It's all about the drive...
- jonace-dicker
- May 20
- 9 min read
'And did those feet in ancient time, walk upon England's mountains green and was the holy Lamb of God on England's pleasant pastures seen.' William Blake
My last post went to some length (unlike too many of my drives!), indeed went out of the way (like too many of my drives!!), to suggest that being outstanding off the tee isn't, on it's own, a guarantee of success.
Data from the professional tours and major championships supports this.
Putts win cups.
And yet...and yet...
There's no golfer I know who doesn't feel properly chuffed about a fairway splitting, yardage munching, club twirling, 'yahoo' of a drive.
I'm right, right?
I'm certainly no big hitter. A flat, slow, half-shoulder turn, 'downland' swing has confined me to appreciating accuracy above distance from the tee.
But sure I've hit the odd decent one.
That rare event when the ball leaves the club from a properly 'middled' upward strike, flying high and straight into the precise bit of airspace I'd actually aimed for! And when it eventually hits the fairway, the ball, still smarting from being slapped good and hard, releases its' pent up anger in the form of top spin which translates to an additional 50 yard gain. It rolls on and on as it advances ever nearer towards the green...finally coming to rest in the perfect lie, 80 yards (?!) passed my playing companions.
If you've played a bit of golf you'll have hopefully, occasionally, enjoyed such an experience. And most of us, knowing that we can't (with any certainty!) repeat the mechanics of that 'monster strike', set off down the fairway enjoying our fleeting 'big hitter' status whilst modestly (or not!) taking the praise from our golf buddies.
Of course when we're finally reunited with our 'over achieving' ball, and are entertaining thoughts of following up that crunching drive with world class approach play, we often mess up the next shot.
But hey, whatever else happens...what about that drive eh!
And 'what about that drive' has tee'd up a segue to the real focus of this piece.
It's something I've been intending to write about for some time, but has nothing to do with my swing.
In recent years it's become increasingly evident (to me) that my best drive happens long before I reach the first tee whenever I play at Eastbourne Downs Golf Course.
I count myself very lucky to have a route that guarantees a spectacular drive every time.
The 'card for this course' is about as scenic as you can get in my neck of the woods.
Frankly there are just too many great images, iconic landmarks and spectacular views on the journey to describe in one short post.
All I can do is try and find a few words and pictures that might do it some justice.
And as a proxy for the 19 holes (18 plus one for the clubhouse) of a more conventional course, I've limited the remainder of this piece to 19 photos.
The journey starts from the heart of Upper Dicker.
Here, for a few hours a month, 'Golf101's' alter-ego, 'Gardening101', can be found tending the lavender, olive trees, roses, and honeysuckle that frame a well used Village Green bedecked with circular picnic tables and raised herb beds.
Heading out of Upper Dicker the road rises gently and reaches its high point as Coldharbour Road becomes (the 'topographically' named) High Barn Road, and my drive enjoys a first view of the South Downs and Cuckmere Valley.
Butts' Brow ('Titter ye not' ) is just about visible to the left, some seven miles distant on the horizon. The more childish and literal among you will be somewhat disappointed to learn that the name Butt's Brow doesn't translate to 'a strip of hair above the backside'! No, in this instance a 'butt' was an area of raised ground banked up behind archery targets for the purpose of stopping wayward arrows. Back in the middle ages, when archery practice was mandated, Butt's Brow was where the menfolk of Eastbourne gathered to practice accuracy and distance, but with bow and arrow rather than driver and golf ball!
I head through (blink and you'll miss it) Wick Street and then in about a mile the drive passes to the right of Arlington Reservoir before descending into the village of Berwick.
A pleasant, but for the most part architecturally unremarkable village, Berwick does have a tidy, rural, railway station, but (for me) it's another building that stands out.
On the approach to the level crossing situated at the southern end of the village, a handsome, 'single pitch' roofed construction has been the home of Berwick Service Station (and latterly also a work shop for classic car restoration) since 1908. Why single this out? It reminds me of a toy garage my grandfather made over 80 years ago. Along with a collection of well worn, Dinky and Matchbox cars that garage remains in my Dad's possession and is still being used by the very youngest members of the family to this day.
Upon leaving Berwick, a glance to the right will deliver a view of the slopes and hills that adjoin a local popular walking spot (and occasional classic car 'hill climb' location) - 'Bo Peep'.
Yes you will find sheep at the top of the hillside there.
Butts Brow to the left, Bo-Peep to the right, and between these two large and lofty sections of Sussex Downland a carpet of green fields, trees and hedgerows.
The rolling hills to the right provide a stunning backdrop to the villages of Alciston, Selmeston, West Firle and Alfriston whilst simultaneously screening the landscape from the coast just a few miles to the south
And from here it's evident that the road is heading on a path that will have it navigating a way through the valley ahead, mirroring the route of the River Cuckmere as it wends towards the sea.
Within a mile of leaving Berwick the Downs loom ever larger as the drive crosses the A27 and enters the South Downs National Park.
Most travellers on this stretch of road will continue on to the village of Alfriston but that's not my route.
The road less travelled is the one I'm taking.
And it really is worth the odd pothole or wait for oncoming traffic when the road occasionally narrows. Because a left turn into Lullington Road, about 1/4 mile before Alfriston, marks the start of fifteen minutes of quite joyous scenery.
It begins with a tree lined lane punctuated half way along with a narrow bridge that crosses the Cuckmere river.
Lullington Road and bridge over the Cuckmere looking towards Alfriston Church
A right turn at Milton Street brings the road parallel to the river's course and passes a few hundred yards behind the village of Alfriston.
A view of the rear of the village's Church of St Andrew is presented above the hedgerow, its flint walls and central spire a striking contrast to the greenery of the surrounding countryside.
Alfriston Church
And behind the hedge on the other side of the road, a few hundred yards up the hill, sits The Church of the Good Shepherd. It's the smallest church in Sussex, with seating for a congregation no greater than twenty. My good mate Mark could entertain more people than that around his kitchen island!
The drive continues onward along the Lullington Road. To the left, fields of green are interspersed with the vivid yellow of slopes planted to rapeseed.
And then the drive does a dog-leg left and climbs about thirty feet on the approach to Littlington. In springtime this stretch of road is characterised by verges festooned with bluebells, daffodils and elderflower.
Just before entering the village proper you drive passed the Long Man Brewery at Church Farm. Here visitors can enjoy a decent coffee and sandwich at the cafe, while at the Brewery Shop and Tasting Rooms you can become acquainted with a fine range of beers. The signature Long Blonde lager and award winning Long Man Best Bitter are particular favourites.
Long Man Brewery
Flint walls and laurel hedges signify the drive is passing through the pretty residential part of the village.
Littlington
The Plough and Harrow offers a decent pint and ploughman's, but not at the time I am usually passing...I'm on the way to an early morning tee time at EDGC!
And so the drive leaves Littlington with the road turning right then immediately left, descending from the village's slightly elevated position above the valley. Once again the road is back almost on a level with the river and with no more building line to hide the scenery the Downs come into panoramic view once more.
Caution!! Enjoying the landscape here may come at a cost to local amphibian life!
Late evenings in early Spring will often see frogs and toads crossing the road between the Friston Forest on one side and the marshy wetlands on the other. So please remember to keep your eyes peeled!
For those travellers still able to enjoy the scenery (while maintaining appropriate levels of froggy vigilance) Hindover Hill is now visible on the far side of the valley.
Most locals refer to it as Hi'nd'over (High-and-Over), a fitting name given the steep rise of the Alfriston Road to it's summit, before going 'over the top', the prelude to a gentle run down to the coastal town of Seaford.
That all takes place on the other (western) side of the tor from here.
Visible on the east side, our side, is a large (66 foot tall) chalk horse.
For the next mile of the journey he is ever present. His prancing profile allows you to imagine that he's trotting alongside the top of the escarpment. An inquisitive guardian of the hillside, intent upon escorting you off of his turf and back on to your own fairway.
And what 'turf' it is!! The Cuckmere Valley is laid out before our chalky 'grey' companion in all its glory. It's a visually stunning ecosystem.
We're well into the 'back nine' of the drive at this point with marshland and woodland accompanying the road all the way to Exceat and the Seven Sisters Country Park.
Yet stunning as it is, this stretch of countryside is often dismissed as a prelude to the iconic scenery ahead.
For as the drive arrives at its closest point to the sea we are greeted by the truly breath taking landscape of the Cuckmere delta!
It's a distinctive and uplifting view.
The Cuckmere Estuary, oxbow lakes, meanders, Lighthouse Keeper's Cottages, English Channel and Seven Sisters Cliffs...all in one frame - wow!
And all of that is followed by a couple of miles of quite stunning Downland scenery as the drive turns left at Exceat and begins the climb towards Friston.
For much of the remainder of the journey my drive is gaining height, climbing over 500 feet by the time it reaches its final destination. The steady rise of the road, and proximity to the coast, combine to ensure that the sea now contributes an intermittent backdrop to the view.
The picturesque villages of Friston and East Dean are reached to the eastern end of Friston Forest. Friston sits atop the western hillside of a dry valley in which its near neighbour lies.
The road dips in to and straight back out of the valley and once again begins a steep ascent.
And when I reach it's zenith I know, just like out on the golf course, my drive will soon be at an end.
A quick look to the left and, a few fields away, the thirteenth and ninth greens of the golf club are visible. A few hundred yards later and the practice range and the eighteenth fairway are in view, and then, finally cresting the hill, my drive has reached it's target.
I turn in to the car park at Eastbourne Downs G.C., grab my clubs and walk up to the club house.
A brief pause here, looking down over Eastbourne, and I'm provided with one last great view to complete my journey.
And now whatever else happens when I walk through those doors and eventually get on to the course...
What about that drive eh.
Postscript
This post is dedicated to the memory of Bob Poll.
No finer golfing companion and peddler of fruit based Hungarian brandy could any man ask for.
Bob's mastery of the guitars' three primary chords (E, A7 and B7) was, to my mind, an underestimated and underappreciated talent. His soulful renditions of 'Heartbreak Hotel' delivered (and endlessly repeated) to an eager audience of Elvis impersonators (or Vikings or Mexican bandits...) are unquestionably some of the finest solo musical performances never to have graced the Function Rooms at Top Meadow Golf Club and Hotel. Impromptu, impressive and no ticket required...you just had to be lucky enough to be there.
"Thanks Bob", so many happy recollections of time spent in your company.
Bob will be greatly missed by Golf101 and all of his friends from the Swindle, Top Meadow and Git Cups down the years.
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