Goodwood

Goodwood

Goodwood

Goodwood | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

Plenty of people will know Goodwood for its Festival of Speed or its horse racing. However, the West Sussex-based resort finds itself relatively high on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list thanks to its two championship golf courses, delightful accommodation choices, and a wonderful health club and spa facility.  
 
There are two golf courses at Goodwood, with the James Braid-designed Downs Course being the centrepiece. Half of the course plays on top of the Sussex Downs, giving golfers excellent views of the area. The Park Course is the flatter of the two, and is tree-lined, causing golfers a different range of problems during their round! The Academy offers great practice facilities and coaching opportunities.  
 
Golf is not the only sport at Goodwood, with motor racing and horse racing both a staple of the resort’s activities. The Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival are the two big motor racing events each year, while the Goodwood Festival is the horse racing equivalent, a four-day event which runs annually. For those that want to stay active, the Health Club and Spa provide the right atmosphere for just that. A swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym, along with the opportunity to have massages and treatments, are all on offer.  
 
In terms of accommodation, the Goodwood Hotel supplies most of the rooms and suites on the property. The hotel has a range of Signature, Garden and Character Rooms, along with an array of Suites that have separate lounge area to bedrooms. The Peach Tree and Crab Apple Cottages, along with The Pheasantry, add the final piece to the accommodation puzzle at Goodwood, offering self-catering experiences at the resort.  
 
  
Visit the Goodwood website here.  

Goodwood Overview | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

Two Glorious Courses

Goodwood is home to two championship courses, and two vastly different courses at that. The Downs Course, designed by James Braid, has nine holes across the top of the Sussex Downs, while the Park Course is much flatter, lying on the land south of the estate and with plenty of tree-lined fairways.  
 
Downs Course 
James Braid – the man behind Carnoustie and both the King’s and Queen’s at Gleneagles – designed the original layout of the Downs Course at Goodwood. In its 110-year history, the Downs Course has seen several tweaks, with Tom Mackenzie (of Mackenzie & Ebert) overseeing an extensive bunker project. 
 
Their jagged edges, raised lips and shaggy faces now give pronounced and welcome definition to the holes. Not that you’ll be saying that if you finish on top of one (which is worse than being in one). But they are supposed to be hazards, right? 
 
Following the opening six holes, the first of which is a tough 200-yard par 3, the par 4 7th is one of the best on the Downs layout. Having made the trek from the valley up to the Sussex Downs, you are faced with a 470-yard par 4 that usually plays into the prevailing wind. Sweeping right to left, the tee shot must be placed well wide of the large bunker on the inside of the dog-leg – there are no short-cuts here. What you can do with the second (or third) is run one down the hill. Generously, Mackenzie took a bunker out to the left of the green and replaced it with a hollow. Thanks for that, Tom. 
 
Both 14 and 16 are double dog-leg par 5s, but the latter is almost 100 yards longer than the 14th. 14 turns right twice as you reach the westernmost part of the property, while the 16th hits the 600-yard mark and turns right then left, with four bunkers in the landing zone from the tee shot.  
 
Park Course 
The Park Course is much flatter than the Downs, playing at the south of the property. It is a parkland gem, with centuries-old cedar trees lining the fairways throughout the round. It is slightly shorter than the Downs Course, at 6,650 yards, but that does not mean it is any easier, with those trees getting in the way of anything that strays slightly offline. There are also plenty of sand traps to catch wayward shots.  
 
The course only has three par 3s and three par 5s and runs as a Par 72. Only one of those par 5s is more than 500 yards from the tips, and that is the 14th. The 6th is a drivable par 4, measuring less than 300 yards from the back tees, while the final hole of the Park Course offers another birdie opportunity at just 340 yards.  

The Goodwood Hotel

The accommodation at Goodwood comes mainly in the form of the Goodwood Hotel, which has four room and suite options, all of which come with access to the pool and gym, TV, Wi-Fi, room service and much more as standard. 
 
The Signature Rooms are modern and elegant, and the standard offering at the Goodwood Hotel. The Garden Rooms open out onto their own terrace or balcony, while the Character Rooms take you back with 18th Century touches. There is also a selection of Suites on offer at the Goodwood Hotel, with a separate lounge area from the bedroom. 
 
The Peach Tree and Crab Apple Cottages offer a self-catering stay for those that also want that extra level of privacy during their time at Goodwood. These are both dog-friendly properties, with guests also receiving access to the Kennels. The Pheasantry is the biggest property on offer at Goodwood, and it is located by the side of the famous Goodwood Hill Climb. It is a three-bed cottage which is perfect for larger groups.  

Goodwood’s Other Sports

There is obviously plenty to do at Goodwood, and plenty of things that happen at the estate throughout the year. Both the motor racing track and the horse racing track are within a couple of miles of the two golf courses.  
 
Goodwood Racecourse has several events throughout the year, with the Goodwood Festival being the most famous of those. The Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place at Goodwood Motor Circuit each year, while the Goodwood Revival brings back some classic cars to the track.  

Health Club & Spa

After a long day on the golf course, you might fancy a relaxing dip in the pool or spending some time in the sauna. The Health Club at Goodwood is the ideal place for that, with a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and more indoors. There are also plenty of outdoor activities including cycling and walking, while a range of fitness classes can be undertaken. 
 
The spa also offers guests a wide array of massages and treatments, given by a team of qualified therapists and professionals. From de-stressing massages to facial treatments, there is something for everyone on offer at the spa at Goodwood.  

FAQs about Goodwood

Where is Goodwood?  
Goodwood is a few miles inland from the south of England, just outside the town of Chichester. It is 30 minutes from Portsmouth, while Southampton is an hour away. By road, the city centre of London is just 75 miles to the northeast.  

What is the nearest airport and station to Goodwood?
 
Chichester Station is the nearest to Goodwood, four miles from the resort. Trains go through Chichester on routes from Brighton, Southampton, London Victoria and Portsmouth frequently.  
 
Southampton Airport is the closest geographically to Goodwood, around an hour away to the west. However, it is very much a seasonal airport, and only a few flights leave and arrive each day. London Gatwick is the more obvious choice for foreign visitors, with the second busiest airport in the country being just 45 miles to the northeast of the resort.  

What golf facilities does Goodwood offer?
 
Along with two great courses, Goodwood is also home to a golfing academy, where they have a driving range and short game area among their practice facilities.  

Does Goodwood offer golf lessons?
 
Lessons are available for allcomers when it comes to the Golf Academy at Goodwood. From those who have never swung a club before to getting juniors into the game, there are coaching options for all ages and abilities.  

What are the green fees at Goodwood?
 
The price of a green fee at Goodwood changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  
 
For more information on current green fees at Goodwood visit their website here

What accommodation is on offer at Goodwood?
 
Most of the accommodation at the resort comes at the Goodwood Hotel, which has a delightful range of rooms and suites. The Peach Tree and Crab Apple Cottages, along with The Pheasantry, the three-bedroom cottage that sits adjacent to the famous Goodwood Hill Climb.  

What other resorts are nearby?
 
Goodwood is not alone on the south coast when it comes to other venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. Old Thorns, Meon Valley and The Dorset Golf Resort are all within a short drive from the resort.  
 
  
Visit the Goodwood website here.