How do I book a tee time at Downes Crediton?

Visitor tee times can be booked directly through the club's official website or by calling the pro shop. Discounted green fees are also frequently available through third-party platforms such as GolfNow. Booking in advance is recommended, particularly at weekends.

What are the green fees?

Standard visitor green fees start from £28 for 18 holes when booked directly with the club. Discounted rates from around £10 can sometimes be found through GolfNow and similar online booking services. Society packages are also available from around £15 per person.

Is the course open to visitors, or do you need to be a member?

Downes Crediton is open to visitors and does not require club membership to play. The course is open daily and rarely closes except for scheduled maintenance or severe weather conditions.

How do I get there from Exeter?

The club is approximately five to eight miles from Exeter. By train, Crediton station is served by Great Western Railway from Exeter St Davids, with a journey time of around 10 to 15 minutes. Exeter Airport is roughly 12 to 15 miles from the course. The Downes Estate sits just outside the town of Crediton itself.

Where is the best place to stay?

Accommodation is available in Crediton itself, including The Ship Hotel on Union Road. Nearby Exeter, approximately five miles away, offers a wider selection of larger hotel chains and is a convenient base for exploring the surrounding area.

Is the course difficult for a mid-handicapper?

The course is accessible to players of most abilities, but its slope rating of 126 indicates it plays harder than a quick glance at the yardage suggests. The flatter front nine is relatively forgiving, but the hilly, water-laden back nine and the crosswinds that can roll in off the Devon countryside will challenge mid-handicappers, particularly on the long closing holes.

Downes Crediton in Crediton, Devon

02 · The Holes

The signature holes

5 of 5 · tap any hole to watch creators play it

Six holes carry more of the course's weight than the other twelve combined — and the creator vlogs that prove it.

HOLE 4 · par 4 · 430y
The River Hole
A dogleg par 4 whose sting is saved for the approach: the green sits directly on the edge of the River Yeo, leaving no margin for a shot that strays long or right. Club selection and nerves are both tested here.
430 yards · The most consequential approach on the front nine — water is not a background feature, it is the boundary.
HOLE 3 · par 3 · 195y
The Railway Three
A long par 3 played alongside the railway line, shielded by a row of fir trees. Bunkers guard both sides of the green, meaning an accurate tee shot is required even before the crosswind is factored in.
195 yards · One of the few golf holes in Devon where a passing train may serve as the final distraction before impact.
HOLE 8 · par 4 · 325y
The Tiger Line
A short dogleg par 4 that invites a calculated gamble: aggressive players can attack over the trees on the right to cut the corner and leave a simple pitch, while the cautious route demands a precise second from a tighter angle.
325 yards · Risk and reward compressed into 325 yards — one of the most replayable holes on the card.
HOLE 18 · par 3 · 197y
The Closing Three
An uncommon long par 3 finish, played toward the clubhouse with nearly 200 yards of carry required. A satisfying hole when struck cleanly; unforgiving when the pressure of the final shot is felt most acutely.
197 yards · One of the few courses where the 18th hole demands a driver or long iron — and a steady nerve — on a par 3.
HOLE 14 · par 5 · 539y
The Long Haul
The longest hole on the card, threading through the hillier back nine. Elevation change and the cumulative fatigue of a demanding stretch of holes make reaching this green in regulation a genuine achievement.
539 yards · At 539 yards through undulating country, it is the back nine's most physically demanding hole.

Downes Crediton in Crediton, Devon

Why Downes Crediton matters

Estate parkland

River Yeo

Flat out, hilly in

Rare par-3 closer

The signature holes

The River Hole

The Railway Three

The Tiger Line

The Closing Three

The Long Haul

What creators say

Getting on Downes Crediton

Three routes to a tee time

Best time to visit

Famous moments on Downes Crediton

Crediton's first golf club

Estate negotiations begin

Inaugural AGM

Construction commences

Official opening day

First decade celebrated

3D flyover technology introduced

Clubhouse refurbishment

Golden Jubilee

Answered from the library

All 26 vlogs from this course

So — have you played here?