Hollingbury Park Golf Club

I played on 24th July - a really hot day with very little wind. You can play for £12 after 12 noon if you are 60+ without having to involve websites. I agree that this course needs some sustained TLC but I can also see why it hosted professional tournaments many years ago. Some of the bunkers have been abandoned and are now hollows which for many lessens the challenge. I managed to avoid the remaining ones which did look a little scruffy. The greens are quite large and after just a few days of hot weather were not receptive so approaches required more thought.They mostly ran true and were quite fast. Unusually for me I drove like a moron but most holes were quite open from the yellow tees. The back tees which I didn't try add 450 yards and would make the course a lot tougher. The first nine is the better half and the last 5 holes were rather dull on such a still day. Plenty of changes in elevation which makes any course more interesting. Some cracking views for those who worry about such things.

It is a course that is very open in places, but when you play on a windy day (like I did today) any mishit shots can go a long way from the target. It is also very hilly, so expect tough walking unless you're a mountain goat. The greens were generally quick and true, and the fairways were pretty reasonable too. The bunkers could do with a bit of work on them though, and the practise green certainly wasn't the best. The bar and shop is a little basic, and it was disappointing that a clubhouse in such a prime spot should have so few windows to take advantage of its position. The staff were all very friendly though, and it looked like a club where people seem to get on with each other. Overall I liked the course and intend going back again soon.

Played Hollingbury 12/09/2010 nice sunny day. Heard a few bad reports about people and dogs and bured out cars on fairways. Nothing like it. Great design and no real boring holes. Quite hilly to start hole 2,3 and 6 all steep uphill climbs. Fantastic views of the area as the course is built on a roman fort site. Fairways good, Greens very large and very good nick. Some greens more than 30yd deep so prepare for the odd 3 putt. Staff in shop and bar friendly. Tees not the best but OK. Will need to go back again. £23.50 W/E.

Played hollingbury park today in the lovely april sunshine. Turned up at 8am in a weekday and found all the tee times where booked up so I had to wait until 8.45 to get off after a large group of seniors, no one thought to let a one ball through but that is the way of some public courses. The staff were really pleasant and helpful and the course looked beautiful in the sunshine, it is true it has magnificant views over brighton and the downs. The course itself looked great from a distance, the fairways were fine but the greens were poor but it is april so you expect that to improve over the summer also it seems people dont know how to use a pitch mark repairer. Annoyingly there are people walking their dogs on the course and ambling about crossing fairways when ever the choose. Standout hole for me would be number 3, looking back from the green it snakes through a valley, very beautiful. I found the front nine harder to play than the back, it certainly played alot longer. On the whole a really nice course with plenty to keep you interested, hope the greens improve but a very long round for a one ball, just over 4 hours as I had to wait on every tee. Would be impossible if the wind was blowing, thankfully it wasnt.

I played on this course as a schoolboy and college student. The course must have changed a lot. The 3rd was a par 3 then (1950) and I would like to see a course map. Any link? Also I was present when Dick Burton set the 4 round record which stands to this day--65 63 65 67. Anybody else remember? Geoff Tullett

Hollingbury Park is a challenging course for we humble high handicappers. I feel this is largely due to the hilly nature of the course, upsetting one's balance and stance. However golf is all about challenging oneself against the course and Hollingbury offers a good test of golfing ability. The fairways are very fair in terms of target area and the greens were in excellent condition - a credit to the local authority green staff. The course offers a good deal of variety - each hole being different from the last. The vistas are wonderful, offering different views of Brighton and Hove in every direction. One of the best things about Hollingbury is that golfers of all abilities can enjoy their round, although novices should not expect a record low score. The staff are welcoming and helpful.

A hilly, well-maintained South Downs public course with stunning views of Brighton and a challenge for beginners such as myself, especially with an incessant wind blowing from every direction! Despite this a fun day was had by all and at a very reasonable price too.

I PLAYED HOLLINGBURY PARK ON THE 19TH OCT 2002 AND FOUND IT TO BE AN EXCELLENT COURSE WITH AMAZING VIEWS OF BRIGHTON AND THE COASTLINE. THE COURSE WAS IN V.GOOD CONDITION CONSIDERING IT IS A PUBLIC COURSE,FAIRWAYS WERE PERFECT AND THE GREENS WERE TRUE, ONLY DOWNPOINT BEING WINTER MATS BEING USED. ON THE WHOLE WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS COURSE,AS I DID FOR ONCE PLAY WELL!!!

We played on 28 April 2001. There is wind, there is strong wind, there is gale force wind, and then there is Hollingbury Park wind. It was unbelievable. This is an excellent course, especially for the money. Pick a less windy day than we did and you will thoroughly enjoy yourselves.

I played this course on 20/08/00 and found it to be in very good condition all round,a shame I had an absolute nightmare myself.One thing to watch though is that it is very up hill and down dale....