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Hunstanton, England |
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Hunstanton is the ancestral home of the le Strange family; Hamon le Strange invested £30 to get the original nine holes ready for play; George Fernie was the architect. Hunstanton Golf Club was founded in 1891 and Hamon became the inaugural club president. In 1907, James Braid revised the existing layout and extended the course to 18 holes, alterations which cost a total of £25! James Sherlock made further subtle modifications in the 1920s and little has changed since.
This natural course is a simple out and back affair, interrupted only briefly in the middle of the outward and inward nines by a few short holes that zigzag at right angles across the central dunes. The River Hun and the Wash frame this narrow strip of links land, but you are only offered a few glimpses of the sea from the course itself.
 Hunstanton and Royal West Norfolk are always rated close together in today's ranking tables but, when Darwin wrote about Hunstanton in his book, The Golf Courses of the British Isles, things were different: “Hunstanton is very amusing golf; it is more than that, for it is for the most part very good golf. Perhaps it is a little unfairly overshadowed in public estimation by its near neighbour Brancaster, which is altogether on a rather bigger and grander scale.” Nevertheless, Hunstanton is a connoisseur’s golf course, jammed full of memorable quality golf holes. The members are quite rightly proud of the greens, they are tricky to read, fast, hard and true. The rippling fairways are tightly mown and gently undulating.
Two of the world’s best lady golfers have played and won here at Hunstanton. In the year before the Great War, Cecil Leitch beat G Ravenscroft 2 and 1 to win the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship and in 1921, the great Joyce Wethered beat J Stocker to win the English Ladies’ Close Amateur Championship. More recently, in 1972, Hunstanton hosted the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship, when Mickey Walker went on to win, beating Claudine Rubin of France.
A feat of incalculable odds also occurred at Hunstanton. In 1974, the amateur Bob Taylor holed in one during a practice round for the Eastern Counties Foursomes. The following day, in the actual competition, he again holed in one. The very next day in the same competition, he once more holed in one. If a hole in one on three consecutive days is not enough, you’ll be amazed to hear that it was achieved each time on the same hole, the 16th, a 191-yard par three!
This is a full-blown championship golf links; an absolute must-play for serious golfers. Make your score on the outward nine, the back nine is much more difficult, except for the par 3 16th, a simple hole in one opportunity. | |
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In the section below, headed “Your Reviews”, are golf course reviews posted by visitors to the Top 100 website. There are no specific rules for reviewing a golf course except you MUST have played the golf course first. Merits of each course are left entirely to your discretion. Important factors, such as course location, condition (or presentation), course difficulty and historical importance are all left for you to judge and we have developed a simple rating system where you can allocate one score to each course. | |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | A classic links course, the proffesssional made us welcome, we had an excellent sandwich before setting out. I thought the course was much better than it's neighber Royal West Norfolk as it offered a wide variety of holes. We played it in a fairly strong wind which ment that scoring going out was excellent but a real battle coming home. Happy with a 30 point return but feel could do better without quite so much wind.  | | 27 July 2010
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| | | Although seemingly often criticized or faint-praised (holes too similar, par fives not tough enough, etc.), I found Hunstanton to be an extremely worthwhile links course. The conditioning was excellent, a variety of shots were required and there was just enought quirkiness (a blind par three on the backside) to represent a "true" links experience. I visited in April 2010 and played in sunny, windless conditions. Play was a bit slow due to a youth tournament in progress, but I played in just under four hours, so nothing to really complain about. The greens were in top shape and putted very fairly. My only warning to fellow players is that the water described (in the strokesaver books) as behind the green on the par five second is actually a burn running along the left side of the green. This led to an unneeded double bogey after playing pretty much the shots I tried to. I'll have to come back and make up for this blemish! Hunstaton and Royal West Norfolk make a great one-two punch (and don't forget Royal Cromer and Sheringham in the same area). | | 12 May 2010
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| | | Wonderful course. A complete pain to get to but well worth the trip.We played on a cool but dry day in mid October in a fruity northerly wind (i'm sure the locals would call it a wee breeze).A beautiful clubhouse and friendly welcome- log fire and hot coffee-made me feel like just sitting around rather than getting on the course.
The course really kicks into life at the 6th which has to be one of the best short par-4's in the world-you play a little pitch into a horribly exposed elevated green with potential disaster on all sides.I cannot rate this hole highly enough.
The rest of the course is just tough but emminently fair.It is as is usual with links all dependent on the wind.I i agree that the 14th seems a little bit of place(blind par-3)but the last 4 holes are superb especially 16 and 17.You feel there is class at Hunstanton.
The greens were pretty decent-I was told that they have had loads of problems over the years getting the new greens to bed in correctly but they were emminetly playable and are certainly'getting there'.
I think it's probably a bit fairer than Brancaster just along the coast although playing both would be a great experience. | | 06 November 2009
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| | | OK, I have to admit bias. Played Hunstanton on a windless day and shot 71 gross. (I play off 12). This means I loved the place. It is a real challenge with great views and is really interesting, marred by one awful par 3. (Totally blind played over a hill) | | 29 August 2009
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| | Hunstanton is a fabulous course. I believe it should rate more highly on this site than it does. (At time of writing it’s number 40). Actually, perhaps there are 39 courses its superior in England… But the confusion arises because its near neighbour, Brancaster, is ranked 18. Now, I prefer the holiday golf at Brancaster to the sterner test at Hunstanton, but in the real world, geographically and in terms of golfing worth, there’s very little between these tracks. Anyway, play Hunstanton. There are many good holes here and they’re especially found on the back nine. That’s simply because the best land closest to the sea has been used for the inward half (and most courses use their seaside land for the front nine – Macrihanish, Balgownie, Troon etc. - so this makes a pleasant change). Also though, play Brancaster. Unlike Hunstanton this place has some great holes, not just good ones. But there are a few ropy ones at Brancaster too. Hunstanton is probably a more serious golf course. But Brancaster – across its mix of great and average holes – has something a jot more magical about it. ANGLOSCOT  | | 19 August 2009
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| | | Hunstanton is a fabulous test of golf that really should be played if you get the chance. The course is set along a beautiful stretch of coastline and on a sunny day really does get the juices flowing. I played 72 holes there this weekend and would have played more had the light permitted! Particular highlighs for me are the 6th and 7th on the front which are great holes. On the back nine the closing 16th, 17th and 18th really do provide a stern test with a spectacular backdrop.
Greens were not too hot (as understand there is some renovation of the greens going on) and the par 3 14th is slightly random but everything else about this place would keep you coming back time and time again.
| | 13 October 2008
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| | | Superb golf course, and to me, on a different level to its near neighbour Royal West Norfolk. The look and feel to the place were what I was expecting with superb 1st tee positioned right next to the 18th green and in front of the clubhouse, that were some very friendly and humorous staff will take care of you. Great set of holes going out from the clubhouse, and could imagine it being a much tougher prospect if the wind really blows. The back felt tougher, but I felt that the Par 3 14th was a disappointing hole. Long 220+ Par 3 into the wind with a blind tee shot ? However, the 16th was a magnificant Par 3, with views out to the sea and hitting over fantastic collection of bunkers to a sloping green. Closing hole should not be underestimated, as it is tougher than the lenght suggests. Very narrow green to finish, after an accurate tee shot. Certainly would recommend and play again. | | 02 July 2008
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| | | Fabulous traditional links.A real test of golf , lots of character i just couldn`t understand a par 3 , 220
yard blind tee shot having a stroke index 18!!
My partner and i both double -bogeyed it and he shot a gross 80!
Would love to return when the course was quieter. | | 14 June 2008
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| | | Last 12 holes at Hunstanton are very good links holes, the first 5 or 6 or just ok. The villages of Hunstanton and Brancaster are a lot of fun making for a perfect two day trip away from home. Hunstanton is very difficult in the wind. | | 10 February 2008
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| | | Playing golf on the coast is always special for me and it seems to bring the best out in my game. Hunstanton can safely be called one of our best links courses of GB&I. Some may say not too interesting for the first four/five holes but certainly from the short par-4 6th and then the fantastic par-3 7th, you are aware that this is a links golf course full of quality. I agree when people say that the back nine is stronger, maybe as the holes are closer to the coast, with sea views on many holes. Loved the par-4 13th playing into the wind (such a tough approach) and then the 14th, a par-3 at 222 yards but blind! Hitting the green may have a stroke of luck to it as my shot did – but once there make sure you hole the putt for an un-likely birdie…The last two holes are par-4’s both around 440-460 yards and will be into the wind on most days – If you need two pars for the championship, you are going to have to work rather hard for them here. | | 25 January 2008
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| | | As previous reviewers have said a course with 2 different nines - the back nine is the tougher of the two and more links like in character. Only one poor hole (the 14th, a blind par 3), the rest being first rate. The greens are true, but do not have the super quick, glass like qualities they possessed 5 to 10 years ago unfortunately, however still a very good links that you mast play if in the area. | | 08 October 2007
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| | | Played this course along with Brancaster only a week ago and really enjoyed it. I felt the £70 day ticket was good value for money and because of the 2 ball rule it is realtively easy to play 2 rounds in a day.
Overall , i preferred Hunstanton to Brancaster because of the layout on the back nine and the fact that these holes played slightly tougher. The course wasn't in as good condition as Brancaster though.
Club house staff very friendly and seats very comfortable etc. Enjoy | | 25 September 2007
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| | | This is now my favourite course in Norfolk! I have had the pleasure of playing Brancaster, Sheringham and Cromer, but Hunstanton offers the best all round package. Good greens (no longer the slick greens of the 90's, but still good), overall course condition excellent, and very a friendly atmosphere at the clubhouse. The 7th is a superb par 3 of note, then 16, 17 and 18 make for a very classy finish. | | 08 June 2007
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| | | A classic links up-and-back course, with several intriguing holes and no poor ones. We played on a glorious May afternoon with only a 1-club wind, so some of the course's defences were removed. But there are enough tough bunkers to concentrate the mind, especially on the enjoyable par 3s. Greens weren't as fast as many have suggested, perhaps because Spring was late this year, but they ran true and were in good condition. The Captain came to sit at our table while we were having a post-round drink and was a friendly bloke. Definitely recommended if not quite in the Royal St.George's league of links layouts. | | 15 May 2006
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| | | Played in Pro Am. I had not played for 7/8 years. The course was not as I remember it! The fairways now have water on them and are not like links fairways at all. There are large swathes of meadow grass. The greens also had many non seaside grasses growing in patches. However it is still a tough test, particularly the back nine which was played into a moderate breeze. | | 04 May 2006
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| | | A nice course, not the most challenging links i have ever played but still worth every penny to play. Awesome greens, probably the best i have played this year. Fantastic Breakfast too !!!!!!.
| | 08 November 2005
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| | | To use a footballing anecdote...Hunstanton is definitely a game of two halves!!! My first true British links golf course experience and after 6 holes I was wondering what all the fuss was about because the strong wind was at our backs(!), so much so that the par-5 2nd hole became a 3 wood and gentle 8-iron!!! After the turn though this course decided it was time to bite back and the prevailing wind made the journey back to the club house a totally different game! The course has loads of horrible(!) bunkers, superb undulating fairways and lovely, well manicured greens. Back at the clubhouse the bar food was excellent and the members and staff very friendly and welcoming. | | 10 September 2004
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| | | Very friendly club - have played here on numerous occasions and the greens are consistenly fast and true. The course is good honest fun. | | 14 June 2004
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| | | Greens second to none. Traditional links - couple of blind shots and facinating traffic lights. Total entertainment. | | 01 April 2004
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