The two courses at Cottesmore Golf and Country Club have considerably improved since American Golf (UK) began a 15-year operating lease in December, 1998.

Matthew Rogerson, Cottesmore's owner, was happy to sign an agreement with the company, a subsidiary of American Golf Corporation, the world's largest operator that first obtained a toehold in Britain eight years ago. The arrangement suited both parties.

The original 27 holes at Cottesmore which is situated just outside Crawley at Buchan Hill was the concept of Rogerson's late father, Michael. Set in 247 acres of fetching countryside, this wooded haven is but a goodish drive, three wood and mid iron from the M23 with Gatwick some 15 minutes away off the Pease Pottage slip road.

The complex started out in 1975 designated as the Old and the New and the courses were renamed 20 years later as The Griffin and The Phoenix respectively. There was no stinting on finance, at least £1.25m being spent on making Cottesmore an attractive hotel and conference centre modelled on American lines following a visit by Matthew Rogerson to the Carolinas.

An important difference in those formative years was an emphasis on taste and seclusion. Fast-food outlets and similarly less agreeable aspects of the American golfing scene were avoided.

Today there are 12 twin rooms with another five due to be added this winter. Already part of the establishment is the health club, swimming pool, tennis courts and all the facilities associated with an upmarket leisure centre.

So Cottesmore has come a long, long way since Michael Rogerson encouraged boys at Buchan House School, of which he was headmaster, to play golf. To this end he constructed a small course in the grounds adjoining what was to become the golf club. While Matthew looked after the club in those early days, his brother Mark followed father's footsteps into teaching.

And right from the start Cottesmore has devoted particular attention to promoting junior golf. One of the earliest entrants for the girls' competiton was Laura Davies and Cottesmore's junior open tournaments are now part of the holiday calendar.

Slowly but surely Cottesmore has grown. During the early days it didn't take long for the penny to drop that the majority of users were the car boot brigade who spent little apart from their ticket. It took a wee time before throwing off the rougher image of pay and play.

The country club, for instance, was originally the outbuildings of Buchan Hill Farm, but you would not recognise the place from the mid-70s. There was a ready made market for a private club on Crawley's doorstep despite the fact that Ifield and Copthorne were already well established when Cottesmore took shape.

The membership, when only the Old course was in play, soon closed, such was the demand. A breakdown of the figures at the time showed that 60 per cent came from the Crawley area, 30 per cent derived from in and around Horsham and the rest elsewhere.

Now there are 800 golf club members and it is The Griffin (6,248 yards) where most play. The shorter Phoenix is less demanding but, nevertheless, an ideal opportunity for less proficient golfers to enjoy themselves. Calum Callan, the director of golf, is a fervent admirer of the Griffin.

"The brave man, or woman who wants to have a go at every shot, is not going to win there.

"You have to be patient. In that respect it is a very good test."

Business is good, particularly on the Griffin. American Golf (UK) have poured money in, clearing unnecessary undergrowth and shrubbery, carrying out irrigation work on both courses and making the approaches less hard and bouncy.

Improvements have carefully steered clear of any changes to the environment but reducing flooding in heavy wet weather was a priority. Nobody in their right mind would interfere with fairways winding through rhododendrons, silver birch, oak and chestnut. The colours change from mauve in spring to deep gold in autumn.

The lakes are often covered in morning mist as early starters attempt to avoid the magnetic attraction of the water. There is no shortage on the Griffin. Water is encountered as early as the short second where a lake guards the green surrounded by trees.

The shortish par-four sixth calls for exactly the right club. Go too far and the lake comes into play. There is no more water until the 16th when the lake reappears on the right and at the next when a carry of 155 yards must be achieved to avoid reloading. Elsewhere there are plenty of opportunities for long hitters to let go - at their peril.

"I particularly like the 14th which is not an overlong par five," says Callan. "I'm generally looking for a birdie there." However, the difficulty of the course may be judged from the fact that a good golfer like Callan's best efforts are two 67s.

"Wherever you go if you are slightly off-line, you get punished. The fifth, for example, is a very tough drive with the first 150 yards blind and playing into a funnelled fairway. Come here and be patient, that's my advice."

Cottesmore's most spectacular hole is the par four 14th on the Phoenix where an optional tee is sited 12ft UP a birch tree. There is a sign about taking care when ascending the iron spiral staircase. Five years ago the platform was made more secure but no accidents have been reported. The elevated view gives an advantage, but only those with a head for heights should try this novelty.

When introduced as a sort of folly by Michael Rogerson, who hadn't the heart to cut the tree down, it created quite a talking point, but not the only one. Cottesmore was also noted for taking on Mary Holway, the first woman club pro in Britain. Mary is retired now but the tee in the tree remains and does serve a purpose. From the orthodox tee the rise of the ground made the shot blind. You could not see where your ball landed and, worse, another fairway cut across and those on the tee were unable to warn unwary golfers moving into the firing line.