Golf in Hampshire
A quiet classic of English golf. Hampshire's sandy belt holds some of the finest heathland in the country, from Liphook and Blackmoor to North Hants, while the coast gives up a genuine Tom Simpson links at Hayling. An hour from London and the airports, it is one of the most underrated golf counties in Britain.
Photo: Liphook Golf Club via Google.
Why golf in Hampshire
Hampshire sits on the same band of sand and gravel that produced the great heathland courses of Surrey and Berkshire, and it shares their best quality: firm, fast running turf threaded through heather, gorse and pine. The county's championship courses, Liphook, Blackmoor and North Hants among them, are Golden Age designs by the architects who shaped British golf, played on free draining ground that stays good through the wet months when parkland courses turn heavy.
Then there is the coast. On Hayling Island, Tom Simpson laid out a true links of the first order, ranked among the best in England, where the wind off the Solent is the defining hazard. Add the New Forest charm of Brokenhurst Manor and the history of Stoneham, and Hampshire offers a varied, high quality golf week within easy reach of London, Southampton and the south coast ports.
The courses that matter
Liphook Golf Club · Arthur Croome, 1923
The best course in the county and the only Hampshire layout inside the Top 100 in Britain and Ireland. Arthur Croome's heathland masterpiece runs over firm, sandy ground through heather and pine, with a celebrated set of par 3s. Pure, classical golf and a joy to walk.
Hayling Golf Club · Tom Simpson
A Tom Simpson links on Hayling Island, regularly ranked among the best courses in England and the finest links in the county. Played out on a tidal spit with the Solent wind always a factor, it is firm, fast and full of subtlety, a genuine seaside test.
North Hants Golf Club · James Braid, 1904
The Fleet heathland course laid out by five time Open champion James Braid, and famous as the boyhood club of Justin Rose. A strong, strategic heathland test in fine condition, with classic bunkering and a real championship pedigree.
Blackmoor Golf Club · Harry Colt, 1913
One of Harry Colt's earliest and most admired heathland designs, opened in 1913, with the great majority of his holes still in play. Beautifully natural, with heather framed fairways and clever greens, it is a connoisseur's heathland round near Bordon.
Stoneham Golf Club · Willie Park Jr, 1908
A Willie Park Jr design set in a historic deer park near Southampton, with mature trees, heather and rolling ground. It hosted the first Dunlop Masters in 1946 and remains a must play, full of character and history.
Brokenhurst Manor · Harry Colt
A charming Harry Colt course in the heart of the New Forest, winding among ancient woodland and streams with wild ponies for company. Less a championship test than a delight to play, and the perfect change of pace on a Hampshire golf week.
Designers and opening years verified June 2026 from the clubs and leading course databases. Liphook is a heathland design by Arthur Croome, Hayling a Tom Simpson links, North Hants a James Braid heathland course from 1904, Blackmoor a 1913 Harry Colt design, and Stoneham a 1908 Willie Park Jr layout. Access and conditioning change, so confirm with each club before planning.
When to go: the Hampshire golf season
| Window | What to expect |
|---|---|
| May to Sep | Peak season: long days, the heather in flower in late summer, firm fairways and the courses at their best. Book visitor times ahead |
| Apr and Oct | Excellent shoulder golf, quieter and good value, with the sandy ground still running firm |
| Nov to Mar | The heathland's edge over parkland: free draining turf keeps the courses playable through winter, often on full greens |
| Any time | The coast at Hayling is best on a settled day; the heathland courses are reliable year round in dry spells |
Conditions are indicative and weather dependent; always confirm tee times and current rates directly before booking.
Getting there, costs and where to stay
Hampshire is one of the most accessible golf counties in England. London is about an hour by road or rail, Southampton Airport sits in the middle of the county, and the south coast ports add a continental option. The courses cluster in two areas: the heathland belt around Liphook, Blackmoor, North Hants and Bordon in the northeast, and the coast and Southampton area to the south, so a car makes a multi course week simple, with short drives between rounds.
Green fees are moderate by championship standards and the value is strong outside high summer. For a base, the market towns around Petersfield and Farnham suit a heathland focused trip, while Southampton, Winchester or the New Forest work for the coast and Brokenhurst. We can pair the courses with the right hotel and arrange the visitor tee times as one package.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels in Hampshire, or read the wider England golf hub.
Plan a Hampshire golf trip
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and who is in the group, and a concierge will build a Hampshire itinerary around Liphook, Hayling and the best heathland, costed to the head, with no obligation.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers and the county season verified June 2026; green fees indicative for the 2026 season. Last reviewed June 2026.