If you're after great value golf Southern England offers you a mixture of genuinely good links courses, offering some fantastic views over the English Channel, with some of the best downland and heathland courses in the whole of the UK - the 3 courses just outside Bournemouth - Parkstone Golf Club, Ferndown Golf Club and Broadstone Golf Club being 3 of the most highly rated courses and long-time favourites of TV commentator, Peter Alliss. In addition, the two links courses at Hayling Golf Club, Littlehampton Golf Club and the seaside heathland at Isle of Purbeck Golf Club will challenge every aspect of your game, and offers you some stunning views along this most English of seaside locations.

Hayling

Hayling Island Golf club is set upon a Site of Special Scientific Interest, on the South West peninsular of Hayling Island. To the south, there are superb, panoramic views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Hayling Island Golf Club was founded in 1883 and has lost nothing of its ancient charm. The ground gently undulates between the dunes. There are, however, a number of semi-blind approach shots, making club selection challenging, especially when the wind is up.  There is an overwhelming feeling of naturalness at Hayling and often the course appears slightly unkempt. We can forgive them for this, because Hayling is a friendly and open club. They allow people of all standards to play here during the summer season. The stunning clubhouse at Hayling is very reminiscent of the famous art deco 19th at Royal Birkdale, but without doubt, the panorama from the upstairs bar at Hayling is second to none.    

Littlehampton

For a long time while golf was burgeoning all over the country, the best and most experienced professional golfers were called in to advise on laying out or altering courses. Among them were Old Tom Morris, Willie Park Jnr, James Braid and J. Taylor. However, it has been established that when one of the first golf architects, FG Hawtree (1883-1955), took JH Taylor into partnership in the early 1920s, one of their first assignments was to alter nine holes at Littlehampton. The par is 70, but if anyone thinks that this course will give you a flattering score, a visit to consult the honours board in the clubhouse should give you another, more realistic, opinion.Littlehampton Golf Club is a wonderful venue with great history.

Isle of Purbeck

Bournemouth is not necessarily regarded as the most popular location for a serious golfing break, but there are some fantastic courses to be played and we think that the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club is one of the very best.  The view from the Isle of Purbeck’s elevated 5th tee is worthy of the green fee by itself; it’s one of the most scenic tee shots in the whole of the British Isles. The vista from the Isle of Purbeck golf course is breathtaking, for the course is positioned on a high heathland plateau and the 360-degree panorama continually interrupts one’s concentration of the game at hand. To the south across the Solent is the Isle of Wight, to the east across Poole Bay is Bournemouth, to the north across Poole harbour is Brownsea Island and Poole Harbour beyond and lying to the west, the Purbeck Hills. If there is a golf course where you could drag your non-golfing partner along, this is it. He or she will be more than happy to drink in the views.

Broadstone

Originally known as the Dorset Golf Club & re-designed by Harry Colt, Broadstone Golf Club became a quintessential heathland course and little has changed since. The course is laid out on glorious rolling terrain. The elevated homeward nine provides panoramic views of the Purbeck Hills and Poole Harbour. Measuring 6,315 yards from the back tees and 5,467 yards from the forward tees, Broadstone is not a championship layout. Having said this, a number of important amateur tournaments have been held here, testing some of the very best golfers. And although Broadstone cannot offer length from the tee, it can offer beauty, with profusion of heather, gorse, birch and pines. In many ways, Broadstone is a shorter, cross between Sunningdale and Walton Heath. High praise indeed.

Ferndown

Set in the beautiful landscaped Dorset countryside, Ferndown Golf Club has earned the reputation as one of the best private members clubs in the country, and it’s easy to see why! A classic heathland links of 27 holes cut through natural heathland has earned the reputation as one of the finest and most interesting. The Club is steeped in history and tradition and has played host to a number of major tournaments including the Hennessey Cup, Weetabix Ladies British Open, and the De Vere Seniors Classic where the likes of Faldo, Norman, Langer and many more have all played. We strongly recommend that you visit Ferndown Golf Club and experience it for yourself.

Parkstone

Parkstone golf club, one of the most prestigious courses in the south of England, was designed in 1909 by former Open champion Willie Park Junior. In 1937, James Braid, the legendary golf course architect, redesigned it, making it significantly larger. Curiously, the course was one of the first in the country to install an automatic irrigation system which provides good drainage and dry greens during the winter season, so all year playability is virtually guaranteed. A traditional heathland course, the fairways are lined with wild heather - notoriously difficult to play from should your shot end up amongst it - and large pine trees are a further striking yet imposing obstacle. With panoramic views over Poole Harbour in Dorset