Parkstone Golf Club
Willie Park Junior laid out Parkstone in 1909, and James Braid reshaped it into the course golfers love today in 1937. A par 72 of 6,241 yards over mature Dorset heathland, it threads pines and wild heather above Poole Harbour, with views across to Brownsea Island and the Purbeck hills that make it one of the most scenic inland rounds in southern England.
Photo: Parkstone Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Parkstone was born in 1909 as the work of Willie Park Junior, twice an Open champion and one of the first great course architects. What gives the course its enduring quality, though, is the hand of James Braid, who in 1937 laid out six new holes, reworked four more and left the best of Park's routing intact. The result is a heathland course of real subtlety, mature and beautifully settled into its ground.
The setting lifts it further. Parkstone sits on rising heath above Poole Harbour, and several holes open out to wide views across the water to Brownsea Island and the coastal downs of the Isle of Purbeck. It is a course to savor as much as to score on, an unhurried, classical round that belongs on any Dorset golf trip.
Parkstone Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1909
- Designer
- Willie Park Jr
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,241 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Parkstone Golf Club and leading course databases. Parkstone was designed by Willie Park Junior in 1909 and reworked by James Braid in 1937, a par 72 of 6,241 yards. Parkstone welcomes visiting golfers; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Parkstone is heathland golf at its most characterful. The fairways tumble between stands of mature pine, the heather lines the corridors and punishes the wayward shot, and Braid's bunkering still asks the right questions off the tee. At a shade over 6,200 yards it is not long, so the test is one of placement, shot shape and patience rather than brute power.
The holes that look toward Poole Harbour are the ones golfers remember, where the heath falls away to reveal the water and the islands beyond and the golf and the view compete for your attention. The par 3s are excellent, played to greens set among the heather, and the closing stretch keeps the round honest right to the last.
What lingers is the balance of beauty and bite. Parkstone is gentle to the eye and stern to the careless, a course that flatters a good round and quietly exposes a loose one, exactly the blend that keeps a club rooted in its members' affection for more than a century.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visiting golfers, mainly on weekdays with limited weekend availability by arrangement; advance booking recommended |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 75 to 110 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the Parkstone golf office ahead of travel; tee times are in steady demand in the summer months |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys and buggies available; the heathland walk is rolling but manageable |
| Getting there | Poole in Dorset, on the heath above Poole Harbour, a short drive from Bournemouth and close to the A35 and A350 |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and the heather in full color |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Poole and Bournemouth put a wide choice of hotels within a few minutes of the first tee, from harborside rooms to the long beachfront, and the area makes an easy base for couples and groups who want golf, coast and good food in one trip. Sandbanks and the quayside are minutes away.
Parkstone pairs naturally with the other great Dorset heathland courses for a full tour, and the region links to the Hampshire and Surrey heathland an hour or so northeast for a longer southern England itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Parkstone.
Build a Dorset golf trip
We arrange tee times at Parkstone 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.
Parkstone Golf Club questions
Who designed Parkstone Golf Club and when did it open?
Parkstone was designed by Willie Park Junior and opened in 1909, then significantly reworked by James Braid in 1937, who laid out several new holes and reshaped others.
What is the par and length of Parkstone Golf Club?
Parkstone is a par 72 of 6,241 yards, a mature heathland course with five par 5s and five par 3s and views over Poole Harbour.
Can visitors play Parkstone Golf Club?
Yes. Parkstone welcomes visiting golfers, mainly on weekdays and by arrangement at weekends; book ahead and confirm the current green fee before you travel.
Where is Parkstone Golf Club?
Parkstone is in Poole, Dorset, England, on the heathland above Poole Harbour and a short drive from Bournemouth and the coast.
Related
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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.