Ferndown Old
Harold Hilton, twice an Open champion, laid out the Old Course at Ferndown in 1923, and a century on it remains one of the great inland courses of southern England. A par 71 of about 6,452 yards through Dorset pine and heather, it is firm, subtle and beautifully framed, a long time members club that staged the Women's British Open and still rewards the player who can shape a shot.
Photo: Alex Knight via Google.
The verdict
Ferndown sits in the band of heathland that runs across Dorset just north of Bournemouth and Poole, and the Old Course is the jewel of it. Harold Hilton routed it in 1923 over rolling, sandy ground thick with heather and pine, and the design has aged into something close to ideal: not long by modern numbers, but so cleverly bunkered and contoured that par feels earned on every hole.
It is the kind of course that low handicappers travel for and quietly rate above flashier names. The Women's British Open came here in 1989, and generations of good amateurs have learned their golf on its springy turf. For a visiting golfer it is the centerpiece of a Dorset trip, an honest, classical heathland test a short drive from the coast.
Ferndown Old Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1923
- Designer
- Harold Hilton
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,452 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Ferndown Golf Club and leading course databases. The Old Course was designed by Harold Hilton and opened in 1923, a par 71 of about 6,452 yards; published yardages range from roughly 6,450 to 6,550 depending on the tees. Ferndown is a private members club with limited visitor access; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Ferndown rewards thought over power. The fairways tilt and roll, the heather punishes the stray shot without mercy, and Hilton's bunkering is positioned to catch exactly the drive a confident player wants to hit. Position off the tee dictates everything, because the angles into the greens shift dramatically depending on which side of the fairway you find.
The par 3s are a particular strength, played to greens set against banks of heather and pine where club selection and a clean strike matter far more than length. The closing holes ask for nerve and control rather than heroics, the sort of finish that decides club matches on the last green.
What lingers is the texture of the place: the firm, sandy turf, the purple wash of heather in late summer, the quiet between holes. It feels timeless, a course built before the age of bulldozers and all the better for it.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visitors are welcome on the Old Course mainly on weekdays and by prior arrangement, subject to member play |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 80 to 120 pounds in the summer season depending on day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Contact the Ferndown golf office ahead of travel; weekend visitor access is restricted, so plan a weekday tee time |
| On the day | Traditional smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; the heathland walk is gentle and very walkable |
| Getting there | Ferndown just north of Bournemouth in Dorset, close to the A31; about a quarter of an hour from the coast |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and the heather in full color |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates and visitor policy change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visitors base themselves on the Bournemouth and Poole coast, ten to fifteen minutes south, where the hotels, the harbor and the long sandy beaches turn a golf trip into a proper break for couples and groups alike. Ferndown itself has quieter lodging close to the course.
The Old pairs beautifully with the other great Dorset heathland courses for a full tour, and the region links naturally to the Surrey and Hampshire heathland an hour or so northeast for a longer southern England itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Ferndown.
Build a Dorset golf trip
We arrange access to Ferndown and the best of the Dorset heathland, pair the courses with the right coastal base and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ferndown Old Course questions
Who designed the Old Course at Ferndown and when did it open?
The Old Course was designed by Harold Hilton, twice Open champion, and opened in 1923, the senior of the two courses at Ferndown Golf Club.
What is the par and length of the Ferndown Old Course?
The Old Course is a par 71 of about 6,452 yards, a heathland layout through pine and heather; sources list yardage between roughly 6,450 and 6,550 yards depending on the tees.
Can visitors play the Ferndown Old Course?
Yes, on a limited basis. Ferndown is a private members club that welcomes visiting golfers on the Old Course mainly on weekdays; book well ahead and confirm access and the current rate before you travel.
Where is Ferndown Golf Club?
Ferndown is just north of Bournemouth in Dorset, England, close to the A31 and within easy reach of the Poole and Bournemouth coast.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.