkers or course boundary on your left. A green full of subtle ridges so although not a long hole, a par is well prized.

Named JH Taylor, the sixteenth was one of the holes added by the 5 time Open Champion (won in 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, and finally 1913) in his significant redesign of the course alongside his design partner Fred G. Hawtree in 1923.

One final challenge to clear the rife on your approach to this short Par 3, with five revetted pot bunkers catching even a fractionally misdirected shot. The course boundary and river Arun are on your left, with members of the public often pausing to watch the spectacle.

Named the Himalayas, a traditional name for a hole on a links course. Inspiration for this name is taken from the craggy humps on the carry.

It’s critical here to clear the humps & hollows that guard the start of the fairway. No bunkers or that watery rife, but now typically deep rough sent to test you in grass bunkers should you stray. As you approach the green, balancing length with line is crucial as the flag can be tucked away on the right behind the dune.

Named Home, another traditional name for the final hole of the course.

A fitting final hole where anything is possible. The clubhouse is visible from the raised tee box, but plenty of obstacles remain before it welcomes you. The typical wind pushes you right off the tee and on approach, deep and large pot bunkers on both sides offer a final challenge before the putts. Now retreat to the sanctuary of our 1st floor, where much of the course is visible and tales of win and woe can be retold.