In Volume 1 of The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses, Tom Doak published that.

“Far and away the best “downland” course I’ve seen in the UK, the course occupies a magnificent prospect high on a hill above the Bristol Channel, with great views across a long range of dunes toward Porthcawl to the north from the strong 1^st and 2^nd holes. The course is plenty long and demanding as well, with a profusion of gorse at the margins and a strict par of 70, but there are many outstanding holes to be savored, in particular the long par-3 7^th and the double-decked fairway of the 18^th. Not to be missed if you get as far as Porthcawl.”

Southerndown received a score of 6 out of 10 from Tom Doak, and from two of his co-authors.