Piltdown Golf Club

You hear many Golf Clubs being described as a “hidden gem”, but Piltdown truly is one. Located in a small village of the same name, home to the infamous Piltdown Man Scam of 1912, the Club have recently made big investments into the course.

In January 2018 Piltdown was voted 43rd in England by National Club Golfer Magazine. This is their first entry into the Top 100, and is just reward for an investment of over half a million pounds in the last few years. They have rebuilt all 18 greens to replace the slow draining clay based originals with USGA type free draining surfaces. Whilst this work was carried out they took the opportunity to make some subtle design changes to the green complexes, and have created run off areas, heather banks and other interesting features.

Hosts to the Sussex Open in 2016 and 2017, there are some great holes on the course, the majority of which are surrounded by heather. Standing out are the 3rd, 4th and 5th which are as hard a 3 hole stretch as you will find. The 3rd is a 450 yard par 4 with a 90 degree dogleg at about 250 yards from the tee. Heather, trees and water all come into play. It is stroke index 1 for a reason. Following this is the 4th, a brute of a par 3 – over 200 yards of pure carry over heather to a relatively small green, and then the 5th is an uphill par 4 of 432 yards with trees and heather on both sides.

There are many other great holes, another good section are 9th, 10th & 11th all of which have had considerable changes to their greens and now play as an excellent triangle of holes.

After your round the Listed Building clubhouse is a charming way to enjoy a drink and some marvellous catering which has a great reputation locally.

Come and try Piltdown for yourself, it won’t be a “hidden” gem for much longer.