Isle of Purbeck Golf Club Review

Peter Dawson enjoys a rare place in history after becoming the first left-hander to participate in the Ryder Cup. That was back in 1977, the highlight of a fine career, which developed into a successful coaching tenure in France, Portugal and with the Danish national team. 

Now in his 70s, Peter still loves the game, and he reviewed the exceptional Isle of Purbeck Golf Club for us. Located in Dorset, this venue is Highly Recommended on Golfshake.

When looking at Purbeck’s website, what caught my eye were the green fees, with tee times after 2pm costing just £40 Monday to Thursday, Fridays and Sundays £45 and Saturday £50. On a nice summer’s day starting in the mid-afternoon, is there a better value venue in England?

I would suggest that once you arrive, go straight to the bar, order a beverage, and if the weather is agreeable, get yourself a table on the terrace and take in the views! I would argue my corner if there was a better view from a clubhouse than this one! 

Standing on the first tee you can see the far-reaching views over to Poole that will enchant us for the next four hours.

The first three holes are OK but when on the green on the par 3, 4th hole some 185 yards in length, you get a glimpse of what is to come. 

On this hole after extraditing his ball from the bunker, our partner commented on the sand being a little industrial in nature! In its defence I had to say it needs to be this heavier quality as when the wind blows, and it can blow here, the finer stuff will finish off wither it came, back on the beach. I sympathise with the green staff, I bet they have a heck of a job keeping the greens to a high standard in the summer hot drying winds and in winter those cold ones! Also, it cannot be easy with the course being situated in a heathland nature reserve with all the restrictions on what pesticides/fertilisers can and cannot be used.

Now the day is about to start.

We did not play off the medal tee on the par 4 doglegged downhill 5th hole, but apparently it is on top of a Bronze Age burial ground. There are several Iron age, Roman and Saxon archaeological sites in the area.

Once you are on this green take in the views where you can take in the Isle of Wight, Bournemouth, Poole Harbour and to the North is Brownsea Island.

For the 6th hole of 475 yards uphill, we turn back on ourselves and today into a good South Westerly breeze. The hole is named Old Harry, although not steep I reckon against a stiff westerly breeze that might be our new alias! After two good hits we are still well short of the green. This is a good time to take a breather and look back to where we have come from. Great views once again.

The par 5 8th is the longest hole on the course at 573 yards. After two decent shots, views of Brownsea Island and Poole are obscured, now we turn our attention to the countryside on the left, the Purbeck Hills and beyond, and they are beautiful!

Standing on the 9th green the views outdo even those of the 5th green.

We now head off into the country where there no more sea views for a while, but the far-reaching ones of countryside which are just as beautiful.

The 10th for me was the standout hole today, not for its difficulty but for the colours. 393 yards and another slightly blind tee shot. We walked down the fairway stopping in the proximity of the marker to take in what lies ahead, with the green slightly below us with a large sand dune covered in heather behind it. The sunshine influencing nature's colours made this shot even more spectacular.

After leaving the second shot short, is it a hybrid chip or take the putter? It was about now that I realised I was not on a links course. Whilst close to the sea it is set in a nature reserve with all its gorse bushes and heathland, rare birds and rare flora and fauna. Something for all of us!  

The par 3 11th hole must have one of the biggest singular greens we shall encounter in our golfing lives. The row of pines behind the green just enhances the experience of this hole. 

On the 14th tee I feel we are at the furthest point from the clubhouse and about to make our way back.

The 17th and 18th holes lead us back to the clubhouse ready for some tea and cakes on the terrace served by a very friendly and efficient clubhouse team!

King Edward VIII once described the view from the 5th tee as one of the finest in his kingdom. I totally agree, and wonder when he came here, did he come across the water from Poole or come by road past Corfe Castle?

For more information on the club and how to play it, please visit https://www.purbeckgolf.co.uk/.