Golf Course Review

Goodwood is perhaps better known for its motor racing heritage than its golf. The Goodwood Revival is an annual motorsport event is a historic race staged entirely in period dress. Goodwood is considered to be the spiritual home of British motor racing. The Festival of Speed is a four-day motorsport bonanza that celebrations every niche of the sport.

In addition to motorsport, there is also an aerodrome and Aero Club. Yet further, there is the prestigious Qatar Goodwood Festival and Goodwood Racecourse which has been part of the estate since 1802. We haven't even got to the Hotel, Goodwood House, Restaurants, Health Club, Waterbeach Spa, Kennels and Farm Shop!

Goodwood is a 12000-acre playground and in Westhampnett, Chichester, West Sussex, England that in an 'English Estate Like No Other'. Did we mention they also have 36 holes of golf?

Goodwood Downs Course

Golf was played in the immediate area as early as 1892 before moving to the Estate and calling upon James Braid to lay out a proper course in 1914, making is one of the oldest golf courses in Sussex. The downland chalk base provides fast-running fairways. Coupled with undulating greens and dramatic changes of elevation, the topography typifies a Braid design.

In the 1970s, Fred Hawtree modernised the course. His work was in keeping with the quality and calibre of most inland golf course architecture of the day.

In 2004, Howard Swan would lengthen the original design to over 7100 yards. In total, six new holes were added - the opening three and closing three. Some holes were reversed and old holes which fell into disrepair were reinstated. The course you play today could be called a James Braid & Howard Swan design.

Tom MacKenzie, of MacKenzie & Ebert, recently lead a renovation of the course that attempted to modernise the course whilst restore and retain the James Braid trademarks. The bunkers, in particular, were the primary focus of attention.

The Downs Course Videos

See the Estate's promo video here

The Park Course

The second course on the Estate is The Park Course. A Donald Steel design, the parkland course is decent golf but of the common variety. If you need another 18 in the local area, drive the 25 minutes to West Sussex Golf Club.

 The Park Course Videos

See the Estate's promo video here

Golf Course Photography

Purchase photography of this course here.