Broadstone

If Bernard Darwin, the esteemed writer, describes a course at the “Gleneagles of the South”, you have to take notice! 

That statement was applied to Broadstone Golf Club, which sits just north of Bournemouth, on the south coast of England. 

Dunn, Colt, Park Jr, Park Sr and Fowler are the names behind the design and changes to the course over its history, and you won’t find a much better list of golf course designers than that!

Visit the Broadstone website here.

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Originally known as the Broadstone Links at The Dorset Golf Club, the venue opened in 1898, with Tom Dunn being the man to have designed the first 18-hole layout. 

Broadstone was officially opened with a foursome that included five-time Open champions JH Taylor and James Braid along with AJ Balfour who would go on to become Prime Minister. 

Then, in 1914, Harry Colt redesigned the course in the heathland, with the present 5th to the 16th holes being added to cut out the parkland ones. This is as the course remains pretty much today other than a few alterations from Willie Park Sr, Willie Park Jr, Herbert Fowler and Colt again. 

In recent years, the course has become both a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation, due to the animals and the habitat that the golf course has to offer. 

At just over 6,400 yards from the tips, Broadstone is not an overly long track, but it is a true test of accuracy throughout the round. It is likely that every club in the bag will get at least a couple of outings and the variety, which comes with each hole, is the real strength. Picturesque throughout, should you be able to shape the ball this way and that, you are in for a profitable day – just as it should be on this glorious Par 70 layout. 

The course begins with the first of just two par 5s. Playing as a dog-leg right, you have to tee off across a ditch – which then runs down the right side of the fairway. From there, the approach to the green (whether it is the second or third shot) has to be bit back over the same ditch to reach dry land once more. A quartet of par 4s follows, with the 2nd being the longest of those at 400 yards from the tips. The 3rd has a water hazard in front of the green, so make sure to take a club more if you’re not sure what to hit. 4 is a straight-forward dog-leg right, while the 5th is one of the shortest par 4s on the property, at just 310 yards. There is plenty of sand in play on 5, but for most it is a long iron and wedge to find the putting surface in two. 

The 6th is the first of the four short holes at Broadstone, with three greenside bunkers guarding the landing zone. A wide but shallow green awaits, making club selection vital. It comes as little surprise that the 7th plays as the Stroke Index 1. Trust the marker post to give yourself a better chance of an even lie as anything aimed at the green will likely leave a hanging lie on this 425-yard par 4. Then a long iron/hybrid will be required to an elevated, sloping green. The 8th comes in at 203 yards, making it the longest par 3 on the course. Again, there are three greenside bunkers, so accuracy is key. 

The front nine at Broadstone comes to a close with the last of the two par 5s. It is the longest hole on the course, and plays as a dog-leg left. The fairway is split into two, so your drive cannot be too long, and that makes it a three-shot hole for the majority of golfers. The back nine does not feature a single par 5, but there are several par 4s of more than 400 yards, so if you have a good score going at the turn, it might be the time to try and hold on to that for dear life. 

10 is one of those tough par 4s, with the fairway pinching in at the landing zone for most drivers. 11 is a tricky par 3, played to a green that angles away from your diagonally, and with plenty of sand guarding the surface. 12, although not overly long, has a very narrow fairway, while the 13th is a dog-leg left, and the longest par 4 on the property. Should you get a draw going off the tee, this hole can be reduced to a drive and a flick but miss the fairway and any number might be produced. A sloping green, from front right to back left, makes any approach tricky. 14 offers some respite during this tough stretch, with a wide fairway. Hit the right club, and the green only has trouble in the form of one greenside bunker to its left. 

The closing stretch at Broadstone begins with the final par 3, the 15th. It plays almost 200 yards from the tips, and is played over a ditch and two bunkers. There are two more traps, one on either side of the green, that also must be avoided. The layout ends with a trio of par 4s. 16 is tricky, but if that draw from the 13th stays with you, then it can also be made into to an easy hole. The approach to the 17th green is played over a ditch, while the closing hole is another dog-leg left. Three bunkers guard the surface, with all bar the front edge being in danger. 

David Walker: Recent work removing trees and gorse is starting to show real results both in terms of views and turf, with the 6th being the stand-out. A serious walk, but well worth it. The setting and scenery are outstanding and reminiscent of Hankley Common

Craig Redston: A true championship heathland on a huge parcel of undulating land. Holes 13 and 14 are a knockout duo and would hold their own against any in the country.

Read more about our panellists here.

Where is Broadstone Golf Club located?  

Broadstone Golf Club is situated just inland from the south coast of England, less than ten miles to the northwest of the city of Bournemouth. The A31, A35 and A350 all run close by the venue, with the club sitting just off the A349, meaning there are plenty of ways to get around the area. Southampton is within an hour to the east, while London is around two and a half hours away by road. 

Poole offers the nearest train station to the golf club, with the club being just a couple of miles to the north of the town. Trains run between Weymouth and London Waterloo on a frequent basis. European visitors may choose to get the ferry from Continental Europe to Poole – with ferries coming from the French dock of Cherbourg. For those flying into the United Kingdom, Southampton Airport is 45 minutes away, with London Heathrow – the biggest and busiest airport in the country, less than two hours from Broadstone. 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  

Broadstone is one of several golf clubs in and around Bournemouth that feature on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Ferndown (Old), Parkstone, Isle of Purbeck and Remedy Oak are all within a short drive from Broadstone. 

What golf facilities does Broadstone Golf Club offer?  

Along with the championship-standard golf course, Broadstone also has its own full-length driving range, which sits to the side of the 18th hole. There are both matted and grass tees to play from, depending on the time of year. The club also has a short game area, which sits between the range and the 18th green, along with a putting green which is on the walk from the clubhouse to the 1st tee. 

What are the green fees at Broadstone Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at Broadstone changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

For more information on current green fees at Broadstone, visit their website here.