Ferndown Golf Club Old Course Review, Green Fees, Tee Times and Key Info

There are few courses that are maintained as well as Ferndown Golf Club Old Course. It’s a pristine inland layout with exceptional playing surfaces.

Ferndown Golf Club Old Course
Ferndown Golf Club Old Course 6th hole
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)

Ferndown Golf Club Old Course Key Information

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Row 0 - Cell 0 Row 0 - Cell 1
Address119 Golf Links Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 8BU
Phone Number01202 653 950
Websitehttps://www.ferndowngolfclub.co.uk
Emailsuehelliker@ferndowngolfclub.co.uk
Green Fees£80 - £195
Visitor TimesWeekdays, not Saturday, some availability Sunday pm
Par71
Slope Rating130 (White), 122 (Yellow), 121 (Red), 133 (Women's Yellow), 129 (Women's Red)
Opened1913
Designed byHarold Hilton
Golf Monthly Verdict

Ferndown Old Course - 8th hole

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

Ferndown is a pristine heathland course with sandy fairways and heather lurking to either side of the mown surfaces. With pine trees and firs also lining many of the holes, it’s an extremely attractive layout.

A beautifully conditioned course boasting exceptional playing surfaces.

REASONS TO PLAY FERNDOWN GOLF CLUB OLD COURSE

– A heathland layout maintained in impeccable condition

– Spiritual home of the late, great Peter Alliss

– A club with a great competitive history. Former host to the The Hennessy Cognac Cup and the Women's British Open

RANKINGS

UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2023/24 - 88

The Old Course at Ferndown was originally designed by Golf Monthly’s first editor and two-time Open Champion Harold Hilton.

The layout is essentially two loops: an inner comprising holes 1-8 and an outer featuring 9-18.

The course prides itself on its conditioning which is always first rate. The fabulous bunkers are a standout feature. Many are scalloped and edged with heather making them look rugged and challenging. Ferndown is one of the very best golf courses in Dorset.

Ferndown has long had a well-deserved reputation as one of the best presented tracks in this country. The playing surfaces are second to none in quality and consistency and all the holes are highly memorable and individual.

Over the years Ferndown has been the venue for a number of significant competitions and many greats of the game have played here. Percy Alliss was professional at Ferndown and son Peter Alliss counted the club as his spiritual home.

The holes at Ferndown are highly memorable and individual. To pick out a couple – the uphill 6th that turns to the right, with its cluster of bunkers waiting short to catch a poorly struck second; then the par-3 14th is a cracker where you feel you should take advantage of the receptive green but it’s easier said than done and the 15th, another strong par-4 turning to the right and demanding two solid blows.

Ferndown has long had a reputation as one of the best presented tracks in this country. It’s supremely well maintained, and the surfaces are a true pleasure to play from.

Recent improvements include the addition of a new covered driving range with 5 internal bays and 4 external bays.  On course, the 2nd hole on the Old course and access route were revamped to improve aesthetics. A new tee complex was constructed on the 16th hole.

8th hole at Ferndown
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Chris Walker UK&I Top 100 panel
Chris Walker

Ferndown is beautiful, well established, well balanced, classic feeling golf course that offers a lovely blend of challenge and playability.  The course offers variety, both in terms of length and style, and despite its mature nature and established status it stands up very well to the test of time. It's a wonderfully natural looking and feeling heathland course.

Mike Chapman UK&I Top 100 panel
Mike Chapman

Ferndown is in terrific condition and has a better coverage of grass on the fairways and semi-rough than I have ever seen. Traffic around the course is well managed with paths and exit points being in good condition.

The club continues to evolve and improve without seeking to change the fundamental nature of the course. They do wish to attract professional events to the course in the future which will enhance their reputation even further.

Ferndown Golf Club Old Course Location

Ferndown Golf Club Old Course Green Fees

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1st May - 30th DecWeekdayWeekend
18 holes£160Limited Availability on Sunday pm
Twilight deal from 3.30pm£80NA
36 holes£195NA
Apr and OctWeekdayWeeken
18 holes£100NA

See the club website for more green fee details.

Ferndown Golf Club Old Course scorecard

Ferndown Golf Club Old Course scorecard

(Image credit: Ferndown Golf Club)

Best Courses Near to Ferndown Golf Club Old Course

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<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/parkstone-golf-club-course-review-60807" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">PARKSTONE

One of Bournemouth’s big-hitting trio, Parkstone is one of many UK courses that has been striving to rediscover its heathland roots in recent years. There are several thrilling tee-shots, such as the 3rd where you play from a causeway crossing water, and each of the short holes is a real gem. Recent improvements are now fully bedded in on a fine layout with many attractive holes.

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<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/broadstone-golf-club-course-review-118743" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">BROADSTONE

Tom Dunn laid out the original course in 1898 before a 1914 Harry Colt redesign introduced several  new holes to take fuller advantage of its expansive heathland setting. More recently, Frank Pont’s dramatic bunkering on a number of holes has brought back more of the origjnal Colt flavour.

Once you’ve played Broadstone once you’ll be eager to return again and again.

Best Places To Stay Near Ferndown Golf Club Old Course

Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel Book now at Booking.com
For the full hotel experience, the Highcliff Marriott Hotel enjoys a dramatic clifftop location just a ten-minute walk from the centre of Bournemouth. Guests enjoy free WiFi in all public areas. The hotel boasts a striking terrace overlooking Bournemouth Bay and lies a 20 minute drive from Ferndown GC.

Holiday Inn Bournemouth - Book now at Booking.com
A modern hotel that is centrally situated 10-minutes walk from Bournemouth Beach and town centre. The property provides on-site parking and free high speed WiFi. An on-site restaurant with bar, gym and an outdoor seating terrace is also featured. Electric car charging points available. It's a short drive, less than 20 minutes to Ferndown Golf Club.

Ferndown Golf Club Old Course Gallery

Ferndown Golf Club Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I

  • 2023/24 - 88
  • 2021/22 - 87
  • 2019/20 - 88
  • 2017/18 - 90

Ferndown 1st Hole
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a dress code at Ferndown?

The club expects a good standard of dress both on the course and in the clubhouse. Full details can be found on the club website.

What Tournaments has Ferndown hosted?

They include: The Hennessy Cognac Cup, featuring leading players from the European Tour, the European Ladies’ Championship and the Women’s British Open. In 2023, Ferndown is host to one of the R&A Regional Open Qualifiers and the English Amateur Championships.

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?