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.

 
         
 
HOTELS
  
         
 
Harbour Heights Hotel, Poole
 
     
 
 
     
 
With breathtaking views over Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island, the Best Western Harbour Heights Hotel provides luxurious accommodation for the most discerning guests. Built in the 1920’s and completely renovated in 2003, this hotel offers contemporary elegance with a classic Rhode Island twist. With fresh stylish interiors, individually commissioned furnishings and artwork, this property is truly unique – one of the best of a new breed of luxury boutique hotels, where guests can take in the superb views. Ample free on-site parking is provided.  Strolling along the seafront and the miles of glorious sandy beaches, and taking in the fresh air and unique atmosphere is a joy of visiting Sandbanks, and what better way of making the most of your time here than with a stay in one of the region’s premier four star hotels. In addition to the Harbour Heights Hotel’s elegant accommodation, it also offers celebrated cuisine in its stylish sea view restaurant and relaxed brasserie.
  
     
 
Sandbanks Hotel, Poole
 
     
 
 
     
 
Step out of The Sandbanks straight onto a Blue Flag beach. Miles of golden sand. Fabulous views. Plenty to see and do.  Exceptional leisure facilities. Mouth watering food in the restaurant or the unique Sands brasserie. Or drinks on the Terrace at the water’s edge, watching the setting sun. A very special hotel in an enviable location. Take advantage of the long, hot summer days with an alfresco lunch on the terrace overlooking the sea or watch the ever changing sea-scape from the Peninsula Suite. During the crisp winter months, following an after-dinner stroll along the award-winning beach, relax with a coffee and a good book in the charming Sandbanks Suite where you may warm yourself in front of the roaring fire. Choose between the unique Sands Brasserie, right on the beach or the fabulous Seaview Restaurant where you can enjoy a superb dinner, while looking out over the magnificent Poole bay. All the rooms at The Sandbanks are appointed to the highest standards. The majority boast either magnificent sea views over Poole Bay or stunning views over Poole Harbour. Balconies are a feature of many rooms, whether Standard or Superior.
  
     
 
Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth
  
     
 
 
     
 
This lovely hotel with comfortable accommodation and convenient facilities offers excellent value for money. Overlooking beautiful beaches, the Cumberland Hotel is situated on the prestigious East Cliff and is a short walk from the vibrant centre, gardens and pier.The traditional black oak panelled walls with glitzy mirrors Mirabelle restaurant offers superb global cuisine cooked from local fresh produce, The Del Mar Lounge is ideal for a relaxing cocktail, espresso with fresh ground beans or take lunch al fresco on their poolside Lido Deck with chill beds. If more choice is what your looking for, both The Suncliff and The Cliffeside offer chef driven restaurants where you can reserve a table or maybe take a cocktail in their seafront conservatory bar or ocean view harbour bar. With its unique location, many of the 106 traditional yet modern rooms offer sea views and balconies, all rooms have television, hair dryer and hot drinks refreshment tray.
  
     
         
 
GOLF
  
         
 
 

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

  
         
 
 
         
         
         
 
GOLF PARKSTONE, GOLF FERNDOWN, GOLF BROADSTONE, GOLF HAYLING, GOLF LITTLEHAMPTON, GOLF PURBECK