Mannings Heath set for Women's Amateur Stroke Play

England's top female amateurs will travel to Mannings Heath Golf Club in Sussex to contest the 2013 English Women's Amateur Stroke Play Championship from August 6-8

Mannings Heath Golf Club Waterfall Course

England's top female amateurs will travel to Mannings Heath Golf Club in Sussex to contest the 2013 English Women's Amateur Stroke Play Championship from August 6-8.

England Golf has created a composite course for the occasion, stretching Manning's Waterfall Course to 6,125 yards.

England Elite star Alex Peters won the title by six strokes last year, but she'll face stiff competition from the likes of 2012 runner-up Charlotte Thompson, Hayley Davis, Gabriella Cowley, Sammy Fuller and Inci Mehmet as she attempts to defend her crown.

The Waterfall Course - a heathland/downland hybrid - is set over 500 acres of rolling Sussex countryside, and should present a stern test for England's top ladies.

"To be chosen to host such a prestigious championship is a great honour and privilege for Exclusive Golf," said Steve Slinger, general manager at Mannings Heath.

"The Waterfall Course is held in great regard by golfers across the south of England. It is in fantastic condition and, with the way it's going to be set up, the players will be playing a truly unique course in what is a spectacular setting for golf."

Mannings Heath is owned by Exclusive Golf, a subset of Exclusive Hotels, alongside the Manor House Golf Club in Castle Combe, near Bath.

Solheim Cup star Trish Johnson, Rebecca Hudson and teenage sensation Charley Hull have all won the English Women's Amateur Stroke Play Championship in the past.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x