Teignmouth Golf Club

Teignmouth Golf Club – Alister MacKenzie’s moorland course above the South Devon coast

Stand on the first tee at Teignmouth Golf Club and the whole of South Devon falls away below you – the Teign Estuary, the sweep of coastline and, on a clear day, the tors of Dartmoor rising in the west. Perched on the high moor of Little Haldon, more than 800 feet above the sea, this is a course you feel as much as play, with the wind and the views part of every shot.

Teignmouth Golf Club is an 18-hole moorland course laid out on Haldon Moor, above the seaside town of Teignmouth in Devon. Designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie and opened in 1924, it measures around 6,083 yards from the championship tees and plays to a par of 69. Its firm, open turf gives it a links-like feel, and it is best known for two MacKenzie hallmarks: an unusually generous set of six par 3s and eleven greens built with two tiers.

Key Details

• Location: Haldon Moor, Teignmouth, Devon, TQ14 9NY
• Length: approximately 6,083 yards (championship tees)
• Par: 69
• Designer: Dr Alister MacKenzie, with the course built by his brother, C. A. MacKenzie
• Established: 1924
• Notable events: host of the West of England Professional Championship and regional county events; an England Golf championship venue

History and significance

In the early 1920s the exposed heights of Little Haldon seemed an unlikely home for a golf course. Dr Alister MacKenzie – the architect who would later shape Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne – saw the opportunity, and the club opened for play in the spring of 1924. The layout was built by his brother, C. A. MacKenzie, and the undulating, two-tier greens quickly became the course’s calling card.

The Second World War left its mark. The Air Ministry took over part of the moor, turning the ground around the 13th, 14th and 15th holes into an airstrip, and some 400 posts were driven into the fairways to deter enemy gliders. An observation tower from that period still stands near the 1st.

By 1947 the club faced serious financial strain and the course was bought by Teignmouth Urban Council for around £6,000, securing its future. The 13th was later restored, but the routing has otherwise changed remarkably little, so today’s golfer plays a layout very close to MacKenzie’s original.

The club has a long competitive history, hosting the West of England Professional Championship, qualifying for the old News of the World Matchplay, and a range of county events. When Ryder Cup captain Dai Rees played an exhibition here in 1957, he is said to have grumbled that the “damn MacKenzie greens” would give him trouble – a line that still sums up the course’s chief defence.

The course and how it plays

This is a high moorland course, and the setting shapes everything. At more than 800 feet, the ground is firm and fast, and the wind is a near-constant companion. The fairways are framed by heather and gorse that punish anything wayward, so position off the tee matters far more than raw length.

The modest yardage is deceptive. With six par 3s, club selection and control of trajectory are tested again and again, and the wind can turn a short iron into a long one within a single round. It is a course that rewards the thoughtful player over the big hitter.

The greens are the heart of MacKenzie’s design. Eleven of them are built in two tiers, with slopes and steps that make finding the correct level essential; miss it and a three-putt is never far away. Add subtle strategic bunkering and the wide, open views that pull the eye from the target, and Teignmouth becomes a far sterner test than the scorecard suggests.

Signature holes

Teignmouth is defined not by one famous hole but by the quality and variety of its par 3s. Three in particular stand out.

Hole 2

A par 3 of around 147 yards from the back tee, the 2nd is a classic MacKenzie short hole. The tee shot must find a raised, two-tier green ringed by bunkers and heather, and landing on the correct tier is everything. Get it right and birdie is on; get it wrong and a fiddly recovery awaits.

Hole 5

Playing a touch longer at roughly 159 yards, the 5th demands careful club selection, especially into the wind. The green is guarded by bunkers and shaped with MacKenzie’s trademark slopes, so accuracy is rewarded and anything short or crooked is quickly punished.

Hole 16

At only about 122 yards the 16th looks straightforward on the card, but it is one of the most talked-about holes on the course. The multi-tier green and encircling bunkers turn a flick with a short iron into a nervy test, and downhill putts can slide away alarmingly. Par here feels well earned.

Why play Teignmouth Golf Club

Few courses combine history, character and a view quite like this. You are playing an almost unchanged Alister MacKenzie design, on high moorland, with the South Devon coast spread out beneath you – a genuine connection to golf’s golden age of architecture.

It also plays fair to all standards. The course is not overlong, several tee options are offered, and the challenge lies in strategy and the greens rather than brute force. Whether you are a low-handicapper chasing your number or a visitor out for a memorable round, Teignmouth delivers.

Clubhouse and facilities

The clubhouse is a welcoming base with wide views over the course and estuary, offering clubhouse dining after a round. There is a well-stocked pro shop for essentials, and the club can be booked for functions and group events.

Practice facilities include a putting green and chipping and practice areas, and PGA coaching is available for players looking to sharpen their game. Trolley and buggy hire, club hire, locker rooms and showers are all on hand for visitors.

Green fees and booking

Visitors are welcome throughout the year, subject to availability, and the club uses an online tee-booking system alongside telephone booking. Rounds are generally cheaper later in the day, with twilight rates offered in the main season.

Green fees typically range from around £30 in the quieter winter months to about £85 at the height of summer, depending on the day and tee time, with reduced junior and twilight rates. A smart-casual dress code applies on the course and in the clubhouse. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Getting there and parking

The course sits up on Haldon Moor, a few miles above Teignmouth town.

• By car: the club is reached off the B3192. From the south, follow the A380 and A381 towards Teignmouth, then join the B3192 and follow signs to the golf club. From Exeter and the north, use the A38 and A380 before turning onto the B3192.
• By public transport: Teignmouth has a mainline railway station on the coastal line, with connections towards Exeter, Newton Abbot and beyond; local bus services also serve the town, with the course a short taxi ride up onto the moor.
• Address and parking: Teignmouth Golf Club, Haldon Moor, Teignmouth, Devon, TQ14 9NY. On-site parking is available for visitors.

Where to stay

The seaside town of Teignmouth is the natural base for a visit, only a few miles down off the moor and packed with places to stay.

In the town itself you will find seafront hotels, guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts within easy reach of the beach and the course. Across the estuary, the village of Shaldon offers a quieter, characterful alternative, while Dawlish and Newton Abbot widen the choice for a longer trip that takes in more of South Devon’s golf and coastline.

What to pack

This is exposed, high moorland, so plan for the weather to change. Bring reliable waterproofs and warm layers even in summer, as the wind at 800 feet can be brisk when the town below is calm.

Pack spikes or good golf shoes for firm, undulating ground, plenty of golf balls for the heather and gorse, sun protection for the open holes, and a distance aid if you like one – judging yardage into the wind on the many par 3s is half the challenge.

Nearby attractions

Conclusion

Teignmouth Golf Club is a small masterpiece – an almost untouched Alister MacKenzie design perched high above the Devon coast, where firm turf, six testing par 3s and eleven cunning two-tier greens ask far more of you than the yardage lets on. Come for the history and the views; leave still thinking about those greens.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Teignmouth Golf Club?

Teignmouth Golf Club was designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie, one of the most celebrated golf course architects in history, whose later work includes Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne. The course opened in 1924 and was built by his brother, C. A. MacKenzie. What makes Teignmouth special is how little it has changed: despite disruption during the Second World War and a change of ownership in the 1940s, the routing remains close to MacKenzie’s original vision. His hallmarks are everywhere, most obviously in the two-tier greens and the strategic, rather than purely penal, character of the design. For anyone interested in golf architecture, it is a rare chance to walk an almost unaltered MacKenzie layout.

What is Teignmouth Golf Club like to play?

Teignmouth is an 18-hole moorland course of around 6,083 yards, playing to a par of 69. Set more than 800 feet above the sea on Haldon Moor, it has firm, fast turf and a links-like openness, with heather and gorse framing the fairways. The course is not long, but it defends itself through the wind, its clever bunkering and above all its greens. Eleven of them are built in two tiers, so finding the right level is essential to avoid awkward putts. With six par 3s, the round tests club selection and control repeatedly. It is a course that rewards thoughtful, accurate golf rather than sheer power, and suits players of all abilities.

Are visitors welcome at Teignmouth Golf Club?

Yes, visitors are welcome throughout the year, subject to tee availability. The club uses an online booking system as well as telephone booking, and rounds are typically available at better value later in the day, with twilight rates in the main season. A smart-casual dress code applies both on the course and in the clubhouse, so it is worth checking the requirements before you travel. Societies and groups are also catered for. Because the course sits on open moorland and is popular with members, booking ahead is sensible, particularly in summer. For the latest availability, current green fees and any seasonal arrangements, check the official website before your visit.

How much are green fees at Teignmouth Golf Club?

Green fees vary by season and time of day. As a guide, they typically range from around £30 in the quieter winter months to about £85 at the height of summer, with reduced twilight and junior rates available. Playing later in the day is generally the most economical option, and the club offers concessions for younger players. Prices change over time, so treat these figures as an approximate guide only rather than a fixed tariff. For the current green fees, twilight arrangements and tee-time availability, check the official website, where the up-to-date seasonal rates and booking options are listed. Buggy, trolley and club hire can usually be arranged when you book.

What are the standout holes at Teignmouth?

Teignmouth is celebrated for its par 3s rather than a single signature hole, and three in particular draw comment. The 2nd, around 147 yards, plays to a raised two-tier green ringed by bunkers, where finding the correct tier is vital. The 5th, roughly 159 yards, is a longer test that demands careful club selection into the wind. The short 16th, only about 122 yards, looks simple on the card but its tiered green and surrounding bunkers make par feel hard-won. Together they show MacKenzie’s genius for making short holes memorable, and they are a big part of why golfers remember a round at Teignmouth long after they leave.

How do I get to Teignmouth Golf Club?

The club sits up on Haldon Moor, a few miles above Teignmouth town, and is reached off the B3192. Driving from the south, follow the A380 and A381 towards Teignmouth and then join the B3192, following signs to the golf club. From Exeter and the north, use the A38 and A380 before turning onto the B3192. By rail, Teignmouth has a station on the scenic coastal main line, with connections towards Newton Abbot and Exeter, and the course is a short taxi ride up onto the moor from the town. The full address is Teignmouth Golf Club, Haldon Moor, Teignmouth, Devon, TQ14 9NY, and on-site parking is available for visitors.

Is Teignmouth Golf Club suitable for beginners?

Yes. While the greens and the wind make Teignmouth a genuine test, the course is not overly long and offers several tee options, so it can be enjoyed by golfers of all standards, including improvers. PGA coaching is available for those wanting lessons, and there are practice areas to warm up on before a round. Beginners will find the strategic, position-based nature of the design more forgiving than a long, narrow championship layout, since accuracy and thought matter more than distance. The friendly moorland setting and manageable yardage make it an encouraging place to develop your game, though newer players should be ready for the two-tier greens, which reward a careful approach.