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We visit one of the South East's best parkland courses as we head to Sussex's 103-year-old Mannings Heath Golf Club.

One of two clubs in the Exclusive Hotels group, Mannings Heath GC is set in 500 acres of rolling Sussex downland.

The club features two courses, the pay-and-play green fee Kingfisher and the original, members-only Waterfall course.

The Waterfall is a classy and varied layout, designed back in 1905 - although the architect remains unknown to this day. Following the undulating contours of the South Downs, it is an interesting mix of heathland, open downland and wooded parkland with wide-ish fairways and criss-crossing streams.

The first tee is in the shadow of the fabulous 17th century clubhouse, part of which originates from a wonderful old country mansion, and is the winner of the Clubhouse Magazine award for Clubhouse of the Year 2007.

The Waterfall is a stimulating and challenging design throughout, but the club are rightly most proud of their par-threes. The 'Devil's Punchbowl' fifth, played from an elevated tee to a green surrounded by steep banks on all sides, and the 'Waterfall' 10th, another steep drop alongside a delightful waterfall, are two memorable one-shot holes.

Meanwhile, the 14th tee, another par three, features a memorial plaque commemorating the place where a RAF bomber crashed during World War II. It is unknown whether the divot was ever replaced

The Waterfall is not the longest layout in the South East, but the design and terrain is such that it remains a challenge throughout, with accuracy from the tee and a good golfing brain required to score well.

Drainage rarely seems to be a problem, meaning the course plays almost as well in winter as it does in summer, and the greens have recently been redesigned to bring them up to USGA specifications and match the superb quality of the rest of the course.

Overall: A very classy golf club, featuring probably the best course in Sussex and a splendid and charismatic clubhouse. The course, well maintained and visually stunning in places, can be steep and a tough walk in places, so a buggy might be needed.

Favourite hole: The 11th, a short, tight par-four with shades of Augusta. Your drive needs to split a narrow fairway flanked by trees on both sides and a stream running down the left, with your second to a green tucked away to the left behind several overhanging trees.

Value for money: The Waterfall is members-only so to play here you'll need to be a friend of a member or guest at the nearby South Lodge Hotel, although the course is also available for corporate days. However, the second, newer Kingfisher course is available on green-fee rates and the club offer some startlingly good deals - such as £12.50 per round through the winter.

Details: Mannings Heath Golf Club, Hammerspond Road, Mannings Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PG

Website: www.exclusivehotels.co.uk

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport