Parkstone

Parkstone Golf Club | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

Rankings

1st

36th

84th

Parkstone Golf Club is one of the finest venues on the south coast of England, situated between Poole and Bournemouth and just nine miles from the nearest international airport.

The club was founded in 1909 by Lord Wimborne, who has acquired his wealth from managing the iron works in Merthyr Tydfil. Parkstone has gone on to become one of the best heathland courses in the country.

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A Brief History of Parkstone Golf Club

Parkstone Golf Club was founded by Lord Wimborne in 1909. Willie Park Jr, a multiple-time winner of the Open Championship was the man brought in to design the course. Local architect Walter Andrew designed the clubhouse.

The first ball was hit at Parkstone in May 1910, with the first reported match seeing a Parkstone team take on a team from Bournemouth Golf Club, with the visitors taking the spoils. 1932 saw James Braid come to Parkstone and make changes, with several holes on the front nine being altered in some way.

Parkstone then became a members' club for the first time at the start of the 1960s, with plenty of changes happening away from the course. The club reduced the number of committee members in 1992, with women also becoming full members with equal playing rights and subscription fees shortly after.

Parkstone Golf Club Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

The par 72 layout at Parkstone is short of 6,300 yards, with the three par 5s on the front nine all being shy of 500 yards, and therefore solid birdie chances. With tight fairways and plenty of bunkers waiting for errant shots, it is a tough test of golf.

The course starts with a gentle 350 yard par 4, with a bunker in the middle of the fairway at the 285-yard mark. A drive short of that leaves a simple wedge into the green, for what could be an opening birdie. The 2nd is a par 3 measuring just 165 yards with a bunker short and left. At 495 yards, the par 5 3rd is another birdie chance, with the 4th being a driveable par 4 at just 284 yards long.

Another short par 4 follows before the dog-leg left par 5 6th. The fairway is split in two, dissected by a row of rough and heather at the 290-yard mark. Big hitters can definitely reach in two. The par 3 7th is followed by another short par 4 at just 341 yards. The opening nine at Parkstone concludes with another par 5, but beware for the big hitters. Out of bounds looms all the way down the right hand side.

The hardest hole on the course opens up the back side of the golf course, before the fourth par 5 on the property. At just 510 yards, it is another that can be reachable in two if the wind is in your favour. The 12th could be driveable for the big hitters at just 320 yards long, but trees and bunkers guard the green. Another short par 4 follows before the first par 3 on the back nine, the 14th. It is 164 yards, but the green is long and thin, and requires a very accurate shot to find the dance floor.

The 15th is the hardest hole on the back nine and starts the closing stretch. It is one of the narrowest holes on the golf course. The shortest par 3 on the course is the 16th at just 142 yards, but it is downhill so it plays even less. Beware of out of bounds long. The par 5 17th measures just over 500 yards before the closing 200 yard par 3 to finish. Five bunkers, heather and trees line the hole, a true climax to a great golf course.

Our Panellists Notes for 2025

Craig Redston: When you step onto the 1st tee it feels like you could be on the French Riviera. Love it!

David Walker: A course known for immaculate conditioning. A wonderful course situated over rolling landscape that is perfect for golf but miss the greens and the ball will roll well away from the immaculate putting surfaces due to slopes and closely mown approaches

Dan Murphy: Bags of character and variety with a surprise around every corner

Read more about our panellists here.

Where is Parkstone Golf Club located?

Where is Parkstone Golf Club located?

Parkstone Golf Club is located on the south coast of England, between Poole and Bournemouth. Although the golf course is not right next to the coast, Canford Cliffs Beach and Sandbanks Beach are both just a stone’s throw from the far end of the layout. The A338 and A350 both run close by the venue.

Parkstone has its own train station, with services running between Poole, Weymouth and London Waterloo on a regular basis. Both Bournemouth and Southampton have airports, but the majority of flights from these two are short haul. Visitors from further afield may find it easier to fly into either London Heathrow or London Gatwick. Both are around two hours from Parkstone by car.

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

Parkstone is one of five golf courses in the region that are on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Broadstone and the Old Course at Ferndown are within ten miles, with Remedy Oak and Isle of Purbeck being within 20 miles.

What golf facilities does Parkstone Golf Club offer?

Along with the golf course, Parkstone Golf Club also has a full-length driving range with astroturf tees, and a short game area with practice bunkers. The facilities also include a putting green by the clubhouse, with both the putting and chipping green constructed to the same standard as the greens you will find out on the course.

What are the green fees at Parkstone Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Parkstone Golf Club 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 Parkstone, visit their website here.

Visit Parkstone's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

Website

http://www.parkstonegolfclub.com/

office@parkstonegolfclub.co.uk

Phone

+44 (0) 1202 707138

Address

49A Links Rd, Poole BH14 9QS

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