Top 10 Best Golf Courses in East Devon

Why East Devon Is a Golfing Destination

Golf in East Devon benefits from an unusual combination of geography and climate. The district's mild maritime weather keeps courses playable throughout most of the year, while the terrain — rolling farmland, coastal commons, wooded river valleys and elevated clifftop plateaus — produces genuinely different playing experiences within a few miles of each other. A golfer can face exposed, wind-shaped holes above the sea in the morning and sheltered, tree-lined parkland in the afternoon.

The area also has real golfing heritage. Several clubs in and around East Devon date back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with layouts that reflect classic design principles: natural contours, strategic bunkering and greens that reward accurate approach play rather than raw distance. For visiting golfers, this heritage combined with reasonable green fees and warm clubhouse hospitality makes the district an appealing short-break destination.

What to Look for in a Course

Course condition is the first consideration, particularly greens quality and drainage. Devon's rainfall means the best-managed clubs invest heavily in drainage, aeration and sand dressing to keep surfaces firm through winter. Layout variety matters too — a strong course offers a mix of hole lengths, risk-and-reward opportunities and changes of direction so that wind affects each hole differently.

Beyond the golf itself, practice facilities, coaching provision, buggy availability, clubhouse catering and the welcome extended to visitors and juniors all shape the overall experience. Increasingly, clubs are judged on flexibility as well: shorter membership categories, pay-and-play options and academy programmes are helping the sport reach people who would previously have been excluded by cost or time.

The Top 10 Golf Courses in and Around East Devon

1. East Devon Golf Club, Budleigh Salterton

A celebrated clifftop heathland course with sweeping views over Lyme Bay. Its gorse, heather and undulating terrain create a demanding but fair test, and it is widely regarded as one of the finest inland-links hybrids in the region.

2. Woodbury Park Golf Club

A substantial resort course set in extensive parkland, offering a championship-length layout alongside a shorter course and strong practice facilities. Its lakes and mature planting make accuracy essential.

3. Sidmouth Golf Club

An elevated downland course above the town with panoramic coastal views. The layout uses natural slopes cleverly, and its greens are consistently praised for pace and trueness.

4. Honiton Golf Club

A high-lying course on the hills above the town, known for excellent year-round drainage thanks to its elevation and free-draining soils. Wind is a constant strategic factor.

5. Axe Cliff Golf Club, Axmouth

A dramatic clifftop course overlooking the Axe estuary and the sea. Its exposed position and undulating fairways make club selection a genuine challenge, and the views are among the best in Devon.

6. Exeter Golf and Country Club

Just beyond the district boundary, this mature parkland course pairs a well-regarded layout with extensive leisure facilities, making it popular with families and golfers seeking a full club experience.

7. Otter Valley Golf Centre

A more informal, accessible venue focused on pay-and-play golf, coaching and beginner development. It plays an important role in introducing new players to the sport locally.

8. Dinnaton Golf and Leisure

A compact but testing layout suited to shorter rounds, with an emphasis on precision over power. It appeals to players looking for a quicker but still rewarding round.

9. Seaton Coastal Golf Course

A links-influenced course where sea breezes and firm ground produce running approach shots and traditional low-ball golf. It offers a distinctly different rhythm to inland parkland play.

10. Cranbrook Golf Academy

A modern practice-led facility with driving range, short-game areas and structured coaching pathways. It has become a key entry point for juniors and returning golfers in the eastern Exeter corridor.

Trends in the Regional Golf Scene

Participation patterns have shifted noticeably. Shorter formats — nine-hole rounds, twilight play and academy loops — are growing as players balance the game with work and family. Clubs have responded with flexible membership tiers and simplified visitor booking. Technology has also become mainstream, with launch monitors, indoor simulators and video analysis now offered by clubs that once relied purely on outdoor lessons.

Environmental management is another priority. Courses are converting rough areas to wildflower and native grass habitats, reducing irrigation demand, and managing gorse and heather to support pollinators and ground-nesting birds. In a district containing designated landscapes and coastal habitats, this stewardship role is taken seriously.

Planning a Golf Trip to East Devon

Late spring and early autumn generally offer the best combination of course condition and manageable wind. Book coastal courses with flexibility, since exposed clifftop layouts can play dramatically differently depending on conditions. Many clubs offer visitor packages that include a round and catering, and several will arrange multi-course itineraries for touring groups. Always confirm dress codes and buggy availability in advance, as policies vary between clubs.

Final Thoughts

East Devon delivers a golfing variety that few comparably sized districts can match — heathland, downland, clifftop links and mature parkland all within easy reach. Whether you are a low handicapper seeking a genuine test at a clifftop layout or a newcomer looking for structured coaching, the courses above provide options across every level. The scenery, in almost every case, is an added bonus that visiting golfers remember long after the scorecard is forgotten.