Ferndown Golf Club

Ferndown Golf Club, Ferndown, South West, England, BH22 8BU

01202 653950 | E-mail golf course | Golf course website

12 reviews of Ferndown Golf Club

Played here in last years 4BBB in their festival of golf. Its one of the finest courses in the area if not the south of England, greens were amazing, true and fast and the course is very pretty and pleasing to the eye. Both the food and welcome was what you would expect from a top 50 club. If your ever in the area play Ferndown, you wont regret it.

Posted by kirk Pitman on 14/01/2016
5
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Overall Rating 5
  • Overall Ratings
  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 4
  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 4

This is expensive to play (too expensive really) but it's a lovely course.The atmosphere on course is great. It's not that long, or that difficult for a good player, but it's main defence is the lightning speed of the greens. Recommneded if you think it's ok to pay £80 for a round of golf.

Posted by Neil on 10/09/2015
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 3
  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 3

Played the President's Course as a guest of a member last weekend. On arrival you're presented with what looks like a traditional golf club set up. I thought the changing facilities were on the small side but then realised these were just the Guest changing facilities. Peter Aliss used to be based at Ferndown and there are pictures of him and other celebrities dotted about. The President's Course is the 9 hole course and I think is intended as a practice course for the renowned 18 hole course. Don't let that fool you. This is a full length 9 hole course with 2 sets of tees that really makes the course feel different on most holes second go around. The course winds it's way around and amongst the main course and at times you are very close. Signage could be improved once out on the course. There is no map or hole guide on the scorecard. These are minor quibbles, because the President's course offers an excellent difficult but never unfair challenge. On the Friday we played the main 18 hole course was very busy, yet the 9 hole President's Course remained relatively quiet and we played 18 holes without ever having to wait to play a shot. Bunkers, ditches, gorse, heather, large trees and undulations come into play on virtually every hole. On one or two holes you will have to hit a long drive in order to keep the ball in play and avoid substantial heathland rough that is VERY tough to get out of. The 2nd / 11th is a challenging 170 yard par 3 - played downhill with a large ditch in front of the green and bunkers to the sides. Go for the green and risk the ditch, play short and still risk the ball rolling into the ditch. My favourite hole is the par 4 dog leg 3rd /12th which again is protected by a ditch on the approach. The 3rd / 13th Par 5 proved to be a too tough for me and I failed to score both times I played it. At 500 yards it's made especially difficult with an approach to the green that not only features a dog leg where if you're too long the trees block your shot to the green or short you have to take on a ditch that runs diagonally towards you - meaning you have to be very accurate to stay out of it! Once on the green you realise the green has a hump in it which tries to carry the ball off the green. Greens had recently been spiked and sanded and played a little slow, but I putted well on them so no complaints. The weather had been very dry and the fairways, which on most holes are fairly wide, were well kept with short grass which meant for a short hitter of the ball like me the ball traveled well (when I hit it properly). The Gorse and Heather was tough to get out of once in there but wasn't impossible. Lots of nice touches around the place indicating the members spend a bit of money on the course - ball washers, good quality ball retrievers by the ditches etc. Members seemed friendly and acknowledged you out on the course. Not a cheap course, but much cheaper than the 18 hole course and good value for the area.

Posted by Chaos on 11/06/2013
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Green conditions 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 4
  • Value for money 3
  • Green conditions 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 4
  • Value for money 3

Played here February ,2010. High quality ,attractive ,tree lined heath & heather course .Similar to the top Surrey courses .Fairly easy walking .Fair in its' set up. Ideally,for isolation purposes, i would have liked the 9 hole presidents course not to have been there as as a few holes run alongside the main 'old' course. I thought the course tailed off a touch in the mid section before a good run of holes from 14 to the finish but really there are plenty of good holes here.Favourite holes were 1 ,4, 14 & 17. 18 is a decent finisher too. Nice clubhouse/terrace/veranda perched up above the course. Kevin B.

Posted by Kevin B. on 15/02/2010

I first played Ferndown some years ago in their Senior's Open in high summer. No shorts in the clubhouse meant me going back to the car to change into trousers just in order to sign in. This is undoubtedly one of the prettiest courses I have ever played with tall trees, bunkers and heather in abundance. It gives you the impression that you could play well there if you can avoid mistakes. I have often described this course to others as a "little piece of heaven". Unfortunately the attitude of some of the members can be disconcerting. I took 3 friends down there to play under their great twilight scheme (£20 after 4.0pm) a few years ago. None of them had played Ferndown and they were all looking forward to it after my big build up. The pro told us to report to the 9th tee where the official starter would get us off. He was anxious that we should avoid a society which was already out on the course. The starter instructed us to "go" despite the fact that 4 members were close to the 8th green. One of these members immediately raced up to the tee and turfed us off in spite of the presence of the starter. When one of my friends attempted to point out to him that we were only doing what we had been told to do he asked "Are you a member of this golf club"? When my friend replied in the negative he stated "Well I am" in a rather bombastic manner. Unfortunately this soured the entire experience and none of my friends have ever shown any desire to return. This is a pity as the course itself is absolutely great.

Posted by Barrie Sloan on 09/06/2009
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 3
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 3

Played Ferndown in May 07 and cant recommend it highly enough. Its not cheap but stands comparision with the best of its type in the country. It's not the hardest course around but for aesthetics and condition it takes some beating.

Posted by Steve Levick on 21/05/2007
3
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Overall Rating 3
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4

Our 20 strong Society played Ferndown last Friday and really enjoyed the experience. As part of our green fee organised as part of a tour, lunch was included. Whilst we had been advised that this would be in the spike bar, it was actually in the main dining room and we didn't have to put on jackets and ties - only shorts and golf shoes would have been excluded. The meal could only be described as excellent with a table for twenty beautifully laid out. The course? Fully met our expectations - beautifully manicured despite the lack of rain over the previous seven weeks. Challenging but with concentration perfectly possible to achieve a good score - we had no less than seven 35 points but no-one actually tamed it. All enjoyed it - we were well looked after, our golf skills challenged, in beautiful surroundings. We will certainly return.

Posted by Nigel Weekes on 18/05/2007
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4

Played here as part of package of five courses played in and around the Bournemouth area during the heat wave of our summer this year. This was number one on our list, partly because of the very favourable comments posted on this site all ready. A truly memorable experience in every aspect, from the shop, through to the changing rooms, bar and onto the course. Yes, the starting procedure is a little strange as others have noted, but don’t let this put you off, this is a course of pure quality and style. We found all the members friendly, and willing to redirect us when we briefly lost our way, we shall certainly return another year and hope to improve our scores.

Posted by Jon Ponsford on 07/10/2006
5
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Overall Rating 5
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

At £80.00 for a day ticket, Ferndown isn't particularly cheap, but if you fancy an immaculately presented course, not hugely taxing but with an aura of a public school boys' (or girls) reunion then Ferndown is the place for you. The majority of the holes are relatively flat but excellent bunkering, tree lined fairways and some gentle dog-legs create a strategic challenge. The greens are fabulous and have some wicked slopes (6th springs to mind in particular). However, the overall impression is of an excellent course set up for an elderly membership. For a more testing challenge in the area try Broadstone. Despite the quality of the course my over-riding memory of the day is the bizarre starting policy. Having played eight swift holes with two-balls immediately in front and behind of me, a rogue members two ball was allowed to push in front on the 9th, delaying our remaining 10 holes, delaying the group behind us, and the group behind them, and the group behind them...etc. To our amazement upon finishing we noticed the big signs stating this was normal and accepted!! Still, its their club so I guess they make the rules.

Posted by Richard Freeman on 26/07/2005
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 3
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 3
  • Value for money 4

Ferndown Old is a lovely old course by any standard. Their rank of #77 in the UK Top 100 is well deserved. I was particularly impressed by the friendly welcome from the pro shop and members. Compares favorably with some of the classic heathland courses in Surrey.

Posted by Ed Robinson on 18/10/2004

Played Ferndown for the first time during May. What a treat. It is in excellent condition with super greens. Well worth a visit.

Posted by Geoff Baker on 19/08/2003

Played here 1st week of June and the course was is superb condition. Although a little expensive i would say that the course is a classis example of and old english heathland course with lots of heather , pine , elm and when we played lots of Rhododendrons . We started on the 09 th which meant our last hole was the 08th which is the weakest hole on the course . In conclusion a must play for those who love old style golf ( under 6,500 yards !! )

Posted by john h on 11/06/2002

Course information

Number of holes 18
Year opened -
Designer -
Style heathland

Tee information

TeesYardsParSSS
Competition
Men's645271
Ladies'

Green Fees

Summer/High season

Weekday round£60
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Weekend round£70
Weekend day-

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