Parts of Seaford Head Golf Course could be relocated inland as coastal erosion threatens the long-term future of two of the Sussex course’s most iconic holes.
Seaford Town Council, which manages the course, has unveiled proposals to move the existing 17th green and 18th tees further inland in response to the ongoing erosion of the nearby cliffs.
The council says the future of the current holes is becoming “increasingly uncertain” and has been working with specialist golf course architect Gareth Williams of GWD Design over a number of years to develop plans for their relocation.
A Town Council spokesperson said the proposals are designed to secure the long-term future of the two holes while taking into account the area’s environmental, heritage and landscape significance.
“The aim is to secure the long-term future of the course while retaining the character, challenge and playing experience of these iconic holes,” the council said.
The council is now inviting views from golf club members, local residents, visitors and other interested stakeholders before the design is finalised and taken forward for pre-application planning discussions.
The threat from coastal erosion has become increasingly evident at Seaford Head, with several cliff falls reported in recent years.
In February 2024, a substantial section of the chalk cliff collapsed, highlighting the challenges facing the course as the coastline continues to change.
Seaford Head Golf Course has a history dating back to 1887 and occupies a site of considerable historical importance. According to the course, it was built on a Saxon camp dating back to the Iron Age and was later used by the military during the Second World War.
The course is renowned for its spectacular views across the English Channel, Seven Sisters and the South Downs, making it one of the most distinctive golfing locations in Sussex.
The proposals represent another example of golf courses having to adapt to the growing impact of coastal erosion, while balancing the need to protect their future with the environmental and heritage importance of their surroundings.
For Seaford Head, the priority is now to ensure that its famous 17th and 18th holes remain part of the course for generations to come.
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