- Location – Worthing, West Sussex
- Course Type – Parkland
- Green Fees – £25-40
- Par – 70/75
- Length – Back 6229y, Middle 6031y and Front 5717y.
Overview:
Situated in the South Downs National Park and backing onto the more famous Worthing Golf Club is Hill Barn Golf Club. If you are looking for a friendly course with something to offer all ages and abilities, some fantastic views and you’ve got the lungs for a few hill climbs, then it’s definitely worth a visit.
Driving up the narrow road leading to the course, I’ll admit I was a little nervous about what was going to greet me for my £35. But as I turned the corner to see the a green to my right and a nice practice area to my left, I realised I had nothing to worry about.
At just over 6000 yards off the middle tees and comprising of only three Par 3’s and one Par 5 it’s fair to say Hill Barn doesn’t have the same variety of holes as most other courses. But there is enough character in the course layout and length of the Par 4’s (251y to 456y) to keep you interested.
With wide fairways, lots of shorter holes and big greens you are encouraged to pull driver more often than not without fear of losing too many golf balls (and who doesn’t love hitting the big stick everywhere, am-I-right?).
But make a bad club choice and one of the many bunkers (there’s over 100!) will happily collect your ball. Whilst the most wayward of shots will still get lost in the trees (trust me I know from experience!).
Add all of that together it is highly likely you’ll walk off the course, like I did, add up your score and question how you didn’t shoot lower… I think Dustin Johnson said the same thing about Seminole, the famous course in Florida recently! Maybe Hill Barn can quote the same thing courtesy of Weekend Tour Pros?
The Front 9:
The opening hole is a short Par 4 where you can either take driver to leave a flick with a wedge or two mid irons to reach a largely unprotected green. A fairly easy start and a good opportunity to make a par for most players.
This is followed up by a long Par 4 which runs after a slight uphill tee shot, runs all the way down a large slope to an inviting green. Pull the big stick, rip it long and give yourself the shortest club possible into the green.
By the time you reach the 5th tee, you will hopefully have a good score going and see this short Par 3 as another good opportunity. At only 121y and significantly downhill (you can’t see the front of the green due to two bunkers protecting it) it’s a wedge shot for most players.
However, be warned, the green is devilish and the pin placement we played was nothing short of ridiculous. The sort of thing you’d find on a Greenkeepers Revenge!
After two more Par 4’s you are greeted with the best hole on the course; the Par 4 8th hole. At 250y with a highly elevated tee shot it is reachable for most handicap golfers on a firm summer’s day. Miss left or right and there’s two greenside bunkers that can make it tough to get your Par. But hit it straight and birdies or maybe even an eagle is there to be had. Love it!
The Back 9:
The 11th is the signature hole. A 160 yard Par 3 with the green built into the hill and ten huge bunkers surrounding it on all sides. Sadly I forgot to take a picture after a horrible tee shot! Our advice here is take a club more than you think as the safest miss is long.
The walk from the 14th green to the 15th tee is probably the toughest of the many walks up the slopes but it is worth it. Catch your breath, bomb your driver towards the stake in the fairway and then give yourself time to turn around because the views are stunning.
The day we played was clear so we could see Worthing and its surrounding areas. It’s a reward for all of the hill climbs you’ve made so far. The views only continue until your approach shot on 16 so soak them up for the 10 minutes, you are up there
The 17th is the final Par 3 and apparently is Tony Jacklin’s favourite Par 3. Now who am I to judge a two time major winner? But come on Tony! Your favourite Par 3? Of all the ones you’ve been fortunate to play? Obviously, this is a huge thing for Hill Barn to be able to advertise, and fair play to them for doing it. But it’s not even the best Par 3 on the course! It’s tough at 192y with lots of bunkers and a narrow green, make your Par here and move on…
The course closes with its only Par 5. A downhill dog leg left which invites you to go after your driver with little fear of consequence. The second shot is tough as the hole narrows in 150y from the hole. Unless you are a low handicap golfer you might be forced into the layup. The green however, is large and inviting meaning the hole presents a good opportunity to make a final birdie or Par.
Overall:
Hill Barn is good fun and friendly (one senior member rightly gave me a bit of harmless banter for pulling out my rangefinder after pull hooking my drive onto his fairway!).
The best compliment I can give it is that I could happily be a member here if I lived local. I might just need them to install a ski-lift to pull me up the slope from 14 to 15!
My only criticism is I don’t think it’s the best value for money compared to other courses I’ve played. I’d therefore recommend twilight tee times for the best value for money.
If you would like to book a tee time at Hill Barn then click here
What did other members of the team think?
Ben (our occasional golfer):
“Hill Barn Golf Club is very inviting with its wide fairways. At points it is challenging with some blind tee shots, tucked greens and, on the day, very interesting pin positions.
My favourite hole was the Par 4 2nd. If you get away well from the tee and catch the downslope it can be a flick of a wedge. Good fun when its over 430y on the card!
Overall its very picturesque with some great views, along with some very good golf holes. I would definitely play it again.”
Weekend Tour Pros Rating:
- Fun Factor: 7
- Quality of the Course: 7
- Value for Money: 6