Take a Hole By Hole Tour of The Waterfall Golf Course
Established in 1905, the 6683-yard championship 18-hole Waterfall golf course at Mannings Heath Estate, is known as one of the top golf courses in Sussex. Designed by the legendary architect Harry Colt, the Waterfall holds a proud golfing heritage and remains one of the most famous golf courses in the United Kingdom.
The Waterfall is a scenic and challenging course that demands accuracy from the tee and presents a fair test of nerve and skill for every calibre of golfer.
Measuring 6,683 yards from the tips, several of the holes are wonderfully testing, demanding accuracy from the tee. There is a lovely feeling of seclusion created by the trees and woodland, the dramatic undulating terrain and stream that wind their way along 11 of the lush fairways. Book your tee time here.
Hole 1
SODOM
A short par 4, with a deceptively tricky tee shot to start.
Though there is more room to the right, a good tee shot would have to keep left, in order to avoid being blocked by a towering oak tree on the 2nd shot.
An elevated green needs a well struck shot iron to hold the putting surface.
Hole 2
GOMORRAH
Another short par 4 offers a real chance at a birdie.
The tee shot will need to reach the top of the slope, favouring the right-hand side to get a good view of the green.
The brave one can take on the green from the tee; however, a cleverly placed bunker can catch you out.
Hole 3
GATEWAY
A good drive, avoiding the bunkers to the right will lead through the woods onto the green.
Club selection is key on the 2nd shot.
Short is better than long here.
Hole 4
HELL CORNER
Hell Corner is very appropriately named. A tough tee shot that needs to hug the tree line and be long enough to get to the top of the hill and get a view of the green.
Anything else will require a long, blind second shot or a provisional ball!
The green is guarded by two deep bunkers to catch any miss-struck second shots. Par is a very good score here.
Hole 5
PUNCH BOWL
The first of three stunning and challenging par 3's. Named “Punch Bowl”, the green sits in exactly that, with out-of-bounds just yards from the left edge of the green.
A safe bail-out is to the right with a chance to bounce into the green, although too far right will catch the waiting bunker atop the slope. This will leave a tricky shot down to the green.
Hole 6
WARREN
Accuracy is more important than the length from the tee here.
A shot over the marker will find the undulating fairway, leaving an approach over a stream to a two-tiered green.
Hitting the wrong level will leave a challenging two-putt.
Hole 7
JOHN JONES
The hardest hole on the course.
A tee shot to a relatively wide fairway will leave a long approach to the large green.
Two bunkers on each side of the green will catch errant approaches.
A four is a very good score here.
Hole 8
HUMMOCKS
The first par 5 on the course, but certainly not a given birdie.
Tee shots on the fairway can give an opportunity to try to get home in two for the longer hitters among us, but well-placed bunkers can make the third shot incredibly tough, meaning a strategic lay up may be called for.
Hole 9
BEECHER’S
A huge bunker to the front left of the green swallows many balls and some players!
A severe slope in the middle of the green makes putting very difficult.
Take note of the pin position, hitting the right level can give a good chance for birdie, but hitting the wrong level makes a two-putt very hard indeed.
Hole 10
WATERFALL
The signature “Waterfall” hole. Take a moment to savour the view, before getting down to business.
The shot plays shorter than the yardage from the elevated tees, with danger left.
With the ball in mid-air, you will have more than enough time to cross your fingers and hopes the ball makes a safe landing hopefully on the green.
Hole 11
VALLEY
The hole Gary Player put in his imaginary top 18 holes of the world. You can see why, the stream winds the entire length of the hole and cuts in near the green. The fairway is very narrow in places so may be wise to leave the head covers on your longer clubs for this one. Relative safety is found on the right-hand side of the green to ensure the ball stays dry. A par here will put a smile on your face. While enjoying a well-earned break at the Halfway Hut, take a look at how daunting the tee shot is from the gold tee, not for the faint of heart.
Hole 12
HORIZON
After the challenging 11th hole, the Valley presents decisions, decisions!
Either take on large trees from the tee or play to the left.
The latter is safer but will leave a longer approach to a two-tier deep green, with serious bunkers protecting the right side.
Hole 13
WINTER PICK
Another par 5 that takes its toll.
Avoid the two fairway bunkers from the tee and second shot and you will be in good shape to play the third, which will play longer than expected due to the massive elevation change.
Breathe a sigh of relief once you reach the top!
Hole 14
BLASTER
The last par 3, a real beauty, surrounded by trouble.
Bunkers guard the left-hand side of the green whilst a deep ravine leading to out-of-bounds runs the length of the fairway to the right.
Trust your swing and commit, as a well-struck shot which finds the green is the only way to keep your score going.
Hole 15
HILL
The easiest and shortest par 4 on the Waterfall course.
Getting your tee shot to the top of the hill will earn you an easy pitch onto a small green - this is definitely a birdie chance.
Bunkers guard this lovely green and many shots that look like a good drive, are caught in a bunker 30 yards shy of the green.
Hole 16
OLD HAVEN
Long testing par 4 that was once a par five.
Avoid the fairway bunker from the tee and this will leave a long approach to a very deep green.
Again, knowing the pin position could be the difference here
Hole 17
HOLLY BUSH
The last par 5 and a real opportunity to improve your score.
The fairway slopes from right to left the whole way, and two grass ditches can pose a problem.
Downhill putts on this green can be very slippery indeed.
Hole 18
FULLERS
Almost home! An elevated tee shot that avoids the grass bunkers on the right will leave an uphill approach to the green.
Take plenty of clubs to find this very shallow green, with very fast putts for players above the hole.
Just think of the rewarding drink on the terrace whilst climbing the hill to the green!
