Why play

A classic heathland test close to Poole

Parkstone was founded in 1909 and has developed into a mature heathland course framed by pines, heather and elevated views across Poole Harbour towards Brownsea Island and the Purbeck hills.

The course’s value in a Dorset itinerary comes from strategic contrast: it rewards placement and angle control rather than simply asking for distance, and it sits within easy reach of Poole and Bournemouth.

Playing character

Angles, position and the sensible miss

Accuracy and placement are central. Drives that finish on the correct side improve both visibility and angle into the green, while poor position can bring trees, heather or awkward recovery lines into the next shot.

Several holes also use elevation and exposed ground to amplify wind and club-selection decisions, so first-time visitors should resist chasing pins from poor angles.

Visitor planning

Limited access means the tee time comes first

Parkstone welcomes visitors but publishes limited tee-time windows through the year. Visitors are expected to be current members of an affiliated golf club and to hold a WHS Handicap Index.

For 2026, published visitor access is concentrated around weekday windows, with limited weekend availability later in the day. Green fees are date-sensitive and should be checked directly against the live booking page before travel.

Mobility & preparation

Plan equipment in advance

Parkstone has only a small number of ride-on buggies and electric trolleys available for visitor hire. Current visitor bookings for those can only be made from six days before the round and are allocated first come, first served.

Pull trolleys can also be hired subject to availability. If mobility support matters, treat the equipment booking as part of the tee-time plan rather than an afterthought.

Stay · Play · Recover

Anchor a Poole and Bournemouth golf break

Stay: Poole and Bournemouth both work as practical bases.

Play: use Parkstone as the heathland anchor and contrast it with Isle of Purbeck or another exposed coastal course.

Recover: a demanding strategic round is easier to absorb when transfer time is short, so keep the wider itinerary compact.