Brilliant design or architectural madness? This lovely golf course has one hole that really divides opinion...

Broadstone

There are five very highly-ranked courses in and around Bournemouth, all of them in the UK&I Top 200, and all of them remarkably different from one another. The one with the greatest variety from start to finish is the beautiful, undulating heathland design at Broadstone Golf Club. The club was founded in 1898 as The Dorset Golf Club, and its original layout was the work of Tom Dunn who was then the professional at nearby Meyrick Park. 

Herbert Fowler was subsequently engaged to redesign the bunkering, but much of his work was on holes that were lost when Harry Colt was brought in at the start of the first World War. Colt replaced the more parkland holes with a new sequence of what is now the 5th round to the 16th, taking full advantage of the wild, heathland landscape. Privately owned until 1971, it was then bought by the membership who sold the clubhouse and car park for development, replacing them in 1985.

A Hole That Splits Opinion

When working on an undulating plot, architects frequently have to make tough design decisions that fit in with the land. Broadstone’s big talking point is the super-tough, stroke index one, par-4 7th. The drive is semi-blind up the hill, before you have the choice of going for the green in two or laying up into the valley beforehand, a shot that is tricky to judge. Officially 422 yards, it plays way longer, with some thinking it is too fraught with danger and open to chance, while others love the challenge. Harry Colt was an architectural genius, so why not play it and see what you think?

Don’t be fooled by the yardage

For a course that covers such an enormous acreage, it is not one of the longest in the world. However, this is offset by the fact that there is a tight par of 70, with just two par 5s which bookend the opening nine. The changes in elevation add greatly to the challenge, especially on the higher parts of the course on the back nine where the wind can also have its say. There is plenty of excellent bunkering in evidence, particularly where some more recent changes have greatly improved the look and feel such as at the two short holes on the back nine, the 11th and 15th. The par-4 7th is rightly stroke index one, and is a hole that really divides opinion with its semi-blind uphill drive and then the conundrum of whether and then how to lay up, or instead to try and carry the valley of doom!

Signature holes on each nine

Broadstone is full of memorable and very attractive holes, but there is one on each nine that is likely to be a major feature of any visiting group’s post-round conversations. Having worked your way to the easterly end of the course, you turn to play the fabulous par-3 6th. It is only 166 yards from the back, but slightly uphill and often into the breeze. One club extra is usually the better option with pretty much all of the trouble at the front. 

In the middle of the back nine, the rollercoaster 14th with its ornamental string of cross bunkers is an absolute cracker.

Whatever you think of the 7th, which is still very playable given the right choices are made and the second shot is well executed, Broadstone Golf Club has one of the best golf courses in Dorset, a visual delight from start to finish, packed with variety and great views.