Broadstone (Dorset) Golf Club

Played Broadstone in October this year, what a superb golf course! I've played many of the Uk's top 100 courses and I have to say Broadstone is up there with the best of them. The layout is huge and you feel that you are the only person on the course, especialy on the back nine. The condition was superb and the greens were amongst the truest I have had the pleasure of putting on. Every hole on the course is strong but for me the most memorable was the 7th (stroke index 1), which I managed to par! Another "top drawer" hole is the 13th which is rightly rated as one of the best par 4's in the country. What also added to our visit was the welcome from the pro shop team and the way the staff in the clubhouse looked after us, it was a first class day for all of our party. It is well worth it's place in the top 100 and in my opinion is comfortably a top 50 venue. STUNNING.

Played here in late March. The course was an absolute pleasure to play and the greens were in great condition for the time of year. 7th and 14th were stand out holes, with the latter giving you a great view of the surrounding area off the tee. The members we met were very friendly and were keen to hear our thoughts on the course. Can't be many better heathland courses in the country than Broadstone. As part of our trip to Dorset we also played Remedy Oak - a very different type of course, which has also been ranked in the Top 100. Remedy was great and looks very pretty but Broadstone would get my vote as the better course. More of an old-style, traditional course and the greens played miles better.

Played here February , 2010 . Although i was glad to have played here i'm not sure if i'd want to play it again. The course has a 'big' feel to it ,covering a large area of land with not many parallel up & down holes .It's also fairly undulating & factor in quite a lot of walking between greens & tees ,few flat holes & walking up the steep hill at 12 it felt as if you were coming to the end of the round ,not midway through the back 9 .Also 6 of the last 7 holes are par 4's which added to the feeling of it being a long walk round . The par 3's were all medium/long irons & there was only one short par 4 & no strategic ones. Favourite/notable holes were 3 ,5, 7 ,9 & 14 but there were too many uninspiring holes here for me. This is a very tranquil place to play ,there's an unusual entrance road to the club through a housing estate which makes you think you've gone wrong but overall ,although it's highly regarded ,i found the course to be more hard work than fun . Kevin B.

I noticed that Broadstone has been dropped out of the "Top 100 Courses" this year. If there are 100 better courses they must be really great. We played in their 4 ball B/B open for many years but have been unable to get in for the last few. No doubt the fantastic value (approx £35 with a meal) has encouraged many to enter. The course itself is wonderful starting with the view up the first from the balcony. It plays longer than it's yardage and is a stern test for a medium to high handicapper. The 5th is a very short par 4 which many players can drive. Unfortunately for me there are some cavernous bunkers about 200 yards off the tee which I can no longer carry. The 7th is either one of the greatest holes you will ever play or "mickey Mouse" according to your personal taste. There is trouble everywhere and to reach the green will demand 2 of the best shots you will ever play. Being at Broadstone is like being in golfing paradise. Playing it is another matter. Like all great golf courses it is very unforgiving and a bad day here could turn into a nightmare of lost balls and monumental scores. Even then it is a beautiful place just to be. As an ageing 16 handicapper I find that this course invariably wears me down with it's relentless demand for one great shot after another. Don NOT miss the opportunity to play Broadstone.

What a grear golf course! From start to finish this oozed class, from the well thought out layout to the condition. This course has gone down in my top ten inland courses. well done Broadstone!

Played Broadstone on Friday 6th June 2008 and thoroughly enjoyed it. The course is definitely one of, if not, the best in the area (I have played Parkstone, Ferndown and several other courses in the area). Careful thought is required on several holes and danger lurks on every hole if you stray too far off the fairway. Local knowledge is a distinct advantage particularly on the 7th. The greens were fast and true and the overall presentation of the course was a credit to the Greens staff and committee of the club. All of the staff and members I met were welcoming and helpful. Comfortable modern clubhouse with good food and prices were reasonable. This is a must play if you are in the area.

Played here a couple of weeks ago with the Dark Destroyer and this classic heathland track that was partly designed by Harry Colt has gone straight into my Top 10. It may not last there forever as I gradually get round to (or rather get to afford!) some of the 'bigger' courses, but rest assured this is a really solid and attractive layout that will give a stiff test of your game. After a fairly unspectacular first hole (the 18th is the only other memorably weak one), the course works its way up to the top of the heath, and then winds its way back down and around again after the turn. One of the most attractive features is that virtually each hole (apart from the 1st and 18th) sits in its own secluded setting, out of sight of any of the others – for the most part, there's a real sense of seclusion here, with the holes framed by pine, heather and birch. With the exception of the 7th (a real brute of a par 4, with a great second shot over a valley – great if you can pull it off that is) there aren't any really exceptional holes – but there are a lot of very strong ones, including the 2nd and 3rd (demanding uphill par 4 with testing second shot, followed by lovely driving hole with approach over water), 8th (beautifully sited long par 3) 12th (one of the best uphill par 4s I've played), 14th (an excellent short par 4 – watch the sloping lie for your second) and the testing par 4 16th, that's not entirely dissimilar to the 17th at Pulborough, especially with the cross bunkers. The overall course condition was good and the fact that it's generally quite firm and fast lends itself to some creative shotmaking on certain holes, which adds another dimension to it. The welcome was friendly and there are also reasonable practice facilities too. There was just one main downside. This is fast becoming a bugbear of mine and to be fair Broadstone is by no means the only offender, but why oh why do some courses persist in relegating all visitors to the yellow tees, while members can play off the whites? Fair enough if the whites are solely preserved for competitions. But to have a scenario where you can have low single figure players being forced to play off the yellows just because they're visitors, while 18 handicappers hack it off the whites because they are members is frankly absurd and smacks of petty-mindedness. Obviously we all know the reason – it's to lend a supposed 'exclusiveness' to being a member. But frankly, if there was any sense in this game, if members of any handicap are allowed off the whites then any visitor who produces a handicap certificate with a single digit on it should be allowed off the whites as well. Unfortunately, as many of us experience too often, golf (and in particular the administration of it at club level) is not a game where sense always prevails. For the record, the pro quite clearly thought it was daft and shrugged his shoulders in a resigned way, saying "that's the rules." A real shame because I wouldn't mind going back. 9.2/10 'Young P'

Played here as part of a package of five courses played in and around the Bournemouth area during the heat wave of our summer this year. This was number two on our list, partly because of the very favourable comments posted on this site all ready, and our experience last year when we played it for the first time. We were warned when we booked 6 months in advance, that the week we had chosen, was scheduled for hollow tineing and top dressing of the greens, and a discount of £10:00 off the green fees was offered, and we accepted that we might have to play to a temporary green or two. Half way through our round we did indeed see one green being thus treated, but, by the time we reached it, it was very difficult to believe the work had been carried out that morning, as it was immaculate and a credit to the hardworking staff. I echo everything said by others as to the quality and layout of this course, it is truly a “must play” course and I envy the members. However, I would take issue on the comments made about the seventh hole, having now played it twice, I think it is capable of spoiling a good round by its degree of difficulty, and can remain in ones mind for the wrong reasons. But go and play it and form your own opinion. The club house offers a good range of food and drinks to be enjoyed sitting out on the balcony watching others finish their round on the 18th below.

Played Broadstone for the first time on May 16th. Started in a deluge which continued for the first 4 holes, and although one of the greens was understandably holding a bit of water the course remained playable. The rain soon abated and with that, my mood lifted and the views around the course revealed themselves. What a course! Not the longest, but with several par 4s over 400 yards and par 3s ranging upto 190 yds, not a doddle either. Narrow undulating fairways edged with heather, gorse and a generous helping of trees require well placed tee shots in order to give yourself a chance of getting close the green. And as for the greens, I have never played on greens in such great condition so early in the year. They were firm (despite the earlier rain), fast and smooth. All I can say is that I hope to return soon with a group of friends to play at Broadstone, the neighbouring Ferndown and hopefully the Isle of Purbeck. Lovely!!

Loved every second spent at Broadstone, although this was often in quite a masochistic way. An extremely challenging heathland course, in lovely condition with some fantastic views. Round started with a relatively short-playing par 5 but accuracy at a premium (take care of the grass snakes in the stream on the right of the fairway!!). 2nd required a long second uphill to a plateau green. The good holes continued (bar the short 5th where ignoring the pro-tip is sound advice - hit to the right on a sloping, rock-hard fairway?) until you reach the amazing 7th - all credit to anyone who scores well on their first attempt. Some lovely par 3s and a fantastic finish from the 13th onwards. Really really enjoyed Broadstone, possibly too hard for a high-handicapper but definitely worth a visit for everyone else.

Played this course on 26th September in company with 15 pals. It is absolutely glorious and in beautiful condition. Every hole is different and presents its own challenge. Of particular note is the stroke 1 7th where a well placed drive sets up a long second over a valley to a compact green. Strongly recommended for an absorbing game.

Excellent Heathland course - not woodland Paul! Green Fee now £35, I think it is a good as Ferndown - certainly more challenging - worth a visit - watch out for the 7th - a real challenging par 4

Beautiful old woodland course. Average difficulty and in great condition when visited in June. All the holes are different with plenty of opportunities to get into trouble. Everyone was friendly, I can recommend the bacon sandwich before you start.\r\nYou must play if you are in the area. Only Ferndown is better. They ought to put the price up.\r\nYou may even see the odd deer.