Rushmore Golf Club

To me, this is a special place. It’s strange, because in itself the course is not anything amazing – and yet somehow you can’t help but be captivated by the serenity and peacefulness of playing here.
I don’t think Rushmore will be hosting any significant tournaments but there’s a special aura that seduces you here, hidden away in glorious countryside where the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset meet.
Set in the impressive grounds of the Rushmore Park estate, the course was originally only nine holes, before a second nine was added outside the immediate boundaries of the estate about ten to fifteen years ago. The estate’s boundaries are significant since the land within them is protected and cannot be altered so that it appears differently when looked at from the air - or something along those lines at least! The net result is that it rules out bunkers and the addition of more water hazards and so on for half the course.
The whole layout has just undergone a thorough process of upgrading, with at least half a dozen holes either amended or dropped altogether and new ones inserted in their place. Something like six new lakes have been built outside the estate boundary. Many new tees have also been added. The end result is a course that is considerably more challenging and up to scratch than its previous incarnation.
Among the holes that stand out are the picturesque Par 4 second, the long and demanding SI 1 Par 4 eighth, and the revamped Par 4 thirteenth, where you now hit over the pond to a new green the far side.
Also worthy of mention is the stunning view over Dorset that greets you when you first emerge out of the estate after the third hole.
There are drawbacks, however. The Par 4 at 5 and the Par 5 at 7 are rather bland and uninspiring. The course is also still a little on the short side; the only genuine Par 5, for instance, is the twelfth, now with water fronting the green. To some people, I can also imagine that the bunkerless nine holes within the estate boundary may be somewhat toothless.
For me, though, they merely add to the enchanting nature of this place. Play it for what it is, and you’ll find yourself oblivious of the limitations and immersed in the unique ambience of a unique place.
7/10
Young P