Parkstone Golf Club is one of the finest venues on the south coast of England, situated between Poole and Bournemouth and just nine miles from the nearest international airport. 

The club was founded in 1909 by Lord Wimborne, who has acquired his wealth from managing the iron works in Merthyr Tydfil. Parkstone has gone on to become one of the best heathland courses in the country.

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Parkstone Golf Club was founded by Lord Wimborne in 1909. Willie Park Jr, a multiple-time winner of the Open Championship was the man brought in to design the course. Local architect Walter Andrew designed the clubhouse. 

The first ball was hit at Parkstone in May 1910, with the first reported match seeing a Parkstone team take on a team from Bournemouth Golf Club, with the visitors taking the spoils.

1932 saw James Braid come to Parkstone and make changes, with several holes on the front nine being altered in some way. 

Parkstone then became a members' club for the first time at the start of the 1960s, with plenty of changes happening away from the course. The club reduced the number of committee members in 1992, with women also becoming full members with equal playing rights and subscription fees shortly after.

The par-72 layout at Parkstone is short of 6,300 yards, with the three par-5s on the front nine all being shy of 500 yards, and therefore solid birdie chances. With tight fairways and plenty of bunkers waiting for errant shots, it is a tough test of golf.

The course starts with a gentle 350 yard par-4, with a bunker in the middle of the fairway at the 285 yard mark. A drive short of that leaves a simple wedge into the green, for what could be an opening birdie. The 2nd is a par-3 measuring just 165 yards with a bunker short and left. At 495 yards, the par-5 3rd is another birdie chance, with the 4th being a driveable par-4 at just 284 yards long.

Another short par-4 follows before the dog-leg left par-5 6th. The fairway is split in two, dissected by a row of rough and heather at the 290 yard mark. Big hitters can definitely reach in two. The par-3 7th is followed by another short par-4 at just 341 yards. The opening nine at Parkstone concludes with another par-5, but beware for the big hitters. Out of bounds looms all the way down the right hand side. 

The hardest hole on the course opens up the back side of the golf course, before the fourth par-5 on the property. At just 510 yards, it is another that can be reachable in two if the wind is in your favour. The 12th could be driveable for the big hitters at just 320 yards long, but trees and bunkers guard the green. Another short par-4 follows before the first par-3 on the back nine, the 14th. It is 164 yards, but the green is long and thin, and requires a very accurate shot to find the dance floor.

The 15th is the hardest hole on the back nine and starts the closing stretch. It is one of the narrowest holes on the golf course. The shortest par-3 on the course is the 16th at just 142 yards, but it is downhill so it plays even less. Beware of out of bounds long. The par-5 17th measures just over 500 yards before the closing 200 yard par-3 to finish. Five bunkers, heather and trees line the hole, a true climax to a great golf course.

Parkstone Golf Club is located on the south coast of England, between Poole and Bournemouth. The club is situated an hour from Southampton, and has good transport links for international visitors, including flights and ferries.

Both Bournemouth and Southampton have airports, but the majority of flights from these two are short-haul. Visitors from further afield may find it easier to fly into either London Heathrow or London Gatwick. Both are around two hours from Parkstone by car.

Visitors are only able to play at Parkstone throughout the week, with a green fee throughout the summer months (May-September) costing £160. In the shoulder months of April & October, to play at Parkstone will cost £105.

Visit Parkstone's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.