Page 112 - Golf World (February 2020)
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Travel
//PLAY18WHENYOU’REIN... WHERE
DORSET Broadstone TO STAY
Golf Club (#37) The bright lights and
If you find yourself in Thomas Hardy Country, these are the BESTFOR relatively big city of
four key Top 100 courses you should look to be playing. Founded in 1898 and later Bournemouth makes
BUNKERING redesigned by Harry Colt, it a sensible base.
who added seven new holes, Parkstone GC is
Ferndown (Old) (#36) Frank Pont’s more recent practically on your
renovations have seen doorstep and the
A mile or so north of Bournemouth, Broadstone rise further up furthest of the four
Ferndown’s Old course opened in 1913 our rankings. A quintessential courses is a
BESTFOR and boasted Percy Alliss as its club pro heathland affair laid out on 30-minute drive
GREENS for more than a quarter of a century – gloriously rolling terrain, the north. Awash with
homeward nine climbs and
night options, The
this is also the course on which his son
Peter learnt his trade. Relatively short by offers glorious views of Poole Green House and
modern standards, at less than 6,500 Harbour and the Purbeck Hills. Hilton Bournemouth
yards from the medal tees, immaculate Colt’s dramatic bunkering and are two good options.
greens combine with pine trees, heather delicious heather-banked run-
and springy, sandy turf to create an offs are among the many
immensely pleasurable golf experience. delightful features. SEE & DO
www.ferndowngolfclub.co.uk www.broadstonegolfclub.com
A holiday hot spot,
Dorset offers
numerous attractions
for the non-golfer.
Its shoreline is one
of the best in Britain
and includes the
Jurassic Coast, a
World Heritage Site
full of beaches and
bays. The New Forest
is on your doorstep
and a million miles
from life’s chatter
and clatter, while
Iron Age hill forts
and countless
museums offer
options for all ages.
THE FULL SET
If time allows, and
you’re in a completist
frame of mind, factor
in one final round.
The lowest of the
five Dorset courses in
our Top 100 England,
Isle of Purbeck weighs
in at number 69 on the
list. It’s a fun heathland
layout set in a nature
Parkstone GC (#38) reserve overlooking
the Solent and Poole
The highest of the county’s risers in BESTFOR Harbour and worth
our most recent Top 100 (up six a visit for the views
places), Parkstone was laid out by CONDITION alone. Better
Willie Park in 1909 and revised by conditioning would
James Braid in 1932. Their combined have seen it rank
creativity remains largely intact to higher.
this day and Parkstone offers an
engaging mix of holes – from driveable Remedy Oak GC (#54)
par 4s to a brutal uphill par 5 – over
varied heathland and is further Despite only opening for play in late 2005, Remedy
Oak appears mature far beyond its years thanks in
BESTFOR embellished by interesting changes in no small part to 250 acres of ancient woodland in
VARIATION elevation, lakes and mature pines. which it’s set. It’s very different in setting and design
www.parkstonegolfclub.com
to the other Dorset courses on our Top 100 list, but a
strong woodland layout that’s always in excellent
condition. While we marked Remedy Oak down
slightly, noting that “more could have been done with
the land”, it remains a must play if you’re even close to
passing by. www.remedyoak.com
