One fine summer's day in 1926, the legendary golf writer Bernard Darwin sat on the terrace at Crowborough Beacon Golf Club and wrote: 

"˜The first thing that will strike the golfer who comes fresh to Crowborough is the wonderful view. I do not suppose there is a wider or more beautiful one in all England. 

A great expanse of wooded, waving country rolls away to the blue line of the South Downs where on the horizon lies Eastbourne & Beachy Head, and westward towards Brighton and Worthing. On a clear day we may even see the sea, and with field glasses, the ships upon it. With the pink of the heather and the yellow of the gorse, and the green of the fairways winding up and downhill between them, it is one of the loveliest places to be seen anywhere.' 

These words will remind anybody who has visited Crowborough Beacon and, no matter how long ago, of the magnificent view from the terrace, or is it a balcony, as Darwin himself pondered? Some 725' above sea level. Darwin went on to describe the course:

"˜The ground slopes here and there rather steeply, which makes for fine, bold, picturesque shots from high tees. It also calls for accurate shot-making since the slopes, "˜draw' the ball more than the stranger suspects, and the ball hit light-heartedly down the middle of the fairway, without sufficient calculation, is apt to end in the heather.'

The ingenious Dr. Alister Mackenzie, famous for his work at Augusta, and other notable great courses of the world, added his distinctive stamp to an already outstanding stretch of land. 

Well over a century since its inception, Crowborough Beacon has changed little and remains a truly fine golf course in a magnificent location. 

Many famous characters have played here down the ages. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle moved from his beloved Hindhead to become Captain of Crowborough in 1910. Members of Parliament took the train down from Westminster to take in the bracing air on the links at Crowborough, "˜the Highlands of the South' some called it, indeed the 6th hole is named "The Speaker" after Speaker Gully.

The legendary Henry Cotton is captured, elegantly in time on the famous 5th hole and of course other characters have trod the firm fairways over the years. 

So, as you draw near to the end of your round, which may be as memorable as Darwin's clearly was in 1926, you may recall these words which remain equally true to this day: 

"˜Finally, the home hole, a really difficult finishing hole with its carry over heather from the tee, and its narrow opening between bunkers, through which the perfectly struck second shot must be steered. And so, we are at home again with the restful terrace - or is it a balcony - close by, waiting to receive us and enjoy the view, as beautiful as ever.'