COWDRAY CHOSEN TO HOST MAJOR REGIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Cowdray is set to showcase its major course renovation project this summer as it prepares to host one of the region’s most important golf competitions for the second time in its esteemed history.
Established in 1899 alongside the founding of Sussex County Golf, the Sussex Amateur Championship is the premier event for amateur golfers from West Sussex and East Sussex.
Between Friday, July 4 and Sunday, July 6, the 2025 edition of the historic competition will be played at Cowdray for the second time and the first since 2004 – just a year after the course reopened following a major course renovation project.
The tournament will bring together the finest players from clubs across West and East Sussex as they vie for the prestigious title of county champion on the par-70 course – the beneficiary of a comprehensive makeover by the venue’s expert maintenance team, who overhauled 39 bunkers and landscaping around several greens, and installed a new eco-friendly cart path network.
Tim Allen, director of golf at Cowdray, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the county’s best amateur golfers to Cowdray later this year after being chosen to host the 2025 Sussex Amateur Championship.
“The tournament provides us with a great opportunity to not only showcase our course and fantastic course changes, but to also demonstrate how we can effectively host a large-scale golf tournament here at Cowdray. We are thankful to Sussex County Golf for choosing us to host this wonderful tournament and are already looking forward to July.”
The event will begin with a 36-hole stroke play qualifier on July 4, from which the top 16 players advance to the match play knockout stages over the weekend. The semi-finals and final will be played on July 6, with spectators expected to turn out in force to support their clubmates and witness the crowning of the 2025 county champion. Live scoring will also be available for those following the action from home.
Emma Whitlock, county secretary for Sussex County Golf, said: "After hearing about the exciting course developments planned at Cowdray, we decided to schedule the Sussex Amateur Championship so the club could fully showcase these changes once everything was complete and settled in.
“Having seen some of the improvements firsthand, I can say with confidence that the course promises to be a spectacular venue for our flagship event. We haven’t held the Amateur Championship at Cowdray for many years, and we’re thrilled to return at such a fantastic time for the club."
Cowdray is a 16,000-acre estate nestled amid stunning English countryside just an hour south from London and its major airports. As well as golf, guests can indulge in exquisite accommodation, an award-winning farm shop and one of the world’s leading polo clubs.